Freemasons

I've just joined Royal Arch and done my Mark degree, and I would have to say I enjoyed it greatly. Definately one I get a feeling is more interactive than the blue lodge..... I look forward to visiting and meeting some of you And anyone concidering joining, I give it my whole hearted recommendation.

Cheers

Neil

Congratulations on joining Royal Arch.

Having been a member of Royal Arch for about 3 years I find it is sometimes more enjoyable than "blue", however they both have there place as there can not one without the other.

Which Chaprter have you joined ????

When you start going through the Officers of the Chapter is when you will have the most enjoyment.

At present I hold the offices of: Junior Overseer & Captain of the 2nd Veil.

William Frost
Lodge Te Puni No 315
Tutanekai-Hinemoa Royal Arch Chapter No. 92
Te

Thanks for your kind words Frostyboy, I've joined the victory chapter here in Nelson, and am a member of the victory lodge number 40 for the blue lodge as well..... I would say I'm going to enjoy my membership to both lodges, and I would think that they will both build on the other....

Cheers

Neil

Great to hear that you are enjoying both "red" & "blue".

Hope to see your name in dispatches in the near future.

Sorry that I have not replied early, busy with other matters.

William

The Royal Arch was one of the sticking points between the Anteients & the moderns & the current constitution is a result of the trade off between them at the Union in 1813. The constitutions recognise 3 degrees only - EA, FC & MM (as completed by the Royal Arch).
The RA is far more interactive and appears to have a fair bit more to do with the origins of freemasonry.
The Mark degree compliments the FC and the RA degree compliments the MM.

Good to se you in here Neil (I am the Z in Neils chapter)

Regards
Phil Ivamy
PM Victory #40 & 1st P Victory #12 RA

"The RA is far more interactive and appears to have a fair bit more to do with the origins of freemasonry. "

This is not quite the case (see the posts regarding the origins of Freemasonry). However the importance of the three degrees of the Royal Arch is that they answer many of the questions left begging by Craft Masonry. What, for example, was the lost word? The Royal Arch Degree answers that question.

I think what appeals to many of us is that while the first two degrees in Craft Masonry take a candidate through a series of lessons, it is only in the third degree that the first element of a morality play emerges. The concept of the morality play as a method of education becomes highly developed in the three degrees of the Royal Arch and reaches its zenith in the Royal Arch Degree - as anyone who has taken the role of the Conductor can attest to.

For what it is worth, these concepts are developed in other Orders (such as Cryptic Council, Secret Monitor, and Rose Croix - the only other orders of which I am a member) but to my mind, the Royal Arch sets the standards by which the others are judged.

And who can deny the feeling which impacted us when first we saw a Chapter in full regalia?

Gary [also PZ of Piako RA Chapter No 48]

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Gary Kerkin
PG Lec (GLNZ)
PG Lec (SGRACNZ)
PM Waikato Lodge of Research No 445
PSR Three Arrows Research Conclave No 30

I am being pedantic again
"Complimentary' means 'to say nice thingd about'
'Complementary' means 'to add to or complete'
Lots of people seem to get them confused don't they

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Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Keith,
I compliment you on your complementary remarks to this discussion!
One of the beauties of the RA is that it completes that which is missing in the craft degrees, but then also acts as a stepping stone to other side degrees (the cyptic, KTs etc).
The more you know the more there is to know...

Phil

Bingo!!!

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Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Just wondering Neil what you think of Royal Arch now, I have just finished my Royal Arch degree and have really enjoyed the way it compliments my blue lodge degrees

Cheers - William

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William Durning
Hamilton
Waikato - New Zealand

Lodge Hillcrest #363
Waikato Royal Arch #22

durning@xtra.co.nz

William, William!
You've done it too mate!
complEmentary!

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Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Hi there William, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed doing your Royal Arch degrees. I've definately enjoyed my masonic learning in the Royal Arch lodges, and have enjoyed reading some of the material of the Reasearch Chapter....

Enjoyed it so much in fact, that on the of July I'm joining the local KT Priory.....

The only downside to the side degrees, I think, is that they don't meet often enough, and that first couple of RA meetings after having completed the degrees, was a bit of a "memory jog"...

Cheers

Neil

Neil, glad to hear that there is someone else who as a "newbie" is enjoying the research side of things as well. You mention that in July you are joining the KT's I too am thinking very seriously of enrolling the ranks so to speak, and am fortunate to have a crowd here in Hamilton as well as a group in Auckland who sound as though they have an active group as well, where are you joining?

Cheers - William

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William Durning
Hamilton
Waikato - New Zealand

Lodge Hillcrest #363
Waikato Royal Arch #22

durning@xtra.co.nz

Keith my good friend, thank you so very much for your kind words, isn't our fraternal organisation such a wonderful thing.

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William Durning
Hamilton
Waikato - New Zealand

Lodge Hillcrest #363
Waikato Royal Arch #22

durning@xtra.co.nz

Couldn't resist it William!
BTW I'm not sure when I'll be back in Hamilton, the hospital gave me a full clearance a couple of weeks ago and I was unable to call in to see you as I was not driving. I look forward to seeing you when you get down this way.

_________________
Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445