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Royal Arch

The Holy Royal Arch is a Masonic degree considered by scholars to be the completing part of the Craft Masonic legend rather than an entirely separate entity [1]. In 1813, the United Grand Lodge of England officially declared that pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch [7]. Early written references to the degree trace to Irish lodge records from 1752 and member lists dating back to 1745 [10], alongside Scottish chapter minute books dating to 1743 [4]. The earliest known record of the degree being formally conferred upon candidates occurs in the 1753 minutes of Fredericksburg Lodge in Virginia [7][10].

Masonic authorities have historically differed on the official governance and position of the Royal Arch; while English Freemasonry formally recognized it at the Union of 1813 [7], the Grand Lodge of Scotland persistently refused to recognize it, maintaining that speculative Freemasonry consists solely of three degrees [4]. Symbolically, the principal badge of the Royal Arch is the triple tau, which consists of three tau crosses conjoined at their feet to form the central emblem of the degree [2]. Additionally, the traditional vestments worn by officers—such as the purple robe of the Scribe and the dark, tessellated robe of the Principal Sojourner—and the items depicted on early tracing boards, such as the keystone, pot of incense, and rainbow, carry specific historical and symbolic allusions [6].

Drawn from Albert C. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, pp. 1610-1610 · Albert C. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, pp. 1610-1610 · Albert Gallatin Mackey and William R. Singleton, The History of Freemasonry: Its Legends and Traditions, Its Chronological History, pp. 140-141 · Albert C. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, pp. 1610-1610 · Albert C. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, pp. 1610-1610 · Albert C. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, pp. 1610-1610

Further reading, from the archive.

  1. what is the historical origin of the triple tau in the royal arch and how do standard commentators explain its symbolic meaning

    Royal ArchsymbolismMackeytriple tau

  2. what led to the schism between the ancients and moderns and how long did it last

    who brokered the union · did the provincial lodges split too

    3 turns Antients and ModernsUnited Grand Lodge of EnglandRoyal Archlandmarks

  3. what is the historical development of the wearing of the royal arch robes by the principals

    Royal ArchPrincipalsvestmentsSojourners

  4. how does a companion affiliate with a royal arch chapter under the grand lodge of india

    Royal ArchGrand Lodge of Indiaaffiliationqualification

  5. why do royal arch chapters meet under the warrant of a craft lodge

    Royal ArchAntients and ModernsDermottcharter

  6. where did the office of Principal Sojourner in a Royal Arch chapter come from and what are his actual duties

    Royal ArchofficerssymbolismMackey

  7. what is the historical origin of the installation ceremony for a worshipful master and how did the virtual past master degree develop

    Past MasterinstallationRoyal ArchAncients and Moderns

  8. i am interested for knowledge and truth is this the right place for me ?

    i feel that truth belongs to the one that is asking for it and not for everybody

    2 turns symbolismRoyal ArchFellow CraftWilmshurst

  9. when did the supreme grand chapter of england formally separate from the grand lodge

    Royal ArchArticles of UnionUnited Grand Chapter

  10. Can you provide a historical list of famous Freemasons documented in our archives

    famous MasonsGrand Lodge of IndiaAntients and Modernshistory

  11. when did the supreme grand chapter of scotland formally recognise the royal arch degree

    and what led up to that decision

    2 turns Royal ArchSupreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of ScotlandGrand Lodge of ScotlandCapitular Masonry

  12. What is the historical derivation of the jewel of the royal arch, and how do the older commentators interpret its geometric layout?

    Royal Archtriple tausymbolismjewel

  13. what is the historical origin of the wearing of the triple tau in the royal arch

    Royal Archtriple tausymbolismregalia

  14. why are there three principals in the royal arch instead of just one

    Royal ArchPrincipalssymbolismWilmshurst

  15. where did the office of joshua come from in the royal arch and what are his duties

    what about haggai

    2 turns Royal ArchPrincipalsJoshuaWilmshurst

  16. what does the rainbow symbolise in the royal ark mariner degree and do the writers agree on its meaning

    Royal Ark MarinerMark MasonrysymbolismRoyal Arch

  17. how are the district grand lodges structured under the grand lodge of india

    Grand Lodge of IndiaRoyal Archlodge officers

  18. what is the historical meaning of the three scepters in the royal arch

    do the colors have a specific meaning too

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismMackeyWilmshurst

  19. what is the historical meaning behind the three grand masters in the royal arch

    where does that tradition come from

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismofficersWilmshurst

  20. How does the Royal Arch relate symbolically to the Third Degree?

    Royal ArchThird DegreesymbolismWilmshurst

  21. where did the office of scribe ezra come from in the royal arch and what are his duties

    Royal ArchScribe Ezraofficerssymbolism

  22. What are the Masonic landmarks What are the Masonic landmarks?

    landmarksMackeyGrand Lodge of EnglandRoyal Arch

  23. where did the office of principal sojourner come from in the royal arch and what are his duties

    Royal Archlodge officersExaltationsymbolism

  24. what is the historical link between the Royal Arch and the third degree

    did they split or just get joined back together · what do the early english records say about it

    3 turns Royal ArchMaster MasonAntients and Modernssymbolism

  25. how are exaltations carried out in a royal arch chapter under the grand lodge of india

    Royal ArchGrand Lodge of IndiaexaltationWilmshurst

  26. where is king solomon's treasure

    Secret VaultRoyal ArchsymbolismSolomon's Temple

  27. how are the three principals elected and installed annually in a royal arch chapter under the grand lodge of india

    Royal Archlodge officersGrand Lodge of Indiainstallation

  28. what do the jewels of the three principals symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on them

    same under supreme grand chapter

    2 turns Royal ArchjewelsPrincipalsMackey

  29. what does the triple tau symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on it

    where did that reading come from · does mackey differ on it

    3 turns Royal Archsymbolismtriple tauMackey

  30. when did the grand chapter of all England at York work the royal arch

    same time as london? · where'd the records go

    3 turns Royal ArchYork Ritehistorydegrees

  31. what does the rainbow symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on it

    same in the mark degree?

