Kodesh La Adonai! Kodesh La Adonai!! Kodesh La Adonai!!!
Holiness to the Lord! Holiness to the Lord!! Holiness to the Lord!!!
Welcome to the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons webpage. It is our intent to have an informative site that will brighten your knowledge and assist you on your journey. No site has all the information that you may be seeking; however, we feel that we can provide you lectures and information which will assist in your travels through the journey of Freemasonry.
Greeting Companions, we have just completed our 28th Annual Conference since our reestablishment in 1995. The proceedings from each Grand Body will be posted on each site along with the Annual Report of the Chapters, Councils and Commanderies. The reports of the subordinate organizations is where any items due to any member or the organization itself should be listed.
If you are missing any items, check the report and see if it was submitted. Any verbal communications, not addressed in a Chapter’s Convocation did not get entertained by the presiding officer. We need to communicate with the presiding officers or secretaries of the subordinate organization instead of trying to communicate with the Grand Body. All requests submitted to the subordinate organizations should be in writing and not verbal. If it is in writing, they will have to respond to your request. No emails; however, you can use the organization’s teams account to contact them.
There will be no more going around the subordinate organizations to the Grand Bodies as this has created confusion and going forward any request received will be sent back to the sender telling them to contact the subordinate organization.
In order to be eligible for the Order of High Priesthood, you must have a Certificate of Elections on file for the year you served. Prior to 2022, you will need to also have quarterly reports submitted during your tenure. If there is no quarterly reports or certificate of elections, you are not eligible for the Order of High Priesthood which is a requirement for the Knight York Cross of Honour.
Explanation of Royal Arch Masonry
“It is indescribably more august, sublime and important than all which precede it. It is the summit and perfection of ancient Masonry. It impresses on our mind 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.”
To understand properly the theory of this elaborate and beautiful Degree, we must recall to mind the historical fact, more minutely described further on, that the temple of King Solomon, whose construction forms the subject-matter of the several degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master and Most Excellent Master, was totally destroyed and leveled to its foundation by the Chaldeans, under Nebuchadnezzar four hundred and nine years after its completion and dedication.
The Jewish nation was carried into captivity to Babylon where they remained for fifty-two years. Then a portion of them, led by Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem by permission of the reigning king and rebuilt the Temple. This rebuilding, including the national history from the destruction of the first temple, nineteen years before, constitutes the basis of the Royal Arch Degree.
It can readily be seen, that in this broad field the ritualist had stirring matter to his hand; the destruction of the temple and city; the lamentable journey of eight hundred miles into captivity; the mournful exile, which even the singing of “the songs of Sion” could not enliven; the joyful return westwards, when the days of captivity were ended; and the devoted, self-sacrificing labors of the reconstruction – all these, with subsidiary themes, which the genius of the ritualist could so readily intersperse, make up the grandest display of which the science of Freemasonry, ancient or modern admits.
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
“Let your light shine,” the Master said,
To bless benighted man;
The light and truth my Word hath spread,
Are yours to spread again.”
We come, O Lord, with willing mind,
That knowledge to display;
Enlighten us, by nature blind,
And gladly we’ll obey.
The Tabernacle and the Temple (By John Yarker)
Every symbol in the Tabernacle of Moses had its appropriate signification, which was carried into the Temple of Solomon. Both consisted of three parts emblematical of the Terrestrial, Celestial and Angelical worlds, namely- the Court, the Holy Place and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The first contained the altar, which was of earthly matter, exposed to the air in an uncovered place, having on it a continual fire and surrounded with water which constitute the four elements of the terrestrial world. The second was in the middle and represented the firmament and contained the golden altar, the table and candlestick. The third was the dwelling place of the most High, who, by the medium of angels, condescended to communicate with man. These three divisions are moreover the same in the modern churches of Christendom which were erected by the Freemasons.
