Most Excellent Grand Superintendent:

E.Comp. R.B.W. Price
Masonic Charity and fraternal friendship of Companions, come together to form a Convocation of Royal Arch Masons.
As in all Masonic degrees the ritual of the Royal Arch is an allegory. It helps to focus the minds of the Companions, without conflicting with their religious beliefs, to a contemplation of the nature of and their relationship with their God which will be appropriate to their own religion. Membership is open to Freemasons of all faiths, who have been Master Masons for at least four weeks. They must be proposed, seconded and balloted for by the members of the Chapter to which they seek admission. The interval between becoming a Master Mason and his exaltation into a Chapter is however a matter for each individual, and will largely depend on his circumstances and readiness for its teachings. Early application however, ensures a greater opportunity to participate in the work and to understand its teachings. Members are known as “Companions”, and once Installed as a Principal in a Chapter, “Excellent Companions”. It is well known that Freemasons in England & Wales use a number of 'dramatic presentations' in their 'ceremonies' to illustrate the principles of Freemasonry. These are mainly for the benefit of the new member, but also serve to remind, or keep before, existing members, Freemasonry's fundamental precepts.

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All Freemasons must undertake the first three of these presentations, known as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degrees.

During the course of these, all Freemasons promise to 'make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge'. Many Freemasons fulfil this obligation by regularly attending Masonic meetings, listening to the occasional talk or lecture and / or reading books on Freemasonry. But for a great many this is not sufficient and they are moved to enquire about and join other 'Orders' in Freemasonry.

This web-page concerns itself with only one of these - The Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Jerusalem, known more familiarly as 'The Royal Arch'

Because the Royal Arch is concerned with encouraging Masons to consider the spiritual aspects of life, in addition to the moral aspects, it has often been (totally incorrectly) considered by Freemasonry's critics to be a substitute for a 'regular' religion or some form of Christian, or even pagan worship. Whilst it continues to use the building of King Solomon's temple and subsequent events to illustrate the spiritual precepts, it does not, has never done, and will never, attempt to be a substitute for the spiritual faith practised by any Freemason. Members include men of all faiths which hold a Supreme Being, by whatever name that Being is known, at the centre of their belief. That is an essential component of every Order or branch of regular Freemasonry, anywhere in the world.

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There are many other reasons why a Freemason should feel motivated to join the Royal Arch - not least of which is the undoubted fact that it is a spiritually rewarding, colourful and joyful experience. The more practical reason is that "by the solemn Act of Union between the two Grand Lodges of Freemasons of England in December 1813 it was 'declared and pronounced that pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, viz., those of the Entered Apprentice, The Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch'."

We hope you find it interesting and informative. If you should wish to contact us please use the E-mail link provided.

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