Irish Royal Arch(texte irlandais)

L'Arche Royale irlandaise : la légende n'est pas la même et repose sur la reconstruction du Temple..

A noter les quatre voiles

Let us now consider the Irish Royal Arch Chapter as worked today. The only

qualification is that the candidate has been a Master Mason of at least twelve months.

The Irish Royal Arch Chapter as worked to day, is set at the repair of the Temple

under Josiah, about 620BC, and is thus more true to the Biblical text of 2nd Chronicles

Chpt. 34 Verses 1-14. Companions, this is the reason that Irish Masons wear their

Aprons under their jackets as the repair took place at a time when Israel was at peace

(a rare occurrence even to this day) we remove our Jackets, when we go to work. The

other two Supreme Bodies set the degree some 100 years later when the Jews having

received their freedom from Cyrus (King of Persia), return to Jerusalem to rebuild the

Temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel (this episode of Jewish history is worked

in Ireland under the Grand Council of Knight Masons).

In Ireland most Halls follow the same design with the Lodge Room on the

upper storey and a Dining Room and Kitchen on the lower. Therefore the Lodge Room

will be changed to suit the Chapter working The room will be divided by four coloured

veils blue, purple, scarlet and white, which are hung North South, and divide the room

East to West. The colours not only parallel those of the Tabernacle the tent like

structure that housed the Ark of the Covenant during the Children of Israel wandering

in the wilderness but also the four ancient elements, air, water, fire and earth. All are

guarded by Captains except the Captain of the White veil who is however known as

the Royal Arch Captain. All have small Banners similar to the colours of their

respective veils, on these banners is a six pointed star in the centre of which is a triple

tau n.b. these are the only banners in an Irish Chapter. The white veil separates the

Council Chamber from the rest of the room, the Superintendent of the Tabernacle sits

inside the Council Chamber within the White veil and the Captain of the Host sits in

front of the three principal Officers , named as the Chief Scribe, High Priest and the

Excellent King, these represent Shaphan, Hilkiah and Josiah although they are never

named in the ceremony. The altar is in its traditional place in the centre of the Lodge

Room and will have a special compartment let into the top this will have a lid with a

ring fitted to enable the crow bar to be inserted. Some Halls have a proper vault in the

floor, unfortunately due to health and safety considerations they are rarely used to-day

as they were intended. However, there is always a light to illuminate the magnificent

plate of gold!

The ritual may appear simple to Scottish and English Companions, but it is

worth giving a brief outline; before the chapter is opened the Ex. King will instruct

any who are not Royal Arch Masons to retire, this is obviously retained from the time

all degrees were worked under the Craft Warrants. After proving the Chapter tyled and

guarded next the Captain of the Host is asked if he can vouch all present as Royal

Arch Masons (No password is given) when the Captain of the Host gives this

assurance the Officers of the Chapter are asked to take their places. The Captain is

next instructed to announce to the Companions to divide the word, all divide the word.

In Ireland the word is the old tripartite one despite a move to change to the one now

used in England and Scotland, a ground swell of opinion from the Irish Companions

stopped this change. The Captain of the Host will have to assure the Ex. King that the

symbols use in our ceremonies are safely preserved and duly deposited. After a prayer,

during which the banners are lowered, the Chapter is declared open.

The degree is divided into two parts, Reception and passing the Veils and the

Degree of the Royal Arch. The Candidate(s) are hoodwinked on entry into the chapter

room, (it is preferable to have three candidates but a Companion can make up the

number) they then pass under an arch made with the hands of the Brethren, then they

take an obligation as a Royal Arch Mason after which they are conducted to the Blue

veil where they are challenged by its Captain for the password, this being given by his

conductor they are now admitted and instructed in the password and sign for passing

the veil, This ceremony is repeated for the purple and red veils. The candidates are

now admitted into the Council Chamber where they express their desire to help with

the work of repairing the Temple the candidates having received permission to assist

with the work leave the room. They return in the attire of workmen i.e. they are in

their shirt sleeves and commence to clear the rubble with a spade, and discover the

secret vault when the pick strikes its top to produce a hollow sound, and lift the ring in

the top with the crow bar, if there is one candidate he will be figuratively lower into

the vault to discover the items left there by our three Grand Masters which will be

explained to him by his conductor. Brethren this is a much truncated version of the

degree, there are no ceremonies at the festive board as in England ( I have attended the

Aldergate Chapter as a guest of its former Scribe E.)

It is common to hear the Chapter referred to as the red, as the regalia as worn

in the Chapter is all red and consists of an apron and sash worn from right shoulder to

left hip, and in certain Chapters white gloves. As in the two other Home constitutions a

member Jewel on a white ribbon may be worn but it is more usual to see the Past

Kings one on a red ribbon and since 1991 a past V. W. Masters jewel is also permitted

in Chapter but it is not permitted to wear Chapter jewels in Craft Lodges although

most people would be too polite to pass comment on a visitor doing so. The

inscriptions on a Royal Arch jewel are as follows, round the circle 'SIT TIBI SCIRE

SATIS SI TALIA JUNGERE POSSI' ( If you canst unite such things thou knowest

enough). On five sides of the two triangles are inscribed in Greek, Latin and English

(O, worshipper of God citizen of the world).