The High Priest Josephus observes that the twelve stones of the Ephod and the twelve loaves on the table represent the twelve signs of the Zodiac and equally the twelve months of the year. The seven lamps referred to the planets and the seven branches of the candlestick secretly indicated the Decani or seventy divisions of the planets. The veils composed of blue, purple, scarlet and white linen, typified the four elements, earth, sea, air, fire and the Ephod of four divisions. Two parts of the Tabernacle represented sea and land and the third heaven. The gold referred to the splendor which enlighten all things. Freemasonry, my Companions, was in all times the most noble and salutary of institutions and from the most remote ages there was imprinted on art much concealed grandeur.
The Tabernacle in the wilderness was the first model of that magnificent temple which David had put it in the heart of Solomon at the age of 18 years to erect to the honour and glory of T.S.A.O.T.U.
This celebrated Temple was the symbolical image of the universe and resembled in its dispositions the ancient mysterious temples of Egypt and Greece. A numerical system laid at the root of the worship of the Great King; numbers above all appear to dominate in the construction of the great world. The most holy place formed a cube corresponding to the number four by which number the ancients represented nature, the length of the edifice was three units of the breadth and represented the simple trinity; in doubling the units, the trinity doubles, and in multiplying the dispositions of the interior of the temple attach symbolically to the same system. The starry vault or firmament was sustained by twelve columns which figure the twelve months of the year; the cornice which crowns it represents the Zodiac and the twelve signs were represented by allegorical figures so well executed that they seemed animated. Lastly, all parts of the temple corresponded to those of nature, the different emblems indicating the harmony of the whole world.
The most fabulous accounts exist of the wealth of the arrangements. The throne was placed in the east upon seven steps representing the seven periods of creation and seven virtues: love of God and men, patience, vigilance, justice, strength and temperance; virtues indispensable to man for the acquisition of science and the knowledge of all things. The throne was gold, its feet were of emeralds and rubies, mixed with pearls, the size of an ostrich’s egg. At the right was the statue of Jehovah, 40 feet high, containing a thousand talents of gold, holding in the hand a golden scepter, enriched with diamonds. At the left was a female statue of silver containing a thousand talents and holding a serpent-staff. The sides of the throne had representations of fruits and flowers in precious stones. The first step of the throne represented vines charged with grapes all composed of precious stones wrought to represent the delicate shades of different fruits. The trees contained small birds of rich plumage. On each side of the second step were two golden lions of natural grandeur and terrible aspect. When the great Solomon placed his foot upon the first step, the birds extended their wings with a slight warble, and upon the third, the two lions placed their paws; and when Solomon attained this step a celestial harmony was heard. A the fourth the sounds became more grave and solemn. At the fifth, harmonious voices addressed Solomon in these terms: “Son of David, Master of Light, seek to know the benefits which the great Jehovah has spread over thee.” At the sixth, all the Patriarchs united in prayer. At the seventh, the birds continued to flutter until Solomon seated himself upon the throne. Then, by secret mechanical means, healthy perfumes were spread around. Before the throne were two columns and a tripod of spirits of wine of which blue and white flames resembled the wan light of a pale meteor. When a profane approached the throne, the lions made a frightful roaring and beat their flanks with their tails, the birds bristled their plumes and a troupe of demons starting from several secret places set up a horrible howling. And now of this glorious temple, the creation of divine genius, what remains today?
Nothing but the historic remembrance; but God who governs all thins has willed that this vast monument, erected to His glory, should be perpetuated in the hearts of the children of light. Jewish Cabalism made an important part of the occult studies of philosophers with value of sacred names; extend your researches and become a useful member of our Rite.
Lectures:
1. Are you the problem, or part of the solution? by MW Lewis R. Brent
2. The Holy Royal Arch by J.S.M. Ward
Dues are the responsibility of each member and payable each year by July 1st. Failure to pay dues on time will result in you being dropped from the rolls of your chapter.
MEMBERSHIP INTO ROYAL ARCH MASONRY IN THE JURISDICTION OF WASHINGTON STATE
A. MEMBERS – Do to the issues with the Grand Lodge, no chapter will collect the dues of $25.00 from the membership until this matter is rectified.
