WBro Ed Beaman
I have been asked to write about why I believe people should join the Royal Arch. The opinions expressed here are my own and may differ from those of Supreme Grand Chapter, but they come from my personal experience and understanding of the journey in Freemasonry.
When a Mason is raised to the Third Degree, he is told that the genuine secrets of a Master Mason have been lost. In their place, he is entrusted with substituted secrets. This moment is significant, but it also raises an important question: if the true secrets are lost, how and where might they be found?
Naturally, one might assume that figures such as King Solomon or Hiram King of Tyre would hold the answer, as they were central to the building of the Temple. Yet the Craft degrees do not resolve this mystery. Instead, they leave the candidate with an incomplete story, encouraging him to continue his Masonic journey in search of further light.
This is where the Holy Royal Arch becomes essential.
While Craft Masonry consists of three degrees, it is often said that there are effectively four ceremonies, with the Royal Arch completing what was left unfinished. The Royal Arch is not simply an optional addition; it is the continuation and completion of the story that begins in the Craft.
The ceremony of Exaltation into the Royal Arch is both colourful and deeply symbolic. It brings the candidate into a setting that is rich in history and meaning, and through its narrative, it reveals how the long-lost secrets were ultimately rediscovered. The ceremony explains not only where the secrets were found, but also by whom, and under what circumstances. In doing so, it answers the questions left unresolved in the Third Degree.
Beyond its narrative, the Royal Arch offers a deeper understanding of the principles and teachings introduced in Craft Masonry. It reinforces themes of loss and recovery, truth and discovery, and the importance of perseverance in the search for knowledge. Many Masons find that it brings clarity to ideas that may have seemed symbolic or incomplete in earlier degrees.
It is at this point that a Mason truly begins to appreciate that Craft and Royal Arch Masonry are not separate paths, but one continuous journey. The Royal Arch does not replace the Craft; it completes it. Without it, the story remains unfinished.
Each individual Mason will decide for himself when the time is right to join the Royal Arch. Some choose to join soon after being raised, while others prefer to spend more time in their Craft Lodge before taking that next step. There is no single correct path, but it is worth remembering that without the Royal Arch, the journey that began in the Craft is not brought to its full conclusion.
In practical terms, Royal Arch Chapters typically meet four times a year, usually consisting of three regular meetings and an Installation. Some Craft Lodges have Chapters attached to them, while others do not. For those interested in joining, the best first step is to speak with the Royal Arch representative in their Lodge, who can offer guidance and help them find a suitable Chapter.
Ultimately, the Royal Arch offers a unique opportunity: to complete the journey, to discover what was lost, and to gain a deeper understanding of the teachings of Freemasonry. For any Master Mason seeking further light, it is a step well worth taking.
Story by WBro Ed Beaman
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