The working tools in the Royal Arch symbolically teach the Mason to loosen from his heart the hold of evil habits 1.
Masonic writers and historical ritual records show that the working tools assigned to the degree were not always uniform. Early ritual records and comparative research show variations that included tools such as the axe, hammer, rake, shovel, saw, basket, and barrow, a paper read before Quatuor Coronati Lodge notes.
In standard present-day practice, Royal Arch working tools complement those introduced in the Craft degrees and appear on historical artifacts such as charity boxes featuring a miniature vault, as the United Grand Lodge of England states.
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