When the United Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1813, it was ‘declared
and pronounced that pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and
no more, viz., those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and
the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch’.
Together with U.G.L.E., Supreme Grand Chapter is administered from
Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London. The Grand Master, HRH
The Duke of Kent, is also the First Grand Principal of the Royal
Arch. Several other Craft Grand Officers also hold equivalent
offices in the Royal Arch.
Every Royal Arch Chapter has to be attached to a Craft Lodge and take
the same Number as that Lodge. Most Chapters also take the same
name as their parent Lodge. Initially, Candidates for the Royal
Arch had to have already been a Master of a Craft Lodge, but this was
later altered to having been a Master Mason for at least 12 months. It
was again altered to a period of four weeks, which applies to this
day. About one Master Mason in three becomes a Companion of the
Royal Arch.
Meetings of Royal Arch Chapters are called Convocations. A
Chapter is ruled collectively by three Principals, elected for the
year. Most other Officers have different titles and functions from
Craft Lodges. The regalia is totally different from Craft,
consisting of an Apron with a red and blue surround, a red and blue sash
and a special Breast Jewel. Companions also wear their Breast
Jewel in their Craft Lodges to show the close bond which exists between
Craft and Royal Arch.
The Royal Arch ceremony deals with the period after King Solomon’s
Temple had been destroyed and was about to be re-built. The ritual
is allegorical and, without trespassing on religion, leads the
candidate, whatever his religion, to contemplate the nature of, and his
relationship with God.