What
is the Royal Arch ?
Pure ancient Freemasonry, which is composed of Craft
masonry and Royal Arch masonry, presents the inquiring
mind with an inspirational framework for life. Through
the lessons presented in the Craft ceremonies, a Freemason
is called upon to improve his relationship with his
fellows, his mind and himself. The Craft can be viewed
as the sure foundation on which Freemasonry is based.
The Royal Arch takes matters further and can be seen
to be the superstructure that makes all that is presented
to the candidate complete and perfect.
The ceremony in the Royal Arch is colourful, thought
provoking and uplifting. It is based on the legend
of the rebuilding of King Solomon's Temple and invokes
simultaneously sensations of humility and our dependence
on our unseen Creator.
Only by taking the fourth and ultimate step in Masonry
by joining the Royal Arch can a Craft Freemason become
complete. For a Freemason to take only the three Craft
degrees and not join the Royal Arch means his Masonry
might be compared with the experience of the man who
goes to watch the play of Agatha Christie's Mousetrap
but leaves ten minutes before the end. In the latter
instance he can say he has been to the Mousetrap but
he doesn't know what it was all about - in the former
he can say he is a Freemason but he is missing that
piece of the jigsaw that would render him complete.
The history and origin of the Royal Arch is, like
several other aspects of Freemasonry, delightfully
obscure. During the decades in the 18th century when
there were two rival Grand Lodges, the Ancients were
far more enthusiastic about and committed to promoting
the Royal Arch than were the Moderns. When the two
Grand Lodges came together in 1813, there was a certain
amount of compromise and fudging from which emerged
the contention that the Royal Arch was the completion
of the Third Degree. This in turn made interpretation
of the meaning of the Royal Arch difficult.
Revisions made in 2004 have made the ceremony of the
Royal Arch much more clear and meaningful. Craft masons
are encouraged to find out more about the Royal Arch
by asking Brethren in their own Lodges who are wearing
their Royal Arch jewels.
To Contact The Royal Arch Please use the Contact
Us page and select Webmaster.
