The Degrees Of Freemasonry And The Royal Arch.

was amalgamated with Graft Masonry , and was declared to be included in it . So much for it ' s history so far as we know it . Leaving this aspect of the subject and looking at our system from a philosophical point of view , one is naturally struck with the antiquity and peculiarity of our ancient Institution . To

declare Freemasonry to be a relic or an adaptation of the mysteries of Egypt , Greece , or Eome , would be to make a bold assertion , yet those ancient mysteries were , amongst other things , intended to "teach precisely those truths and lessons which are so

strongly insisted upon in our Ceremonial . They may be briefly summed up thus : — < f 1 . Acknowledgment of a Supreme Being . 2 . Belief in the resurrection and the immortality of the soul . 3 . The practice of Morality and Charity .

Now , if the conjecture is true that those who framed our present ritual went on the lines of these aucient mysteries , and worked in , as far as they could , the ceremonies used in conferring the grades among the old operative Masons , we can arrive at some idea as to the present arrangement of our degrees , and hence it

became necessary that in the third degree both death , resurrection , and immortality should be typified ; and one is not surprised to find that the third degree should be enlarged and elaborated by the arrangement of the Ceremony of the Eoyal Arch . In Prichard's " Masonry Dissected" ( already referred to ) we find these questions and answers : —

" Where are you going ? To the West from the East . " ' * What are you going to do there ? To seek for that which was lost and is now found . " This , I think , puts a different complexion on the third degree , to what we are accustomed .

Acting on these thoughts , what may we say of Freemasonry ? The first degree points out to us the birth of man ; the world is all before him , unknown , untried , with its cares , struggles , and perplexities . The second degree represents man in the strength of his years , and he is bidden to extend his researches into the

more hidden mysteries of nature and science . His attention is directed to mental improvement and enlightenment , which can only render him a fit member of society . He is taught to improve himself , to know the advantage of refining studies , to render himself useful in his generation , and to endeavour to leave the

world better than he found it . In the third degree his attention is forcibly directed to the lessons which nature teaches ; he is led to contemplate the closing hour of his existence , and finally taught " bow to die . " In the Eoyal Arch degree he is instructed to look beyond the grave and to contemplate the beauties of

eternity . In all the Ancient Mysteries we find , under different names , the same central figures : birth , life , death , resurrection , and regeneration are symbolically depicted to us , and as in these

religious cults of _ old , great and glorious truths were unfolded to the aspirant , so in our system of Masonry high and sublime mysteries are disclosed , and a perfect system of morality is laid down for our guidance .

If , then , in the Holy Eoyal Arch is the full completion of Masonic teaching and symbolism , why do we find so little interest displayed in the Order ? It was thought at one time that the interval of twelve months , between Master Mason and Eoyal Arch was prejudicial to the

success of the degree , and , therefore , in Grand Chapter on 1 st November 1893 , after due notice , it was moved by Companion Eobert Grey President of the Committee of General Purposes , that " that interval be reduced to four weeks . " He and others assured Grand Chapter that a probation so long " had been .

productive of great harm to Eoyal Arch Masonry , " and that expressions of opinion from all parts of England had been unanimous in favour of the change . In support of the motion , Comp . the Eev . J . Studholme Brownri gg said he was " quite

certain there would be a great revival of the Order if the time were shortened to four weeks , " and Companion W . A . Scurrah said that he was " convinced if the alteration is made , we should have a large number of candidates for Eoyal Arch Masonry , and the Eoyal Arch would then be what it should be . "

Well , Companions , that alteration was agreed to , and at a subsequent meeting of Grand Chapter , in February 1894 , notwithstanding a motion of Companion Le Feuvre to the contrary , the minutes were confirmed in an assembl y of 150 membersby a

, majority of 18 . The numbers were 83 for the confirmation and 65 against . Now , I am not to-day going to argue either for or against the change . I only ask , has it been justified ? Let me give you a few figures .

I tried to get statistics from all the Provinces , and through the courtesy of the respective Secretaries , I have obtained complete returns from 27 . These include all the large ones , but not London . In these 27 Provinces in 1890 there were

90 S Lodges , with 45 , 243 Members ; 356 Chapters , with 10 , 279 Members . This works out to 22 j per cent , of Eoyal Arch Masons to Craft

The Degrees Of Freemasonry And The Royal Arch.

