Welcome to the Holy Royal Arch

The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
Companion Peter C. Kinder

In the Book of Constitutions, which is given to every craft mason in the English Constitution, there is a ‘preliminary declaration’ which reads as follows: “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’.”

This close association between the Craft and the Royal Arch is further reinforced, in the Royal Arch ritual of the exaltation ceremony, when the candidate is informed that he has not received a fourth degree but the completion of the third. As the order is part of ‘pure ancient masonry’ it should not be viewed as an optional extra but rather as the only opportunity for master masons to proceed to the completion of their basic Masonic knowledge.

The Holy Royal Arch is more commonly known as ‘Chapter’, and as Craft masons meet in a Loge, so Royal Arch masons meet in a Chapter and are known as Companions.

Important information

Every master mason of four weeks standing and upwards is encouraged to go further to discover for himself the happiness and companionship of this Supreme Order. There is no need to wait for an invitation; it is your right to apply for membership.

Chapters and Lodges

Chapters are usually (but not always) attached to a Lodge and take the same name and number. The language, symbolism and teachings of the ceremoniy are both profound and beautiful and considerably enrich all that goes on in the Craft. In the exaltation ceremony (by which a candidate is admitted) there is a different atmosphere from the Craft. The theme of the Craft degrees is behaviour, the moral witness, the scientific basis, and the code of life in the five points of fellowship; all illustrated from the actual temple building and its architecture. In the Royal Arch, we consider the presence of God in the building and our relationship with him in the context of eternity; for to stop at the Craft ceremonies is to present just a building — it needs the Chapter ceremony to fill it with spirit and meaning.

Chapter Jewels

The Chapter jewel is the only jewel which is permitted to be worn together with Craft jewels in a Craft Lodge. Members are distinguished by the jewel that they wear on the left breast, the colour of the ribbon varying in accordance with their rank:

1. Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers are tri-coloured (dark blue, crimson and light blue);
2. Principals or Past Principals — (crimson); and
3. All other companions — (white).

Further information

For further information, contact John A Townsend, Provincial Scribe E, at London Road.