Holy Royal Arch

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.

The Masonic Holy Royal Arch degree is a significant and highly esteemed degree in the fraternity of Freemasonry. It is considered the "completion" of the three degrees of the Blue Lodge, which are the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. The Holy Royal Arch degree represents the final step in the journey of a Mason through the traditional degrees of the fraternity.

The Holy Royal Arch degree is often referred to as "the fourth degree" in Freemasonry, as it is the fourth degree in the York Rite, which is one of the two main branches of Freemasonry in the United States. The York Rite is named after the city of York in England, where the ritual and ceremonies of the degree are said to have originated.

At its core, the Holy Royal Arch degree draws inspiration from the remarkable tale of rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. But it goes far beyond just storytelling; it imparts important lessons about brotherhood, charity, and the pursuit of truth. It emphasises the importance of seeking knowledge and enlightenment in our lives. Throughout this degree, you'll find symbols and rituals that convey these powerful messages.

One of the central symbols of the Holy Royal Arch degree is the triple tau, which is a letter of the Greek alphabet that is shaped like a cross. It's a symbol of the divine and represents the quest for wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.

Another important symbol is the keystone, which represents the central pillar of the Temple. It embodies the idea of unity and stability and is closely linked with the search for truth, as it's believed to contain the secrets of the degree.

The Holy Royal Arch degree is more than just a ritual; it's a reflection of the highest ideals held dear by Masons around the world. It marks the culmination of a Mason's journey through the foundational degrees, bringing those ideals to life in a meaningful way.

Book of Numbers

Much of the story of the Royal Arch degree is taken from the Book of Numbers.

The book of numbers describes the history of the Israelites as they wander in the wilderness following their departure from Sinai and before their occupation of Canaan. Describing their sufferings and their numerous complaints against God, the people are depicted as faithless and rebellious. The story continues with God’s promise that the Israelites will inhabit the land of Canaan. This story, beginning in Genesis and continuing in Exodus and Leviticus, does not reach its conclusion until Israel successfully occupies the Promised Land. The promise is fulfilled and finalised in the Book of Joshua. At one time, Numbers may have contained an account of the occupation of Canaan that was dropped when the Tetrateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers) was joined to other historical books of the Old Testament. (Summarised from Encyclopedia Britannica)

Twelve Tribes of Israel

A key aspect of the Holy Royal Arch degree is that of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

The 12 Tribes of Israel - Masonic Attributions (according to Stephen Skinner)

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

The Banners

In practice, the colours of the banners vary widely across lodges and their suppliers. The following information is sourced from a variety of places by Michael Jenkyns (Kitchener No. 210 GRC), including the King James Bible and Duncan's Ritual:

• Judah - Crimson colour with a Lion. Genesis 49:9 “Judah is a lion’s whelp.” {The Jewish people are descended from Judah.} (Banner 1)
• Naphtali - Blue colour with “a hind let loose”. Genesis 49:21 “Naphtali is a hind let loose that bears comely fawns.” (Banner 2)
• Asher - Purple and an overflowing cup. Genesis 49:20 “Asher’s food shall be rich and he shall yield royal dainties.” Jewish tradition holds that Asher’s banner depicted an olive tree. Both can be considered as depicting “gastronomic richness”. (Banner 3)
• Dan - Green with a serpent biting a horse’s heel. Genesis 49:17 “Dan shall be a serpent in the roadway... that bites the horses heels so that its rider falls backward.” There is no Jewish tradition linking the symbol of the Eagle with Dan - the symbol was always a serpent. (Banner 4)
• Benjamin - Green with a wolf. Genesis 49:27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf...devouring the prey.” (Banner 5)
• Manasseh - Pale Pink with a vine beside a wall. In Genesis 41:51 “Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh for he said God has made me forget all my hardship." In Deuteronomy, Manasseh played a significant role in the history of Israel. The Christian description of a “fruitful vine near a spring whose branches climb over a wall” was appropriated for Manasseh. Jewish tradition holds that Manasseh’s banner displayed a unicorn. (Banner 6)
• Issachar - Sky Blue with an ass crouching between two burdens. Genesis 49:14 “Issachar is a strong ass crouching between the sheepfolds” although two saddlebags or burdens are substituted as being more meaningful. (Banner 7)
• Zebulun - Purple with a ship. Genesis 49:13 “Zebulun will dwell at the shore of the sea; he should become a haven for ships.” (Banner 8)
• Reuben - Scarlet with wavy lines. Genesis 49:3-4 “Reuben, you are my first born... unstable (i.e., turbulent) as the waters”. The waters are depicted by wavy lines. Jewish tradition lists Reuben’s banner as either mandrakes or the figure of a man - not surprising since the root of this highly poisonous plant was thought to resemble human form. This indicates a variation in emphasis but a consistency with Genesis. (Banner 9)
• Simeon - Yellow with a sword and dagger crossed. Genesis 49:5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords.” Jewish tradition holds that Simeon’s banner showed a city. (Banner 10)
• Gad - White and a troop of horsemen. Genesis 49:19 “Raiders shall raid Gad but he shall raid at their heels.” Jewish tradition holds that Gad’s banner showed a camp. (Banner 11)
• Ephraim - Green with an ox. To find a biblical reference for this symbolism, we have to turn to Deuteronomy 33:17 and the blessing given by Moses to the Israelites. When Moses mentions Joseph, he says, “In majesty, he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are like the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.” Although there are references to both Ephraim and Manasseh, the vine having already been used, so the ox was adopted. (Banner 12)

