The Royal Arch (Chapter)

Attached to Ferrers & Ivanhoe Lodge No. 779.

The Royal Arch holds a unique place in English Freemasonry. The United Grand Lodge of England considers it the completion of the Master Mason's degree - together, the Craft and the Royal Arch form what is known as "pure Ancient Masonry." If the three Craft degrees are the first three episodes of a story, the Royal Arch provides the fourth - and reveals the story of what came after.

The ceremony of the Royal Arch, known as Exaltation, is based on an allegory drawn from the Old Testament - the return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of Solomon's Temple. Through this ceremony, the candidate makes a series of profound discoveries that bring a spiritual dimension to the practical lessons of the Craft. Members of a Royal Arch Chapter are known as Companions, and the Chapter meets independently of the Lodge, typically three to four times a year.

Any Master Mason of at least four weeks' standing is eligible to join. The Royal Arch is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful degrees in all of Freemasonry - and is strongly encouraged as the natural first step for any Master Mason wishing to explore further.