Royal Arch Masonry
Holy Royal Arch
Pure and Antient Freemasonry consists of three degrees including the Holy Royal Arch.
The United Grand Lodge of England administers Craft Freemasonry and The Holy Royal Arch is administered under the organisational title of Supreme Grand Chapter, however the two bodies are headed up and managed by the same individuals.
Structure
The ceremony of the Royal Arch is undertaken in Chapters, which are separate from the Craft Lodges. There are seven Chapters under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Jersey.
The Provincial Organisation mirrors that of the Craft and in Jersey the Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter is the same person who holds the office of Provincial Grand Master in the Provincial Grand Lodge. This situation is possible in a small Province whilst in the larger Provinces in the United Kingdom, this certainly would not be the case.
The impressive ceremony of the Holy Royal Arch covers the period after the destruction of King Solomon's Temple and the building of the subsequent Temple.
It is based on the return to Jerusalem from Babylonish captivity and the need to rebuild the city and temple. In clearing the ground of the original temple for the foundations of the second temple, the candidate makes a number of discoveries which emphasise the centrality of God to man's life and existence, and leads him to a consideration of the nature of God and his personal relationship with Him, irrespective of his own religion.
The ceremony of the Royal Arch is undertaken in Chapters, which are separate from the Craft Lodges. There are seven Chapters under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Jersey.
The Provincial Organisation mirrors that of the Craft and in Jersey the Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter is the same person who holds the office of Provincial Grand Master in the Provincial Grand Lodge. This situation is possible in a small Province whilst in the larger Provinces in the United Kingdom, this certainly would not be the case.
The impressive ceremony of the Holy Royal Arch covers the period after the destruction of King Solomon's Temple and the building of the subsequent Temple.
It is based on the return to Jerusalem from Babylonish captivity and the need to rebuild the city and temple. In clearing the ground of the original temple for the foundations of the second temple, the candidate makes a number of discoveries which emphasise the centrality of God to man's life and existence, and leads him to a consideration of the nature of God and his personal relationship with Him, irrespective of his own religion.
Kenneth Michael Rondel - Grand Superintendent in and over the Province of Jersey writes:
Welcome to the pages of the Holy Royal Arch of the Province of Jersey
I hope that by navigating here it means you have an interest in learning more about the Holy Royal Arch, more commonly known as "Chapter" and in particular the Provincial Grand Chapter of Jersey and the subordinate Chapters within the Province.
By taking a few minutes to read the history behind the Holy Royal Arch and the editorials on these pages will, I hope, give you a better understanding of the important part it plays and how indissoluble it is from Craft Masonry
I would urge all Master Masons to seriously consider joining the Holy Royal Arch as this is the only true means of being a complete Freemason and is the culmination of Craft Masonry.
Interested in joining or would like more information, then please contact your Lodge Secretary who will gladly point you in the right direction or simply e-mail the Provincial Grand Scribe E who will offer every assistance - Ian Russell
You can download a brochure detailing the Royal Arch and its relation to the Craft using the link above left.