The Order of the Banners and Ensigns The reason for the order of the Banners and Ensigns corresponds to the listing in the second chapter of the Book of Numbers. The tribes were listed in a particular order in which they were to march when fleeing out of Egypt and then into camp. When the tribes were encamped, the Levites were in the centre with the Tabernacle, and the twelve tribes were arranged in four divisions of three tribes each at the cardinal points of the compass. From this, we can arrive at the four divisions of the Army of Israel:

Judah (1), with Issachar (7) and Zebulun (8) to the East

Reuben (9), with Simeon (10), and Gad (11) to the South

Ephraim (12) with Manasseh (6) and Benjamin (5) to the West

Dan (4) with Asher (3) and Naphtali (2) to the North

The Four Veils and The Tetramorph: The Four Holy Living Creatures

NOTE: the tribal attributions do vary widely according to author and source.

The Four Holy Living Creatures

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

The Four Veils (Banners at the Eastern End of the Chapter) also allude to the Four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Commentary: My personal reflections regarding the rationale.

1) When we see them as: Ox—Earth; Man—Water; Triple Tau, Lion—Fire; Eagle—Air. The first thing that reminds me is to pair the passive elements on one side and the active ones on the other. This sequence is also found on the 38^th degree (or 12^th on Yarker's reduced rite) of Memphis-Misraim, as well as the first degree of the Italian Misraim-Misraim as formed by the Grand Sanctuary of Adriatique. They represent the four degrees that are represented in the Arcana Arcanorum (87°–90°), and a simplified way to explain it would be that we start from the void and formless earth, represented also by the chamber of reflections. Then follows water, and as an extension, nature and life. Then comes the fiery spiritual world, and last comes the divine purity and unity, represented by air. If we consider the microcosmic attribution of the elements, they can also represent the path of the initiate, starting from the darkest part of the Temple, the North, and following an anti-clockwise path towards the East (meaning from north—Earth, to West—Water, South—Fire, and reaching east—Air).

2) If we see them as: Ox—Earth, Man—Air, Triple Tau, Lion—Fire, Eagle—Water. In this scenario, we see another pattern. The Triple Tau is the Central Source or Reconciler, next to which come first the active elements (Man—Air towards the North, Lion—Fire towards the South), followed by the passive elements. Each pair of Active and Passive denotes a principle. According to some analysis, we can see YH (meaning Fire and Water) being the Celestial Principle, which according to the Qabbalah can correspond to Chokmah and Binah and form a horizontal unity, and VH, which we can see as Tiphareth (as the Centre of Ruach) and Malkuth, being the vertical axis. Based on both ways, the Triple Tau acts as the Uniting Principle of the Opposites. On the first, it takes the two passive elements and unites them with the active ones; on the second, it unites the mundane with the divine. This forms a cross and symbolises YeHeShVaH.

The elements of the Christian tetramorph first appear in the vision of Ezekiel, who describes the four creatures as they appear to him in a vision:

Ezekiel 1:10: As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

They are described later in the Book of Revelation:

Revelation 4:7: And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

In full:

Revelations: Chapter 4

¹ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

² And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

³ And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

⁴ And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

⁵ And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

⁶ And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

⁷ And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

⁸ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

⁹ And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelations: Chapter 5

¹ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

² And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

³ And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

⁴ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

⁵ And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

⁶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

⁷ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

⁸ And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

⁹ And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

¹⁰ And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

¹² Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

¹⁴ And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Terminology

Upon acceptance into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter, the candidate earns the title of "Companion," and the Chapter's gatherings are referred to as "convocations." The ceremony that elevates a candidate to the rank of Companion is known as "Exaltation." Royal Arch Chapters are governed by three Principals. These Principals collectively preside over the Chapter and hold their seats together in the east of the assembly.

In addition to the three Principals who collectively share governance, a Royal Arch Chapter also includes elected and appointed officers. Each officer holds specific responsibilities within the Chapter.

In addition to the three Principals who collectively share governance, a Royal Arch Chapter also includes elected and appointed officers, each with specific responsibilities within the Chapter.

These officers include:

Zerubbabel – Prince of Jerusalem

Zerubbabel was a governor of the Achaemenid Empire's province, Yehud Medinata, and the grandson of Jeconiah, the penultimate king of Judah. Zerubbabel led the first group of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from Babylonian captivity in the first year of Cyrus the Great, the king of the Achaemenid Empire. The date is generally thought to have been around 520 BC. Soon after, Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Haggai – the Prophet

Haggai, whose name means "my holidays," was a Hebrew prophet who lived during the building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. He is one of the twelve minor prophets mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and is credited as the author of the Book of Haggai. He gained recognition for his prophecy in 520 BCE, where he commanded the Jews to rebuild the Temple. He was one of three prophets who emerged after the Neo-Babylonian Exile of the House of Judah. The other two prophets were Zechariah, who lived during the same time, and Malachi, who lived about a hundred years later. These prophets were part of the period of Jewish history that followed the return from captivity in Babylon.