Masons . Eight years afterwards , that is in 1898 , the same 27 Provinces had

1 , 008 Lodges , with 55 , 413 Members ; 407 Chapters , with 12 , 770 Members ; . or 23 percent . Between 1890 and 1893 , therefore , the percentage of increase was hardly appreciable . Let us look at the facts from another point of view . The

change in the term of probation from twelve months to four weeks took place in 1893 . I will take five years before that date and compare it with five years after it . From 1888 to 1892 the total of Grand Lodge Certificates issued to

Lodges under its jurisdiction numbered 41 , 168 Grand Chapter Certificates ... ... 9 , 384 From 1894 to 1 S 98 the numbers were Grand Lodge Certificates ... ... 45 , 0 ' u 2 Grand Chapter Certificates ... .. 10 , 025

The percentage of Eoyal Arch to Craft Certificates issued since the change , therefore , is actually less than before , it being 22 f in the first instance , and 22 £ in the second . This is remarkable , and disposes somewhat summarily of the arguments of our Excellent Companions , Eobert Grey , Eev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , and W . A . Scurrah .

Figures for London I have not been able to get , so that I am not in a position to say bow they stand , but it must be very gratifying to you Most Excellent , as Grand Superintendent of West Yorkshire , to know that this Province , although it has fewer Chapters than some , has above a hundred more Eoyal

Arch Masons on its roll than any one of the twenty-seven Provinces I have referred to , and that the percentage of Eoyal Arch Masons to Craft Masons with us is 37 £ , whereas iu some very large Provinces I could name , the proportion is down to 15 per cent , aud even as low as 13 per cent .

It has also been urged that the working of the other degrees , called according to the disposition of those who speak of them , " side " degrees or " higher " degrees , acts detrimentally towards the Eoyal Arch . This is entirely erroneous , for it must be borne in mind that iu most , if not all , these cases , admission is granted

only to those who are already Chapter Masons . It is true , under the English Constitution , this is not so with regard to the Mark , it being one of the few exceptions . In Scotland , Ireland , Canada , and in the United States it is only after taking the Mark ( 12 ) that a Brother can join a Eoyal Arch Chapter at all , and with

regard to Mark Masons under the English Constitution , I do nob know how it may be in other Provinces , but in West Yorkshire I find after careful enquiry that in one Mark Lodge 95 per cent , of the members are Eoyal Arch Masons , in another 94 , and that the average for all the fifteen Lodges in the Province is as high as 67 per cent .

We may , therefore , dismiss this contention as groundless , and look elsewhere for explanation . I was very much struck with an editorial paragraph which appeared in the " Freemason" newspaper of 5 th August last . Speaking of the previous meeting of Grand Chapter the writer

said : " There was no great attendance of the Companions , while the business was of the usual routine character . The proceedings , therefore , were very speedily at an end . It is just possible that if there were more to do at these quarterly meetings , greater

energy might be shown by the private Chapters , and greater iuterest taken generally in the work of the Eoyal Arch . But how can we expect greater activity and zeal in the inferior bodies when there is none exhibited by the superior ? "

In some cases doubtless , indifference , or shall I say ignorance , is the explanation . I myself was told more than thirty years ago , when seeking to enter the degree , that until I had passed the chair in my Lodge it was useless joining the Eoyal Arch , Another instance , I may mention , has come under my notice .

In this case a Brother entered a Lodge , passed through the various Offices , served Worshipful Master , and continued an active and useful Past Master , and during the whole of those twenty years of regular attendance , although there was a Chapter attached to his Lodge , it was not even suggested to him that he ought to take the Eoyal Arch degree .

Only the other day I was talking to a young Mason of twelve months' standing , who , in reply to my enquiry about the Chapter , said he had been told he could not take the degree until he was an Installed Master . From this we see how " old rules " or " old ideas " linger .

Formerly , no one could take the Eoyal Arch till he had been " passed" through the chair of a Craft Lodge , hence we find in some of our old minute books of a hundred years ago such entries as ' this , " Brother Williams ' passed' the chair to enable him to take the Eoyal Arch . " Then there is the action of Grand Chapter itself . A Brother who is selected and appointed an Officer in the Grand Lodge of