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismRoyal Ark MarinerWaite

  32. what led to the schism between the moderns and ancients

    how did dermott change the working

    2 turns Antients and ModernsGrand Lodge of EnglandMackeyRoyal Arch

  33. when did the two grand lodges actually unite

    Antients and ModernsUnited Grand Lodge of EnglandRoyal Archhistory

  34. when did grand lodge first officially recognise the royal arch

    who pushed for it

    2 turns Royal ArchUnited Grand Lodge of EnglandAntients and ModernsArticles of Union

  35. what does the rainbow symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on it

    does waite mention it

    2 turns Royal ArchRoyal Ark MarinersymbolismWaite

  36. where did scribe nehemiah come from and what are his duties in a royal arch chapter

    same in Ireland?

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismMackeyWilmshurst

  37. what do the working tools symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on them

    Royal Archworking toolssymbolismMackey

  38. why were Christian references removed from the Royal Arch after the Union

    Royal ArchAct of UnionAntients and ModernsUnited Grand Lodge of England

  39. where did the office of principal sojourner come from in the royal arch and what are his duties

    is he basically the senior deacon of the chapter

    2 turns Royal Archlodge officerssymbolismvestments

  40. how long after being raised can a brother be exalted into the royal arch under GLI

    is it the same under UGLE · what if he was raised in another constitution

    3 turns Royal ArchGrand Lodge of IndiaMaster Masonexaltation

  41. what does the double cube altar symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on it

    is it mentioned in the lectures

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismpedestalWilmshurst

  42. what do the four principal standards symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on them

    where does that reading come from

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismMackeyWilmshurst

  43. is the royal arch open to candidates of all faiths like the craft

    what about using different volumes of the sacred law · did early writers treat it as christian

    4 turns Royal ArchqualificationsreligionMaster Mason

  44. why is red the main color in the royal arch

    what about the purple and blue on the sash

    2 turns Royal Archsymbolismveils

  45. what does the triple tau mean in the royal arch and where did it come from

    Royal ArchsymbolismMackeyregalia

  46. did the royal arch originate as part of the third degree or was it created as a separate degree

    how did hughan and gould refute it · what is the accepted modern view

    4 turns Royal ArchAntients and ModernsMaster MasonHughan

  47. why does a royal arch chapter have three principals instead of a master

    was it always three · are they all equal or is Z supreme

    3 turns Royal Archlodge officerssymbolismWilmshurst

  48. where did scribe ezra come from and what are his duties in a royal arch chapter

    is he basically the chapter secretary · does he need to be a past principal to hold the office

    3 turns Royal Archlodge officerssymbolismMackey

  49. what caused the schism between the Moderns and the Antients in 1751

    and how did Dermott fit into it

    2 turns Antients and Modernsgrand lodgeRoyal Archhistory

  50. why do we call each other companion in the Royal Arch instead of brother

    do craft lodges ever use companion · what does masonic scholarship say about the distinction

    4 turns Royal ArchsymbolismMackey

  51. why is the Royal Arch degree set in a subterranean vault

    where does that legend come from

    2 turns Royal ArchsymbolismWilmshurst

  52. where did the office of principal sojourner come from and what are his duties

    Royal Archlodge officerssymbolism

  53. how long after being raised can a brother be exalted in the Royal Arch under GLI

    is it different under UGLE in india · does he have to be a Mark Mason first

    3 turns Royal ArchGrand Lodge of Indiaexaltation

  54. What are the different bodies Master Masons can join?ko su slobodni zidari

    Royal ArchCryptic MasonryScottish RiteKnights Templar

  55. what does the double cube altar symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on it

    where does the double cube shape come from · what do masonic writers say about it

    3 turns Royal Archsymbolismpedestalaltar

  56. what does the triple tau symbolise in the royal arch and do writers agree on it

    who says it stands for Templum Hierosolymae

    2 turns Triple TauRoyal ArchsymbolismMackey

  57. is the Royal Arch open to candidates of all faiths or does it require a Christian belief

    what VSL is used when the candidate isn't Christian

    2 turns Royal ArchqualificationsSupreme BeingKnights Templar

  58. who established the first royal arch grand chapter in 1766

    was he a modern or an antient · what was the charter they signed called

    3 turns Royal ArchGrand ChapterCharter of CompactPremier Grand Lodge

  59. who conferred the earliest recorded Mark degree in England and where was it done

    was it worked in a craft lodge or a chapter · what about the earliest record in Scotland

    3 turns Mark MasonryPortsmouthRoyal Archhistory

  60. what do the four principal banners represent in the royal arch and do writers agree on them

    did mackey and waite agree on it · what about the twelve smaller banners

    4 turns Royal ArchsymbolismastrologyMackey

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