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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.