Grand High Priest Most Excellent Companion Ryan W. Adams

"To bring the blind by a way that they knew not; to lead them in paths they have not known; to make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight; these things to do unto them, and not forsake them."

RAF CHARITY BEAD SALE & AUCTION

 

To be held October 7, 2024
Crowne Plaza Columbus North Hotel

Columbus, Ohio

YOU COULD SAVE A  LIFE!

Donate Life Ohio is a coalition of the state's organ, eye and tissue recovery agencies dedicated to educating Ohioans about the need for organ, eye and tissue donation and motivating them to join the Ohio Donor Registry.

WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP IN A FAMILY.

 

Every child deserves to grow up with a family that will be there for them through all of life’s successes and challenges. At Adopt America Network, we are dedicated to helping find permanency for the children and youth in foster care.

WHAT IS ROYAL ARCH MASONRY?

"There is, in my opinion, a very good reason for separating the three Craft or blue degrees from the Royal Arch ceremony; for the blue degrees take us through our experiences during our life on this earth and the Royal Arch then tries to initiate us into the Grand Mystery of the Life hereafter. And just as death on earth is not the final end of Man’s saga, so the Third degree in the ‘Blue’ is not the end of our Masonic teaching."

Further Light In Masonry

No Rite of Freemasonry covers the world so much as does Royal Arch Masonry. In every country of the earth; on every continent and on many isles of the sea, will be found Royal Arch Chapters, eager and willing to receive their companions from other parts of the world into that full fellowship that characterizes Royal Arch Masonry. In Asia, in Africa, in Europe, in the Americas, and on the Continent of Australia will be found hundreds of Royal Arch Chapters into whose halls you will ever be a welcome visitor. In our own country we find upwards of three quarter million members in 3,000 chapters.

Our Rich History

Except the Master Mason Degree, no Masonic Degree is more important in its historical and symbolic significance than the Royal Arch Degree. In some form it appears in every Rite, but only here does its history, its symbolism, its lessons show so vividly its connection with the Master Mason Degree and the fact that it is, indeed, the final chapter of that essential degree of Freemasonry. It brings to light that for which the Mason has searched.

WHY ROYAL ARCH MASONRY?

Royal Arch Masonry is considered as the capstone to your Masonic journey. It is deemed the "Supreme Degree" and the completion of the Master Mason degree. But why? As a Master Mason, due to the u.d. of our G.M.H.A. you are presented with substituted Ss. The Temple is incomplete. The story and the journey itself has not reached its conclusion, leaving the Master Mason with unresolved questions. In the Royal Arch capitular system, the Mark Master Mason degree is deemed the completion of the Fellowcraft degree within a lodge, the Most Excellent Master, also taking place in a lodge, discovers he has come to the end of Craft symbolism with a beautiful ceremony of dedication, but providing that question of "what’s next?" What’s next is Capitular Masonry with the Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem where the candidate is presented with rich, beautiful, and colourful symbolism steeped in ancient knowledge, and encompassed in the long historical journey of the Israelites leading to a Great Discovery. Brothers become Companions as a deeper title to signify the bonds of experiencing a toilsome yet rewarding journey together. So why Royal Arch Masonry then? That’s for you to discover, but we can tell you it’s one that none of us Master Masons have regretted doing.

Want to learn more ?

Contact the Grand Chapter and we'll be happy to put you in touch with a respresentative in your area!


About Royal Arch Degrees

CloseWhat To Expect

Some are asking - What shall I expect to see and hear in these Yorl Rite Degrees? What will be expected or required of me as a candidate?

First: Beautifully worded ritual and impressive floor work designed to impress important moral truths lastingly

Second: A dramatazation in custome and ancient setting that excels any you have thus far witnessed.

Third: No Lectures to learn, except for those who, of their own volition, desire a better groundwork in Masonic knowledge.

Fourth: Wonderful fellowship and a warm welcome.

Fifth: an opportunity to better serve Freemasonry, yourself and your fellow man.

You might be interested in a brief resume of the four Chapter or Capitular Degrees, the trhee Council or Cryptic Degrees and the three Commandery or Chivalric Orders.

CloseMark Master

It is claimedby many historians that this degree is as old as, and perhaps older than, any other degree in Ancient Craft Masonry, so ancient, in fact, that its real origin cannot be exactly traced. In the early days of American Freemasonry, before the Cpaitular Degrees were fully established, there were many Mark Master lodges. Its origin with the Entered Apprentice Degree, probably reaches back to into Masonic antiquity.

It teached, in never-to-be-forgotten allegory, the great truths which underlie diligence, fairness, toleration and loyalty.

CloseMark Master

It is claimedby many historians that this degree is as old as, and perhaps older than, any other degree in Ancient Craft Masonry, so ancient, in fact, that its real origin cannot be exactly traced. In the early days of American Freemasonry, before the Cpaitular Degrees were fully established, there were many Mark Master lodges. Its origin with the Entered Apprentice Degree, probably reaches back to into Masonic antiquity.

It teached, in never-to-be-forgotten allegory, the great truths which underlie diligence, fairness, toleration and loyalty.

ClosePast Master

In early times. regulations provided that no Master Mason could receive the Royal Arch until he had been elected and installed to preside over and govern a Symbolic Lodge. This curtailed the number of those eligible to become Royal Arch Masons. When the royal Arch was set apart as a Chapter Degree, and to preserve the custom abovealuuded to, a new degree was developed which gives, in the Chapter, the privilege of "Passing the Chair," but without actual election to preside over a Lodge.

It teaches the proper attitude of one chosen over his peers and contains much of the value to guide one in his contacts with humanity

CloseMost Excellent Master

This degree is one of the most beautiful and impressive degrees in Freemasonry. Dealing with the completion and dedication of the First Temple, it is definately in line with some of the work you have alreadt witnessed, and is a very fitting prelude to the Royal Arch Degree.

Tradition informs us that at the completion and dedication of the First Temple, King Solomoninstituted a new order of Masons, and bestowed upon them the honory appellation of Most Excellent Masters; and none but the meritorious and prasieworthy; none but those who, through dillegence and industry, have advanced far toward perfection; none but those who have been seated in the Oriental Chair by the unanimous sufferages of their Brethen, can be admitted to the degree of Masonry.

Here is a colorful and outstanding Masonic degree, which, with this brief outline of its character and nature, should more than ever convince you, as a Master Mason, that you have something really worthwhile to look forward to as you advance in Masonry.

CloseRoyal Arch Degree

We now come to what is known as the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry and from what you have already read it should be obvious to you that this may well be called the most important degree, historically and traditionally. Its ritual, its floor work , its colorful atmosphere, is entirely different from anything you have seen or heard in your Masonic travels.

Our system of Ancient Craft Masonry concerns the loss and recovery of the Word, and the Word is the central point about which much of our system of Masonic Symbolism revolves. Whereever there is a loss there should be a recovery, and the Royal Arch Degree vividly portrays that recovery. In the early days of Speculative Masonry, our Brethen in Great Britian declared that "the Royal Arch is the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry," and their present ritual states that the Royal Arch is "the Master Mason's Degree completed." No Master Mason, whether recently raised, or of manay years standing, can fail to appreciate the significance of these historical facts. Let us hope therefore, that every Master Mason who reads thesewords, will now decide that he has delayed long enough and that he, too, will complete his necessary Masonic Education.