The History and Symbolism of Royal Arch Masonry
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
CHAPTER 7 - ROYAL ARCH DEGREE Overview
In Ahiman Rezon, the Book of Constitutions of the Ancient’s Grand Lodge of England, Laurence Dermott stated: " . . . and mentioned that Part of Masonry commonly called the Royal Arch (which I firmly believe to the Root, Heart, and Marrow of Free-Masonry) I . . . " The Royal Arch Degree is considered as the "cope-stone" of Masonry because only there does one find the conclusion of Masonic symbolism.
Masonic symbolism is basically a triple set of antagonisms, three sets of opposites: ignorance and knowledge, darkness and light, and loss and recovery. It is the last pair which is the heart of the Royal Arch degree. The third degree handles loss and recovery in terms of death and resurrection. However, Masonic symbolism is more concerned with the search for Divine Truth as represented by The Word, which was lost for a time but at last recovered. The third degree does not now, and probably never did, carry out this symbolism to its end.
The Word is the central point of speculative Masonic symbolism. When lost, its recovery is the objective of symbolic Masonic labor. The possession of The Word is the climax of Masonic knowledge. The Royal Arch Degree rivals, if not surpasses, the third degree in terms of the extent and depth of its symbolism. The destruction of the first Temple, the Babylonian captivity, the long and dangerous journey back to Jerusalem, the passing of the Veils, the contents and colors of the banners, the signet, the discovery of the crypt and its contents, the working tools, and the triple tau within a triangle within a circle are all important in Masonic symbolism.
The upward movement from the materialism of the craft degrees through the spiritualism of the capitular degrees reaches its climax in the Supreme Order of the Royal Arch. No true seeker of Masonic knowledge can ever reach the goal of preparing himself as a living stone for the Supreme Temple without receiving the Royal Arch Degree. The search for further light in Masonry is the search for Divine Truth as represented by The Word. This search is successfully concluded in the Royal Arch Degree.
It is almost certain that the development of the Royal Arch Degree paralleled that of the Master Mason Degree. It was most likely developed in the first third of the 18th century, during the formative period of speculative Masonry. The conferring of this degree in lodges was one of the major reasons for the "great schism" in Masonry, which led to the formation in 1751 of the Ancient Grand Lodge of England. The Royal Arch Degree was a regular part of Ancient Grand Lodge workings throughout its existence. Although there is ample reason for concluding that the degree was being worked in England and Ireland prior to 1740, the first actual minutes of the conferring of the Royal Arch Degree were in America in 1753.
When the Grand Lodges of the Ancients and the Moderns merged into the "United Grand Lodge of England" in 1813, the Act of Union contained the following statement:
"It is declared and pronounced that 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."
The heraldic arms of the United Grand Lodge included the castles of the Moderns, the Royal Arch banners of Ancients with modified cherubim as supports, and the crest of the Ancients.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Many books have been written about Freemasonry. However, there has been very little written and published in the area of Royal Arch Masonry. To the best of my knowledge, there has only been three books published in the last one hundred and fifty years. (1) Sheville and Gould’s Guide to the Royal Arch Chapter in 1867 and 1980; (2) Trunbull and Denslow’s A History of Royal Arch Masonry published by the General Grand Chapter in 1956 and 1993; and (3) Steinmetz’s The Royal Arch – Its hidden Meaning in 1946 and 1979. This book, The History and Symbolism of Royal Arch Masonry fills this void with a clear and accurate analysis of Capitular Masonry. This book covers the world history, U.S. history, and the symbolic content of each of the four major Capitular degrees; the Mark Master, the Past Master, the Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch, a degree considered by many to be the cope-stone of Masonry. It also covers the Order of Anointed High Priesthood. A chapter is devoted to the history and purposes of that fraternal body that is the mother lode of Capitular Masonry, the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International. A chapter is devoted to Royal Arch Masonry in England, Ireland, and Scotland. This book deals with facts, not myths. Historical quotes are used throughout the book in support of its historical analysis. Many original illustrations adorn the book. Comments by several leading Masons serve to illustrate the importance and strengths of this book. Larry E. Gray, General Grand Scribe, General Grand Chapter Arch Masons, International, writes, "It matters not whether the reader is a casual reader of Masonic materials, or a devout member of the fraternity seeking further light in Masonry; this book is uncomplicated reading, factual and written in layman’s terms." Robert M. Seibel, M.W. Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of F & A. Masons of Indiana writes, "The History and Symbolism of Royal Arch Masonry, will serve Royal Arch Masons throughout the English speaking world in their search for further light in Masonry. I recommend this scholarly expose in your Masonic adventures." Dennis J. Anness, Past Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch of Indiana writes, "The author of this book writes in a clear and concise manner that serves all readers well. Whether you are a student of Masonic studies’, or have an idle curiosity in the field, or have no knowledge of Masonry, this work is for you." Marion K. Crum, Past Illustrious Master, Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Indiana writes, "In addition to being written in a clear, concise and understandable manner, he has eliminated many of the myths that have been attached to much of the writings of Freemasonry."
About the Author
Edward R. Graham has been active in Freemasonry since being made a Master Mason in 1977. Companion Graham is a Royal Arch Mason belonging to Columbus Chapter No. 10 in Columbus, Indiana. He has served as Grand Historian of the Grand Chapter of Royal Masons of Indiana since 1992. He is the author of Indiana Monitor and Royal Arch Masons’ Guide published in 1995. He is a member of Robert A. Woods Priory No. 62, Knights of the York Cross of Honor. Brother Graham is a Past Master of Nashville Lodge N. 135, F. & A. Masons of Indiana in Nashville, Indiana. He is a member of many of Freemasonry’s appendant bodies and has served in a leadership position in most of the bodies in which he is a member. He is a recipient of the Bronze Medal of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International. Mr. Graham is a consultant in transportation economics, a partner in ACT Publications, a publisher of a monthly report of freight transportation and commercial vehicle industry, and Treasurer of FTR Associates, a freight transportation consulting firm. He is a graduate of Utica College and Syracuse University. He taught at Temple University, worked for Westinghouse Corp., and retired from Cummins Engine Co. where he was Economic Forecasting Director. Mr. Graham lives with his wife Jerie in Brown County, Indiana, and has four children and several grandchildren.