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| Why Be A ROYAL ARCH MASON? (From www.YorkRite.com & the Hamilton Royal Arch) |
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| Every Master Mason aspires to attain the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry. Pure ancient Freemasonry, which is composed of Blue Lodge Masonry and Royal Arch Masonry, presents the seeker with an inspirational framework for his life. Through the lessons presented in the Blue Lodge ceremonies, or the first Three Degrees of Freemasonry, a Freemason is called upon to improve his relationship with his fellows, his mind, and himself. The Blue Lodge can be viewed as the sure foundation upon which all Freemasonry is based. |
| In the life of every Master Mason, there comes a time when he realizes that he has not yet attained his goal, that he is not yet in possession of all the light of a Master Mason, as it was known and understood by his ancient brethren. The goal of his aspirations is near at hand - in the ROYAL ARCH degree. |
| The Degree of Royal Arch Mason is founded on the destruction of the first and the building of the second Temple in Jerusalem under the High Priest Zerubbabel, in 559 BC, over 550 years after the the First Temple described in the Blue Lodge Degrees. The Ceremonies of the Degree have an interesting and graphic historical setting, and a profound and reverential moral significance. The Royal Arch Degree is the complement of the Master's Degree, the unfolding into a second volume of the history of that which was lost to its final recovery. Without the Royal Arch, the Master's Degree is like a song half sung, a tale partly told, or a promise unfulfilled. |
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| The preparatory degrees conferred in a Chapter within the jurisdiction of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylania are those of Mark Master Mason and Most Excellent Master. Both are beautiful, both are interesting, both teach valuable lessons. But the Most Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Mason is more august, sublime and imprtant than all that preceeds it. |
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| It brings to light many essentials of the Craft contained ONLY in this Most Sublime Degree, and explains many cryptic passages of the first three Degrees incomprehensible to a Master Mason. Without a knowledge of these, the Masonic character cannot be complete. |
| It has been said that "The Royal Arch stands as the rainbow of promise in the Ritual; it stands as the promise of resurrection; of that which was lost and shall be recovered." |
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| The value of Royal Arch Masonry will be justly appreciated by all who are exalted to that Most Sublime Degree, particularly by those who are seeking to complete their Masonic education. It reveals the full light of Ancient Craft Masonry, presents it as a complete system in accordance with the original plan, and confers at last the rights and light of a Master Mason in fact as well as in name. It truly leads to a fuller understanding of the purposes and spirit of Freemasonry, for standing on this towering summit we are able for the first time to perceive the completeness of the ancient Craft and to understand how all its forms and ceremonies, from the Entered Apprentice to the Master Mason's Degree, are the preparation for the final goal, the Most Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Mason . . . |
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| Tune:'Gesellenreise" by Bro. W. A. Mozart Franz Ratchsky's verse on the journey to greater knowledge |
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| Watch a Video Presentation To Learn More About The Royal Arch Degree and the York Rite of Freemasonry |
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| Many Master Masons have come to love the Royal Arch Degree as the summit of ancient Craft Masonry, |
| The origin and history of the Royal Arch Degree is, like much in Freemasonry, delightfully obscure. During the decades oin the 18th century when England had two rival Grand Lodges, the "Ancients" were far more enthusiastic about and committed to, the Royal Arch than were the "Moderns." It was from the "Ancients" traditions that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was formed, and from whom we inherit a veneration for the Royal Arch. |
| A Blue Lodge Altar |