Joshua or Jeshua – the High Priest

Joshua, who was also known as Yeshua, was appointed as the first High Priest responsible for supervising the reconstruction of the Jewish Temple following the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. (See Zechariah 6:9–14 and Ezra 3 in the Bible.)

Scribe Ezra

Ezra (480–440 BCE), also known as Ezra the Scribe and Ezra the Priest in the Book of Ezra, was a Jewish scribe and priest. According to the Hebrew Bible, he was a descendant of Sraya, who was the last High Priest to serve in the First Temple. He was also a close relative of Joshua, who was the first High Priest of the Second Temple.

Scribe Nehemiah

Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which narrates his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. He served as the governor of Persian Judea under the reign of Artaxerxes I of Persia (465–424 BC). In Hebrew, Nehemiah's name means "Yah comforts," and many scholars widely regard him as a genuine historical figure, particularly the portions of the Nehemiah Memoir that are written in the first person.

Treasurer – the Financial Officer or banker of the Chapter.

The role finds biblical reference in Nehemiah 13:13 "And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren." There is mention that Judas carried gold for Jesus and therefore was their Treasurer. Remember Matthew 6:21 "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Director of Ceremonies

This officer plays a pivotal role in ensuring the proper conduct of Chapter rituals.

Principal Sojourner

The Principal Sojourner prepares new candidates for admission and collaborates with the three Principals during ceremonies. The term "sojourner" carries historical significance, as it once referred to individuals who came from outside to Sojourn (spend days) in the company of companions and assist in their labours. Originally played an important role in the restoration of the Israelites to Jerusalem. Number 35:15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.

1^st Assistant Sojourner & 2^nd Assistant Sojourner

These individuals work alongside the Principal Sojourner to support candidates and assist in ceremonies.

Assistant Director of Ceremonies

Assisting in the smooth flow of rituals, this officer plays a vital role in maintaining the Chapter's ceremonial integrity.

Organist

The Organist contributes to the auditory aspects of Chapter meetings, adding a harmonious dimension to the proceedings.

Steward

A Chapter may have several Stewards, responsible for various logistical and practical aspects during convocations.

Janitor

The Janitor undertakes the duties of maintaining and safeguarding the Chapter's physical space, ensuring its security and functionality.

These officers collectively uphold the traditions and rituals of the Holy Royal Arch Chapter, facilitating a rich and meaningful experience for its Companions.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L. and Alchemy

V.I.T.R.I.O.L. stands for the Latin: Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem which translates into "Visit the interior of the earth, and by rectifying what you find there, you will discover the hidden stone". The hidden stone is invariably interpreted as the mythical philosopher's stone. Also known as The Stone of the Wise. This mysterious stone is the substance that will heal all diseases, transmute base metals into gold, and bring everlasting youth, along with a myriad of other positive life-affirming principles.

In physical alchemy and chemistry, Vitriol is a combination of ferrous and sulfuric acids. In chemistry, it can be used as a powerful disinfectant, and further distillation will yield a yellow-coloured oil usually referred to as "Oil of Vitriol". This is a potent acid that will dissolve human tissue and is corrosive to all metals except gold. A common symbol is that of a Green Lion (Vitriol) with the Sun (gold) in its mouth. Symbolic of placing rock that contained gold into the acid, dissolving away everything except the gold itself, Hence: Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem symbolic of the spiritual transfiguration in alchemical experimentation and practice.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L. is strongly analogous to the Nigredo, the blackening or "long dark night of the soul," where one is confronted with one's own shadow or dark side. Nigredo, or "blackness", means putrefaction or decomposition. Many alchemists held that as a first step in the pathway to the philosopher's stone, where all alchemical ingredients had to be cleansed and cooked extensively to a uniform black matter.

In analytical psychology via Carl Jung, the nigredo became a metaphor for "the dark night of the soul, when an individual confronts the shadow within." Here is the darkest time—the time of despair, doubt, and disillusionment. This is the time when Eros and Superego are at daggers drawn, and there seems no way forward. This could easily be seen as the basis of the "mental breakdown," leading to the opportunity for a mental breakthrough. Only subsequently would come "an enantiodromia; the nigredo gives way to the albedo...the ever deepening descent into the unconscious suddenly becomes illumination from above." (Re. Carl Jung, C. G. Jung, "Psychology of the Transference", Collected Works, Vol. 16)

In medieval Christianity, the "Harrowing of Hell" (Latin: 'Descensus Christi ad Inferos', "the descent of Christ into Hell" or Hades) is an Old English and Middle English term referring to the period of time between the Crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. In his triumphant descent, Christ brought salvation to the souls held captive in the underworld.

1 Peter 4:6 (King James Version)

⁶ For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The story was elucidated in the non-canonical Gospel of Nicodemis.