Your Next Step in Freemasonry

THE ROYAL ARCH

A Master Mason may join a Royal Arch Chapter four weeks after being Raised. It is the natural and traditional next step in Freemasonry.

The Craft and the Royal Arch
Long ago, the Royal Arch degree would have been worked in the Craft Lodge. For many years following the reorganization of Freemasonry alter the Union of the Grand Lodges in England in the year 1813, the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch was stated to be the completion of the Third Degree.
It is now said to be the completion of Craft Masonry.
Whatever wording one prefers, it is a most rewarding and enlightening step for a Master Mason, offering as it does, an opportunity to fill the gaps left in Craft Masonry after the Third Degree and to continue the Masonic journey towards a fulfilling spiritual conclusion.
In the degrees which you received in the Craft, you were taught that Freemasonry is a system of morality based on a belief In T.G.A.O.T.U. and promoting brotherly love, relief and truth as the rule for your earthly pilgrimage.
The Ceremony of Raising implies that there is more to learn, for it urges us to lift our eyes beyond our civil duties and routine existence. The Royal Arch develops this theme.
The close affinity of the Craft and the Royal Arch is further emphasized by the fact that the Grand Master is automatically the First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Chapter, and 'the Deputy Grand Master is the Second Grand principal, and the Grand Secretary is also Secretary of the Royal Arch; he is called the 'Grand Scribe E'.
The Royal Arch Regulations are contained in the "General Regulations for the Government of the Order of Royal, Arch Masons in India."

Membership of a Chapter
Members are known as 'Companions'. The Chapter is headed by a trio of Principals, the First, Second and Third, who traditionally exercise a conjoint leadership of the Chapter, with the First Principal being the first among equals. Companions who have become one of the three Principals of a Chapter are known as 'Excellent Companions'.
A Royal Arch Chapter is frequently associated with a Craft Lodge and may carry the same name. However, not all Lodges have a Chapter. It follows that Companions of a Chapter may come from different Lodges in the same city or another city in the Region; and sometimes from even a city outside the Region. Certainly, joining a Chapter will extend the circle of one's Masonic friends.
Chapters meet less frequently than Lodges, commonly four times a year. Joining fees and Annual Dues are also less than those to the Craft.
There will always be many brethren eager to advise you about the Royal Arch. You only need to ask!

The Royal Arch in the Masonic Regions
The Regional Grand Master also commands the Royal Arch in the Region as its Regional Grand First Principal, but he is formally called the 'Most Excellent Grand Superintendent'. As in the Chapters, the Second and Third Regional Grand Principals traditionally rule the Region conjointly with the Grand Superintendent. The Royal Arch in the Region is administered by the Regional Grand Scribe E. who is also the Craft Regional Grand Secretary.
There are similar Masonic Regions for Southern, Northern, Western and Eastern India.
The complete list of Royal Arch Officers may be found in the Grand Lodge Directory and Handbook, and in the Regional Grand Lodge Directories. There are Regional and Grand ranks, as in the Craft.

The Royal Arch Ritual
Apart from the Installation Ceremony wherein the three Principals are Installed, there is only one ceremony In the Royal Arch Ritual: that of the Exaltation of a new Companion. After the darkness of the Third Degree, it is a 'colorful, enlightening and memorable ceremony, with profound, challenging, and allegorical significance. The story which contains some of the most delightful lines of Masonic ritual, concerns the re-building of the Temple after the Exile. In it can be seen an explanation of words in the ritual which state that the Royal Arch is 'founded on the Sacred Name' of God.

Regalia
Companions wear the Apron, Sashe and the Jewels of the Order with the white ribbon and the Excellent Companions wear the Jewel with Blue/Purple/Crimson ribbon.