California Chapter No. 1

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No Rite of Freemasonry covers the world, as does Royal Arch Masonry. Royal Arch Chapters will be found in every country of the Earth, on every continent, and on many isles of the sea, eager and willing to receive their companions from other parts of the world into the full fellowship that characterizes Royal Arch Masonry. In Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the continent of Australia will be found hundreds of Royal Arch Chapters into whose halls you will ever be a welcome visitor. We find upwards of 750,000 members in 3,000 Chapters in our own country.

Many believe the Sublime Degree of Master Mason to be the ultimate degree of Freemasonry and all others to be added and explanatory. Most students of Freemasonry agree that the story of the Craft as presented in the three degrees is incomplete and that the degrees of the Royal Arch complete the story and answer many of the questions in the mind of the newly made Master Mason. The Royal Arch Degree was considered most important in the early years of Freemasonry, and so dogmatic was the Mother Grand Lodge – from which all Speculative Masonry derives – that in 1813, when the two grand lodges in England united, a firm and solemn landmark was adopted and placed in the Articles of Union to guide Masons throughout the world forever on this matter:

“Pure Ancient Freemasonry consists of but three degrees, viz., that of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch.”

This landmark has never been changed, and to this day, no other degree has been officially recognized by the Mother Grand Lodge. Every rite, system, or additional degree of York Rite of Freemasonry cannot confer its degree on a Master Mason until he has received the Royal Arch Degree. Naturally, this is as it should be because a man is not a Master Mason until he receives the Master’s Word, which he can only receive in the Holy Royal Arch.

The Chapter of Royal Arch Masonry consists of four degrees: Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason.