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Article ORIGIN OF THE ROYAL ARCH. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Origin Of The Royal Arch.
This Caledonian Chapter is next assumed to have been identical Avith the body of the same name , referred to in the regulation quoted above ; and Bro . Norton argues that the Caledonian Lodge , having no doubt worked the Royal Arch whilst subordinate to the "Ancients , " continued the practice under the "Modern" sanction ; and that the
Caledonian Chapter—the connecting link between the Royal Arch Masonry of the rival systems—was the result . In the first place , hoAvever , the Royal Arch Degree was at this period only conferred by the " Ancients " on whom they termed the " legal representative '' of each lodge—to wit , the Master—and Preston ' s
Mother Lodge , the " Caledonian , " constituted by the " Ancients " in April , 1763 , and by the " Moderns " in November , 1764 , if we allow a slight margin for the period of uncertainty which must have preceded the apostasy , could hardly have had more than one or tAVO brethren in its ranks , at the outside , elegible for the distinction of the
Arch . Secondly , if we examine the Ahiman Rezons , or Books of Constitution of the Ancients , for 1756 and 1764 , there is to be found no allusion to a Chapter . The Royal Arch Lodge at Jerusalem is spoken of , Dr . Dassigny is quoted approvingly ( it should be recollected that by this writer the degree is limited to rulers of the Craft ) , and brethren are pointedly referred to " who think themselves Royal Arch Masons without passing ^ the chair in regular form . "
In the next place , Bro . Norton ' s facts are a little awry , in regard to the earliest Chapter being identical with the No . 2 of 1788-90 . There is nothing whatever in the minutes of the "Modern" Society to warrant a belief that the original " Caledonian " ever came on its roll . Many Chapters , indeed , of this name were constituted . In a
printed list of 1790 , Ave find at the No . 11— " Kilwinning or Caledonian Lodge : This Chapter is a revival of No . 2 "—whilst No . 2 itself , in the same list ( doubtless the Chapter cited by Bro . Norton ) , the " Caledonian" is thus referred to in the Grand Chapter register : " 17 Sept ., 1790 . All the members of the Royal Cumberland
Chapter , No . 8 , 1 deemed to be members of this Chapter , by vote of the Grand or Royal Chapter , in consideration of their fidelity and zeal . " This may have been a promotion * " after the manner of the Ancients ; " but at all events , it is quite clear that in the shifting of
numbers and the filling up of gaps on its roll , the Atholl practice was observed by the " Modern " Grand Chapter . No 1 ., the " Restauration Lodge , or the Chapter of the Rock and Fountain of Shilo , " constituted in 1773 , very soon lapsed into
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Origin Of The Royal Arch.
This Caledonian Chapter is next assumed to have been identical Avith the body of the same name , referred to in the regulation quoted above ; and Bro . Norton argues that the Caledonian Lodge , having no doubt worked the Royal Arch whilst subordinate to the "Ancients , " continued the practice under the "Modern" sanction ; and that the
Caledonian Chapter—the connecting link between the Royal Arch Masonry of the rival systems—was the result . In the first place , hoAvever , the Royal Arch Degree was at this period only conferred by the " Ancients " on whom they termed the " legal representative '' of each lodge—to wit , the Master—and Preston ' s
Mother Lodge , the " Caledonian , " constituted by the " Ancients " in April , 1763 , and by the " Moderns " in November , 1764 , if we allow a slight margin for the period of uncertainty which must have preceded the apostasy , could hardly have had more than one or tAVO brethren in its ranks , at the outside , elegible for the distinction of the
Arch . Secondly , if we examine the Ahiman Rezons , or Books of Constitution of the Ancients , for 1756 and 1764 , there is to be found no allusion to a Chapter . The Royal Arch Lodge at Jerusalem is spoken of , Dr . Dassigny is quoted approvingly ( it should be recollected that by this writer the degree is limited to rulers of the Craft ) , and brethren are pointedly referred to " who think themselves Royal Arch Masons without passing ^ the chair in regular form . "
In the next place , Bro . Norton ' s facts are a little awry , in regard to the earliest Chapter being identical with the No . 2 of 1788-90 . There is nothing whatever in the minutes of the "Modern" Society to warrant a belief that the original " Caledonian " ever came on its roll . Many Chapters , indeed , of this name were constituted . In a
printed list of 1790 , Ave find at the No . 11— " Kilwinning or Caledonian Lodge : This Chapter is a revival of No . 2 "—whilst No . 2 itself , in the same list ( doubtless the Chapter cited by Bro . Norton ) , the " Caledonian" is thus referred to in the Grand Chapter register : " 17 Sept ., 1790 . All the members of the Royal Cumberland
Chapter , No . 8 , 1 deemed to be members of this Chapter , by vote of the Grand or Royal Chapter , in consideration of their fidelity and zeal . " This may have been a promotion * " after the manner of the Ancients ; " but at all events , it is quite clear that in the shifting of
numbers and the filling up of gaps on its roll , the Atholl practice was observed by the " Modern " Grand Chapter . No 1 ., the " Restauration Lodge , or the Chapter of the Rock and Fountain of Shilo , " constituted in 1773 , very soon lapsed into