B. Donation Request: Members are encouraged to contribute to the Charity Programs of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter. The suggested donation amounts to 19¢ per day, or $5.83 per month, or annual payment of $70.00. Please note the ongoing issues that is reference above does not affect your committment to the Grand Chapter.
Every member of a Constituent Chapter shall be assess annual dues in the amount of twent-five dollars ($25.00) to cover per capita costs and your Chapter’s expenses based on the budget that must be approved by the each Constitutent Chapter. The Grand High Priest has addressed this issue during Town Hall Meetings with each Chapter and at the 2022 Annual Convocation, the membership voted unnaimously to pay dues directly to the Grand Chapter.
Proclamation 22-04 directs the payment of the Annual Dues to be paid to the Grand Chapter and are due on July 1st. To ensure we have accountablility of the membership and able to produce dues cards for the upcoming masonic year, dues should be paid by the opening of the Grand Convocation.
Annual Dues must be paid by September 30th of each Masonic year. Dues not received by this time will result in loss of membership.
Membership Donations:
The Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons in Washington State focuses on several charitable missions. Their primary goals include:
Combating Hunger and Homelessness: They provide meals and support to homeless individuals and families.
Educational Support: They offer scholarships to graduating high school seniors to promote higher education.
Community Development: They create and support various community development programs to address socio-economic issues.
Veteran Assistance: They assist disabled veterans through various initiatives.
Their efforts are geared towards making a positive impact on the communities they serve by fostering collaborative partnerships with social, civic, and faith-based programs.
To Make Your Donation, Click The Link Below:
To reinstate your membership, simply click the Membership Fee button below to reactivate your membership. A reinstatement petition will be sent once payment is received: Reinstatement or Received by Demit, Click Membership Fee Tab Below:
Initiation into Royal Arch Masonry, Click Initiation into HRAM Tab Below:
ORDER OF HIGH PRIESTHOOD
The Order of High Priesthood
The Holy Order of Grand High Priest, which has been worked extensively in Lancashire and Yorkshire and various other parts of England under the aegis of certain “Antient” Lodges, was one of the four ceremonies which the Grand Council took under its control at its formation in 1879. Both in this country and in the United States it has always been designated an “Order”; that title, instead of Degree, has been preserved.
Almost everywhere the Order has been closely associated with Royal Arch Masonry. Under the Constitutions of the Grand Council, no Brother can be admitted to the Order unless he is an Installed Principal of a Royal Arch Chapter.
Members of the Order are designated “Excellent Companions”.
The Ceremony is undoubtedly very old, but the date of its earliest working and even its country of orgin have not been definitely established. Indeed, the abrupt transition in our ritual from the blessing of Abram, the Mesopotamian immigrant, by Melchizedek, the Canaanite Priest-King, to the consecration four centuries later of Aaron the Levite as the first Jewish High Priest suggests that our present version of the ceremony, although long established, may be an amalgamation of two distinct degrees. There is evidence of other ceremonies under the title of the “Order of Melchizedek” or the “Priesthood of Melchizedek”, in which Abram is attacked, pays tithes and is blessed, and it may be that the consecration was added at a later date to provide a High Priest of a Royal Arch Chapter, or to enhance the dignity of the First Principal/Excellent High Priest.
This Ceremony (Order) is only given during the Annual Grand Convocation of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter.
Note: Please ensure you select the correct payment. The Order of High Priesthood meets once a year and any issues concerning payment will be address during the meeting of the Order.
1. Incoming or Past High Priests who have not received the degrees into the Order of High Priesthood, click link below:
2. To Pay Your Annual Dues to the Order of High Priesthood prior to the Annual Convocation, click link below. Dues not paid by the opening of the Order of High Priesthood will result in being dropped for non-payment. Members dropped for non-payment must renew membership.
3. Renew Your Membership Into the Order of High Priesthood, click link below. You will be sent a petition for reinstatement once payment is received.