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ARE
YOU READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN FREEMASONRY?
Are you enjoying your Freemasonry? The company
of your brethren? The theatre and meaning of
our ritual? If so, as a Master Mason you are
ready to take the next step and join Chapter.
There are many other Degrees and Orders in Freemasonry,
but Chapter (or the Supreme Order of the Holy
Royal Arch, to give it its full title) should
be the first you consider joining.
WHY SHOULD I JOIN CHAPTER?
Firstly, because Chapter is a happy, relaxed
and friendly Order. Members are referred to
as Companions and enjoy each others companionship.
Joining a Chapter will extend your circle of
Masonic friendships as well as your Masonic
knowledge.
Secondly, because by joining Chapter you will
complete the journey you started as an Entered
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Apprentice.
As the three degree ceremonies through which
you have already passed can be taken as an allegory
of man’s journey through life, so the beautiful
ceremony of Exaltation leads the Chapter Mason
a step further, to contemplate man’s spiritual
nature.
The Royal Arch is the historical and philosophical
sequel to the third degree and the completion
of ‘pure Antient Masonry’. You owe it to yourself
to make your own knowledge complete by joining.
WHAT ABOUT REGALIA?
In the Royal Arch, the Candidate enters as a
Master Mason, wearing the badge of that rank.
Throughout the Ceremony of Exaltation, he remains
a Master Mason in the story as it unfolds.
Towards the end of the ceremony he is rewarded
and decorated as a Royal Arch Companion and
receives a new set of regalia. The badge, whilst
still made of lambskin, is more colourful with
a scarlet and purple border, the significance
of which is explained.
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A
sash of the same colours is placed over the
left shoulder. He is decorated with a jewel,
which is also to be worn in his Craft lodge,
reflecting the close relationship between the
Craft and the Royal Arch and indicating to the
Brethren in a Lodge that the individual concerned
is also in the Royal Arch
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Generally speaking you can expect to find your
subscriptions will be considerably less than
those in your Craft Lodge
HOW OFTEN DO CHAPTERS MEET?
Most Chapters hold meetings four times a year.
The meetings are called Convocations.
One of the Convocations will be to install the
new Three Principals for the ensuing year. At
the other meetings Candidates will be exalted
or there will be other Royal Arch presentations
of interest.
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