ARCH MASONRY. The degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason, is one of the most august, sublime, and im portant in the order of Free Masonry, and is the summit and perfection of ancient masonry. While it impresses on our minds a belief of the being and existence of a Supreme Deity, without beginning of days, or end of years, and reminds us of the reverence due to his Holy name ; it developes to view many essentials of the craft, which were for the space of four hundred and seventy years (or until the rebuilding of the temple) buried in darkness. In a word, without a knowledge of this de gree, in the language of Webb, the masonic character cannot be complete.
We shall first offer some additional remarks on this degree, and conclude with an account of Arch Masonry in the United States, and in Great Britain.
In the 64 Rules and regulations for the government of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, held under the protec tion of, and supported by, the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl vania, unanimously agreed to and established at a grand chapter held in Philadelphia, February 24th, 1798, and confirmed in Grand Lodge, 5th March, 1798 ;" it is ex pressly declared, that ancient masonry consists of four degrees, the three first of which are that of the appren tice, the fellow craft, and the sublime degree of master ; and a brother being well versed in these degrees, and having discharged the offices of his lodge, particularly that of worshipful master (of course having passed the chair, which is generally done by a dispensation from the grand or deputy grand master, except he be elected to fill the chair) is eligible to the fourth degree, the Holy Royal ?irch.
According to Webb, this degree is the seventh in masonry, and as such is considered in some of the east ern states.
Every R. A. Chapter is governed by proper officers, who are elected to the several stations.
There are three chiefs to each chapter, who are styled the most excellent high priest, king, and scribe. They are all distinguished by certain robes, with various insignia appertaining to their office. Besides the three chiefs, there are other officers, as the grand masters, secretary, treasurer, captain, &c. The construction of the chapter room, in representation of the apartment in Solomon's temple, the furniture, jewels, decorations, emblems, Ste. as well as the clothing of the arch mason,
all exhibit to our view the sublimity and beauty of the degree ; which, added to the ceremonials of the exalta tion, both in the preparatory and subsequent parts, un 'folds a variety of incidental circumstances appertaining to the origin, progress, and usefulness of the order. When the work is conducted with perfect solemity, with piety to God and love to man, it cannot fail to call our attention to the existence, wisdom, power, and goodness of nim, whose Almighty fiat said "Let there be light, and there was The grand lodge of Pennsylvania have the right and authority of governing all the chapters under the grand holy royal arch chapter of the state, and the grand mas ter, ex officio., is always considered the first chief in the grand chapter. According to Webb, chapters of royal arch masons have the power to " confer the preparatory dog,rces of mark master, past master, and most excellent master." These chapters, he adds, are holden under the authority of grand chapters, composed of the three principal officers of all the royal arch chapters within a certain district, together with the proper grand officers. Agreeably to the regulations before noticed, it appears, that the said chapters of the H. R. A. may be establish ed, held and conducted with the regularity, discipline, and solemnity, becoming the sublime intention with which they have from time immemorial been held as an essential component part of ancient masonry, and that which is the perfection and end of the beautiful system, the excellent masons of Pennsylvania, according to the old institutions assembled and constitutionally convened in general grand chapter of the H. R. A. have carefully collected, revised, and adopted the following regula tions for the government thereof; that under the sanction of the grand lodge they may be transmitted to every re gular warranted lodge on the register, and be solemnly and finally made a part of the book of laws and regula tions for the government of the craft.