Development Of The Royal Arch Degree.

again , I could not exactly understand how the English Degree of the Royal Arch found its way into Ilayti , where the French language is spoken . But , finding in

one of Bro . Gould ' s English Lodge Lists that m 1809 the Grand Lodge of England had chartered a Lodge in Port au Prince , and another in Cayes , both located in Hayti , I therefore came to the conclusion that the Grand Chapter of England may havo sent there a charter for a

E . A . Chapter too ; and that the transcriber of the Eitual may have changed the date , making it 1802 instead of 1812 . Up to the Union of the Ancients and Moderns the R . A . was called the " Fourth Degree , " but since the Union the said Degree is , in England , neither fourth nor third , but something betwixt and behveen ; thus , the articles of the Union declare that ancient and pure Masonry consists " of three degrees , and no more , including the Supreme Order of the Holy Eoyal Arch . " In America , however ,

the Eoyal Arch is called the Seventh Degree of the York Rite , and in the preface to the said Eitual Marconnay designates it the seventh of the York Eite . Take it all in all , I was satisfied that I had an early Eitual of the English E . A . before me . The following were the titles of the Officers , and I also

give the history of the Degree from the Eitual , so that the reader may compare tho pasfc with the present . "ROYAL ARCH . "

" Seventh Grade of the Ancient Eite of York " OFFICERS . The Grand High Priest . The Grand Orator . The First Grand Master . The Grand Secretary . The Second Grand Master . The Grand Treasurer . The Third Grand Master . The Eoyal Arch Captain .

HISTORY OF THE GRADE . Recited by the G . O . " I am not going to relate to you , My Dear Brother , the history of the grade of the Eoyal Arch in full . You •will find that in the history of the Grand Patriarchs , Masons whom Solomon appointed to be the Twelve Chiefs of the Temple , giving to each the government of

a Province or Tribe , to conduct and distribute the works ; giving to the Grand Hiram the inspection of all . I will limit myself to recite the principal facts of that time . "The Brethren of the Eoyal Arch were all sons and descendants of the race of Joshua , a line which was always distinguished in the wars of the Israelites to conquer for the twelve promised tribes by the Supreme

Architect to the descendants of Abraham , of Isaac , and of Jacob . " Solomon being prepared to build that edifice to the honour and glory of the Supreme Architect , made a close alliance with Hiram King of Tyre , with whom the King Prophet [ David ] had been also allied as his

near neighbour , and who was a great lover of the sciences ; greatly protecting them in his kingdom , so as to develope the talents of the celebrated architect expert in the knowledge of metals aud the construction of edifices . " It is well to dwell here upon this prosperous event , so much more interesting as it had transmitted to us

those mysteries by excelling of the Eoyal art , in which chance ever seems to have produced the discovery , in the same way that some of the greatest things have been discovered by the smallest means .

" To the understanding of those facts it is also necessary to say that , independently of the mysteries of each different Masonic grade , which must never be lost sight

of , there was the grand secret which the wise Inspector of the art never confided to any others than HIRAM , surnamed ABIF , and to MAHABAN , another chief whom he also cherished in accordance with their talents and their antiquity in the Eoyal Arch .

" Certain historians pretend , notwithstanding , that Soloman entrusted this grand work to Hiram the King but our history does not say anything of this subject ,

Besides , Hiram the King , not professing the Judaic religion , would not be initiated into the mysterious secrets of the Temple . It is true , nevertheless , that they were united by a sincere friendship in regard to that which he

had had for King Prophet , father of Solomon . " The respectable Hiram Abif was assassinated by the three ruffians , who , to obtain the grand word , con-

Development Of The Royal Arch Degree.

spired , although in vain , against him . The elect and the history of the Patriarchs introduced us in regard to his sad end . " When the Temple and the ornaments were finished , Solomon confided this grand secrefc to JaJein and to Boaz , exacting from them the promise of secrecy and never to divulge it to any one under the penalty of the mosfc terrible excommunication of the tomb of the wise adepts .

"Notwithstanding this , great many other distinguished Masters made supplication to Solomon to announce to them their admission to this sublime grade ; but thafc wise Prince , faithful to his oath , gave them recompenses in keeping with their talents and their labours , telling them , ' Go , my friends , work , persevere ; some day the Sub . Arch , will give it to you ; " and this promise was fulfilled , as will be seen by what follows .

" Solomon and the allied Masons , wishing to preserve to posterity this profound mystery , constructed , with their own hands , an underground Lodge or laboratory , where they laboured in a dignified manner , with that profound knowledge with which the dispenser of all things had adorned them , and deposited the secrefc therein . " Although this place had not a visible issue , considered

almost impenetrable , it was discovered by chance by a supernatural inspiration . " At the return of the captives from Babylon , the Grand Zorobabel made an arch in the walls of the Temple , and discovered on the firsfc tabernacle , supported by three pillars , an immense amount of ingots of the purest gold , and the inextinguishable fire which enclosed the sacred Word .

" After the destruction of the Temple , Zorobabel abandoned the search of the edifice . " Some time after the death of Jesus Christ , and during the reign of Titus , son of the Emperor Vespatian , some zealous Masons assembled , and , for reasons unknown , began to search in the ruins of that famous Temple . One of them , named Gibulum , descendant of the old race of the first Masons , during the search , observed that his

pickaxe had stuck in a large ring . Calling his companions to him , and carefully examining the place , they found that the ring was attached to a trap-door of the same metal , which they could not even shake , but by the use of a lever they succeeded in raising it , bufc could not see anything but a very dark tunnel or shaft . Gibulum , full of Masonic zeal , offered to descend , and , for safety , tied a cord around him . and indicated the siernal at which his

companions should pull him out . " Scarcely had he penetrated into the subterranean when he perceived that it was mined , and . that its arched roof was supported by grand arcades , built one upon another . This wondrous place , and its damp , cold air , suspended first the ardour of Gibulum to such a point that , arrived to the third arcade , he made the signal agreed upon , and was taken out . Questioned by the

Brethren about his discoveries , he told them that he had found a frightful vault , enough to frighten even the most brave ; but , nevertheless , if any one among them was willing to accompany him , he would descend again ; but no one offering it , he pursued alone the enterprise , penetrating into the subterranean a great deal further than he did the first time . The profundity of the vault again

frightened him , and feeling thafc his senses were leaving him , he pulled the cord , and was again taken oufc ; and he did nofc regain his senses so as to follow his enterprise with more ardour . Notwithstanding the obstacles , and even the danger , he provided himself with a lighted torch ,

a pencil and paper , made a prayer to the Supreme Being , and trusted himself again to his dangerous work . It was then that the prophesy of Solomon was fulfilled . After

descending for the third time , Gibulum arrived at the last arch , and gave a blow with the hammer upon the wall , which was responded to by an echo , intimating that the wall was covering another wall ; he struck blow

after blow with intense ardour and energy , that , although with an indescribable arduous work , he succeeded in piercing the wall , making a breach large enough to admit his body . The light of his torch reflecting upon

something extremely brilliant , he became almost blind for an instant , but perceiving that this light was the reverberation of his torch upon a magnificent Sun and a gold

triangular altar , on the front of which were initial letters announcing an alliance of Solomon with Hiram and Hiram Abif . The inscription had the following characters :

S . E . H . R , H . A . and higher still , S . R . H . A . M . B .,