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There are still many people in the world that have strange misconceptions regarding Freemasonry and when such misconceptions reach my ears/eyes, I’ll always try to set the record straight; there is no better cure to misunderstanding than the truth, but getting folk to change their minds is another story.
So the truth here is there is no connection at all, Freemasonry is a philosophical order whose sole purpose is to help good men and women become better. Having said that, it must be remembered that these degrees were the creation of Christian men who lived in the 1700’s.
Briefly, Freemasonry evolved from the companies, town based guilds and Lodges of operative masons who had in their charges (rules) several articles relating to the good and high moral behaviour of their members, including that they must obey the laws of God and the ordinances of the realm. The Royal Arch degree falls outside the very beginning of Freemasonry and there are different opinions as to the origin of the degree, I have read of some who believe it was the creation of a Freemason named Andrew Ramsey, a Scotsman who was closely involved in French Freemasonry. He made a speech in 1737, known as Ramsey’s Oration, where where he made reference to the Knights Templar as the forefathers of Freemasonry, which os pure speculation, and definitely not true. However, the main accepted thinking (Reverend Doctor Brother George Oliver in his book published in 1867) is that the Royal Arch degree was devised by Brother Lawrence Dermott around 1738/9; he was a seceder from the first acknowledged Grand Lodge of England in London, later known as the ‘moderns’ and was part of a group that formed the second Grand Lodge in England, also in London and known as the ‘Ancients.’ Apparently he devised it as a way of ‘proving’ that Freemasonry was more ancient than these so called ‘Moderns’ believed and that they had already ‘messed’ with the third degree – members of the first acknowledged Grand Lodge in London actually created the Third Degree in the 1720’s.
But this short article relates to the misconception stated in the title of this document, implying that an organised religion can control Freemasonry through Royal Arch Freemasonry in the belief that this is a Christian degree, its full title is ‘Holy Royal Arch,’ which of course could lead to this misunderstanding. As some religions, especially Roman Catholicism, actually ban their faithful from being made Freemasons, then it is highly unlikely that any organised religion would want to control any aspect of Freemasonry, although I am certain that our leaders would always welcome their support. In this respect I refer to all the various organised religious groups, be they Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh or any that believe in the presence of a single supreme being, as to be a member of regular Freemasonry each member must be entertain such beliefs.
Unfortunately, whist Freemasonry welcomes members of all monotheistic religions, I referred to those religious authorities that are completely against Freemasonry and forbid their members to join, this being the Roman Catholic Church. In 1738 Pope Clement XII issued a Papal Bull banning all Roman Catholics from membership of Freemasonry or face excommunication. There has never been a clear reason for this ban – I am currently deeply researching this and have almost completed a three volume thesis on the subject. Readers should take note that Popes in those days were very much involved in politics and the running of empires, as the Holy Roman Empire extended well into Northern Europe at this time. Also, some believe that the loss of control over congregations was a strong contender for this total ban, but it is apparent that the main reason was that of members of different religions, including Roman Catholics, meeting together – this is known as ‘indifferentism.’ This ban was endorsed by many Popes that followed, in each different era the reasons changed and the conspiracy theory grew. The ban remains in place today, although the penalty of excommunication has now been reduced to that of the ‘faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.’
The story behind this article is that of a branch of Roman Catholicism wishes to ‘take over Royal Arch Masonry’ in the belief that, in so doing, they will clear particular lodges of being clandestine, that is, lodges outside the governance of a Grand Lodge.
This in itself renders this particular misconception as being totally ludicrous, as no respectable branch of the Roman Catholic Church would go against the orders of the Pope, even if it is under the impression that the Royal Arch Degree is a Christian Degree, which many in 19th century Freemasonry also considered that it was.
However the Holy Royal Arch degree is considered by UGLE as the completion of the third degree in Freemasonry. It is centred, in its ritual, around the excavation of the Temple of King Solomon prior to the building of the second temple, so is set in the years long before Christ. So whilst Christian Freemasons believe strongly in the words written in both Old and New Testament, they worship God in their Churches, as do all the religions of Freemasons, be they Mosques, Synagogue,, etc; there is no worship of any kind in Freemasonry, and the Royal Arch degree is open to all Master Masons regardless of their religion. Those that are exalted into a Royal Arch Chapter believe it to be very much at the heart of Freemasonry.
These articles are written by W Bro Steve Froggatt PPJDepGR, former Chaplain of Neptune Lodge No 5150 EC. Steve was initiated into Freemasonry in 1986.They do not represent the view of any Grand/Provincial Grand Lodge.
© Copyright 2019 Al-Khabar/Stephen Froggatt all rights reserved
