About Royal Arch Masonry
Operating under the District Grand Chapter of New Zealand, Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England.
Administration of the Royal Arch and its Chapters has been entrusted by UGLE to the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England.
Anyone who has been a Master Mason for four weeks can join—and should aspire to join the Royal Arch, because becoming a Companion of the Order continues their voyage of discovery.
The Order of the Royal Arch is the final part of the four-stage journey from Initiation to Exaltation that is known as ‘Pure Antient Masonry’ – and is available to every Master Mason of at least four weeks standing, and I encourage all masons to consider this important stage. It is a friendly, colourful and rewarding experience.
Members of the Royal Arch meet in Chapters and are called Companions. Each Chapter has Three Principals who rule conjointly and normally serve in each of the Three Principals chairs for one year.
A long time ago, the Royal Arch ceremonies would be worked in a Craft Lodge. Following a major re-organisation of Freemasonry after the Union of the Grand Lodges in 1813, the Supreme Order of the Royal Arch was stated to be the completion of the Third Degree, but it is now more accurately described as the completion of the journey through “Pure, Antient Masonry”.
This is without doubt a most rewarding and enlightening step for a Master Mason to take, offering him the opportunity to fill the gaps left in Craft Masonry after the Third Degree and enabling him to continue his Masonic journey towards a spiritual conclusion.
In the degrees that you received in the Craft you were taught that Freemasonry is a system of morality and promoting brotherly love, relief and truth as a rule for what is your earthly pilgrimage.
The ceremony of Raising implies that there is more to learn, as it urges us to lift our eyes beyond our civil duties and routine existence. The Royal Arch develops this theme and teaches us that the true secrets of a Freemason are to be found within ourselves.
The close affinity of the Craft and the Royal Arch is further emphasised by the fact that the Grand Master is automatically the First Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Chapter, equivalent to Grand Lodge, the Pro Grand Master is the Pro First Grand Principal, and the Grand Secretary is also the Secretary of the Royal Arch and he is called Grand Scribe Ezra.
The Royal Arch Regulations are detailed in the Book of Constitutions of Grand Lodge which you received at your initiation. Chapters meet less frequently than Lodges, typically three or four times a year. Also, both joining fees and annual dues are usually less than those in the Craft.
Our Chapters
We have two English Royal Arch Chapters in Northland, for further information please contact Scribe Ezra (Secretary).
Zealandia Chapter no. 2072
KeriKeri
Meets at Clifford St, Kaikohe.
On the last Monday of April, June, September and November
Contact Details:
Scribe E. Ex. Comp. R F (Ross) Snodgrass
Email:
zealandia.chapter@freemasons.org.nz
St. George Chapter no. 1801
Whangerei
Meets at the Masonic Centre, 17 Albert Street, Whangarei.
On the first Wednesday of February, April, and November, and the second Wednesday in July (Installation)
Contact Details:
Scribe E. Ex. Comp. D M (Dennis) Turner
Email:
saintgeorge.chapter@freemasons.org.nz