Difference between revisions of "Holy Royal Arch"
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Much of the story of the Royal Arch degree is taken from the Book of Numbers. | Much of the story of the Royal Arch degree is taken from the Book of Numbers. | ||
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A key aspect of the Holy Royal Arch degree is that of the 12 Tribes of Israel. | A key aspect of the Holy Royal Arch degree is that of the 12 Tribes of Israel. | ||
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|+ The 12 Tribes of Israel - Masonic Attributions (according to Stephen Skinner) | |+ The 12 Tribes of Israel - Masonic Attributions (according to Stephen Skinner) | ||
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Revision as of 13:42, 2 September 2022
Holy Royal Arch
The Royal Arch is a single degree of Freemasonry that typically follows directly from the 3rd Degree of Master Mason. Many masons will say it "completes" the Master Mason degree. The Royal Arch is present in all main masonic systems, though in some it is worked as part of Craft Freemasonry, and in others in an appendant ('additional') order. Royal Arch Masons meet as a "Chapter" (not a "lodge"); in the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch as practised in the British Isles, much of Europe and the Commonwealth, Chapters confer the degree of Royal Arch Mason.
Much of the story of the Royal Arch degree is taken from the Book of Numbers.
Twelve Tribes of Israel
A key aspect of the Holy Royal Arch degree is that of the 12 Tribes of Israel.
| Tribe | Astrological | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Gad | Aries | South |
| Ephraim | Taurus | West |
| Manesseh | Gemini | West |
| Issachar | Cancer | East |
| Judah | Leo | East |
| Naphali | Virgo | North |
| Asher | Libra | North |
| Dan | Scorpio | North |
| Benjamin | Sagitarius | West |
| Zebulon | Capricorn | East |
| Reuben | Aquarius | South |
| Simeon | Pisces | South |
| Tribe | Creature | Astrology | Element | Direction | Temperature | Tetragrammaton | QBL Four Worlds | Archangel | Weapon | Symbols |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gad | Man | Air | Aquarius | East | Hot/Wet | Yod | Atziluth | Raphael | Dagger/Sword | Feather/Incense/Perfumes/Rose |
| Ephraim | Lion | Fire | Leo | South | Hot/Dry | Heh | Briah | Michael | Wand | Flame |
| Manesseh | Eagle | Water | Scorpio | West | Cold/Wet | Vau | Yetzirah | Gabriel | Cup | Water |
| Issachar | Bull | Earth | Taurus | North | Cold/Dry | Heh | Assiah | Auriel | Pentacle | Salt/Soil |
Terminology
Once accepted into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter the candidate becomes a "Companion" with Royal Arch meetings being described as "convocations". The advanced ceremony advanced to Companion is called Exaltation. Royal Arch Chapters are governed by three Principals, who conjointly rule the Chapter, sitting together in the east of the assembly.
In addition to the three Principals, who rule conjointly, a Royal Arch Chapter has elected and appointed officers with individual responsibilities within the Chapter.
These are:
- Zerubbabel – Prince of Jerusalem
- Haggai – the Prophet
- Joshua or Jeshua – the High Priest
- Scribe Ezra
- Scribe Nehemiah
- Treasurer
- Director of Ceremonies
- Principal Sojourner
- 1st Assistant Sojourner
- 2nd Assistant Sojourner
- Assistant Director of Ceremonies
- Organist
- Steward (there may be several Stewards)
- Janitor