Holy Royal Arch

From About Freemasons

The Holy Royal Arch is sometimes also known as a Chapter. It is considered to be an additional degree of Freemasonry – a degree that is attained after a Mason has gone through the process of acquiring all the degrees that his regular lodge offers. To qualify for candidacy into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter, a Master Mason must have been a Master Mason for four weeks or longer. For a Scottish Mason who wants to enter into candidacy into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter, he must be a Mark Master Mason. Historians believe that the Holy Royal Arch degree dates back to the middle of the 18th century.

History of the Royal Arch

The earliest records of the Royal Arch date back to the 1730s, when the Royal Arch was mentioned in records from Dublin, York, and London. These early records suggest that the Royal Arch was simply a part of the Master Mason's degree, rather than a degree of its own. The Antients and Moderns viewed the Royal Arch rather differently. The Moderns saw the Royal Arch as being separate from Craft Freemasonry and as a result created the Grand and Royal Chapter of the Royal Arch of Jerusalem in 1766. This Grand Chapter became the first Grand Chapter in the world. The Antients considered the Royal Arch as a fourth degree.

The Royal Arch around the world

Different countries have different organizational structures and different regulations surrounding the Royal Arch. In Australia, England and parts of Europe, for example, all Holy Royal Arch Chapters are sponsored by a craft lodge. A Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter is overseen by the United Grand Lodge of England. In Scotland, Royal Arch Chapters are overseen by the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland and this is the authority that grants the conferment of the degrees. Masons from other countries must complete the Scottish exaltation ceremony to attend Scottish Royal Arch Chapters. To qualify for membership in Royal Arch Chapters, Scottish Masons must have both the Mark Degree and the Excellent Masters Degree. In the US, the Royal Arch is one of the degrees part of the York Rite.

Officers in the Chapters

A Holy Royal Arch Chapter consists of elected and appointed Officers, much like a Craft Lodge. The names of the key Officers are:

• Zerubbabel, who is also known as the Prince of Jerusalem
• Haggai, who is also known as the Prophet
• Joshua, who is also known as the High Priest

All three of these names come from Biblical texts. Zerubbabel led 42,360 Jews from Babylonian Captivity and also laid the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Haggai was a prophet who after the Babylonian Captivity encouraged the Jews to build the temple. Joshua was a religious leader and high priest in the same community. He listened to Haggai and with the help of Zerubbabel helped to build the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Additional Officers who may appear as part of a Holy Royal Arch Chapter include Ezra and Nehemiah.