Denslow, Ray and Everett C. Turnbull. History of Royal Arch Masonry Part One. Kessinger. ISBN 1-4179-5004-8. p. 125. Denslow and Turnbull also quote earlier Masonic historian Robert Freke Gould's assertion from documentation that the Royal Arch existed in Youghal (in County Cork, Ireland), some time prior to 1743. [1] Dr. Fifield D'Assigny also wrote of it in Ireland in 1744(Denslow, Ray and Everett C. Turnbull. History of Royal Arch Masonry Part One. Kessinger. ISBN 1-4179-5004-8. p. 127-129.)

To use the language of one of my predecessors as Scribe E., there can be criticism of the Aldersgate Award as pot hunting but this is unfounded and mistaken. The award is no mere trophy, but rather the outward token of a Companion's desire to master the beautiful ritual of the Royal Arch as perfectly as possible, because only as a result of such mastery can it be rendered with that reverent and impressive solemnity which it demands. As for the origins of the Ritual itself, it is suitably shrouded in mystery. The Chapter of Improvement clearly started as a general Chapter of Improvement or Instruction and was not only for members of the Aldersgate Chapter. In 1904 it printed 300 cards setting out the programme.By the 1920's the average attendance was about 25. After the independence of the American Colonies in 1776, Freemasonry in the United States remained relatively little influenced by the rivalry between the "Antients" and "Moderns" in England. In 1797, a group of Royal Arch masons met in Hartford to try to establish some sort of governing body for degrees that were largely conferred in the New England states, which became the Grand Chapter of the Northern States, and later was broken down into the state-by-state Grand Chapter system. [30] This body later became the General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons International. [31] Your colleague then gave an explanation as to how the hidden vault was re-discovered and the dramatic discovery of its long-lost contents when the Sanhedrin rewarded you for your part in discovering the lost secrets – the word of a Master Mason and a seat amongst them. In the Province of West Lancashire, the Provincial Grand Master is also the head of Provincial Grand Chapter.

In Scotland, the degree is conferred in a Royal Arch Chapter which is organised within a wholly different administrative structure, the "Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland". This body administers Mark Masonry, Royal Arch Masonry, and the degree of Excellent Master which is an essential preamble to the Royal Arch degree. brought near the Altar or Pedestal by the Principal Sojourner)which is an emblem of eternity; for as The exact origins of the four Chapter degrees in its current form as part of the York Rite are unknown. Thus the Royal Arch leads the candidate from the practical to the spiritual and completes “Pure Antient Masonry”, a fascinating journey of self-knowledge and even self-discovery beginning with the Entered Apprentice degree in the Craft and culminating in the First Principal’s chair of his Holy Royal Arch Chapter. After the Third Degree See the 'Preliminary Declaration' of the combined-volume "Grand Lodge Constitutions & Grand Chapter Regulations" for England and Wales.

These Principals are in turn supported by six Assistants who are responsible for several Groups covering the whole Province: Aldersgate Chapter of Improvement is like a Lodge of Instruction open to all Companions of the Holy Royal Arch. It has two essential differences however.Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex, Royal Arch and the Provincial Grand Chapter of Middlesex, accessed 2 September 2014 Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California at its Annual Convocation, A.I. 2418. San Francisco: Frank Eastman & Co., 1888. p. 315. Freemasons’ Hall An Art Deco masterpiece in the heart of London’s West End, Freemasons' Hall welcomes more than 200,000 visitors through its doors every year The Royal Arch Cabinet is most grateful to E Companion Frank Davies, PGStB and E Comp Colin Rowling, PGStB, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, for allowing the Cabinet to utilise their booklet in an amended form, for use throughout the Province and also to EComp Stanley Oldfield PAGSoj. P3rdPrGP for his explanation therein of the Grand Chapter Certificate.