and the Provincial Grand Chapter of Middlesex
Chapters under the jurisdiction of Supreme Grand Chapter of England are grouped as Metropolitan area or Provinces, which are based on the old Counties. Overseas Chapters are grouped in Districts. Metropolitan, Provincial and District Grand Chapters are ruled over by a Grand Superintendent who is appointed by the First Grand Principal as his personal representative for the particular area.
The Royal Arch in England has four ceremonies: the exaltation ceremony for new members, and an installation ceremony for each of the three Principals. The exaltation ceremony consists of two parts. The first part is a dramatic representation of the principles of the Order, and the second part consists of three lectures in which the history, symbolism and principles of the Royal Arch are further explained.
The exaltation ceremony is based on an allegory of the Old Testament telling of the return to Jerusalem from the Babylonish captivity to rebuild the city and temple, and in clearing the ground of the original temple for the foundations of the second temple, the exaltee makes a number of discoveries which emphasise the centrality of god to man’s life and existence and, without transgressing the bounds of religion, lead the exaltee to a consideration of the nature of God and his personal relationship with Him.
In the Craft the candidate is presented with a series of eminently practical principles and tenets which if he practices them he may hope to live a life pleasing God, however he worships him, and of service to his fellow man. But man is not simply a practical being, he has an essential spiritual aspect to his nature. That spiritual aspect is introduced in the Third Degree, in which the candidate is led to a contemplation of man’s inevitable destiny, and becomes the central message of the Royal Arch. In that sense “pure ancient Masonry” can be seen as a journey of self-knowledge and discovery with the Royal Arch completing the practical lessons of the Craft by a contemplation of man’s spiritual nature, not replacing but reinforcing and supporting what he has learned from his religion.
Royal Arch Special Celebration – 16th October, 2013 – Registration and Ballot
Letter From E. Comp. Roger J Croome, QPM, M.E. Grand Superintendent As the date of the 200th Anniversary of the Royal Arch celebration on Wednesday 16th October 2013 draws closer, Supreme Grand Chapter has asked Grand Superintendents to allocate the places that have been allotted to their particular Province. The four events are:- 1) 11.00 am – Demonstration of the Ceremony of Exaltation by Met. Grand Stewards. 2) 1.00 for 1.30 pm – Lunch at the Grand Connaught Rooms (Approx £70) with ME Pro First Grand Principal presiding. 3) ...
read moreExaltees’ Seminar 2013 – Saturday 21st September
The 2013 Exaltees’ Seminar is to be held at the Twickenham and District Masonic Centre, Cole Court, London Road, Twickenham TW1 1HD on Saturday 21st September 2013 at 10am. The purpose of the Seminar is to ensure that recently exalted Companions into the Royal Arch in the Province of Middlesex get the full benefit of completing their third degree by becoming a member of the Royal Arch and introducing them to some of its aspects, the significance of which they might not yet have realised, but above all to give them the opportunity of asking...
read moreAnnual Convocation of Provincial Grand Chapter – Reminder
The Annual Convocation of Provincial Grand Chapter, at which the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Excellent Companion Roger J. Croome, QPM, will appoint and invest his new Provincial Grand Officers will be held on Wednesday, 19th June 2013 at British Airways Concorde Club, Crane Lodge Road, Cranford, Middlesex, TW5 9PQ. It is an opportunity to meet Companions from other Chapters in the Province and to support friends who will be receiving Provincial Honours this year. All Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers, Principals and Past...
read moreCompanion’s Jewels from 1967
Companion’s Jewels from 1967 returned to Middlesex West Chapter. A story by E. Comp. Jim Reynolds PAGDC, of St Amphibalus Chapter No. 9154. Frank Carter Hamshere I was recently having a get together with some neighbours and, as tends to happen at such occasions, we were all having a drink and putting the world to rights when the subject of Freemasonry came up and, cutting a long story short, I was asked by the ‘lady of the house’ if I was a Freemason. I told her that I was, which prompted her to tell me that her Dad had been a very...
read moreCelebratory Convocation Of Supreme Grand Chapter – Wednesday 16 October 2013
To mark the bi-centenary of the formal recognition of the Holy Royal Arch as part of pure antient Masonry and the culmination of the appeal in favour of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter in November 2013 has been moved to the afternoon of the third Wednesday in October to take advantage of what it is hoped will be more clement weather before the clocks go back. The provisional programme for 16 October is: 11.00 a.m. – Convocation of Metropolitan Grand Stewards Chapter, No. 9812 in which a...
read moreM.E. GSupt Address to Provincial Grand Chapter
Address by M.E. Grand Superintendent E.Comp. Roger Croome, QPM given at the Annual Convocation of Middlesex Provincial Grand Chapter on the 20th June 2012 Distinguished Guests and Companions all. I have already welcomed our official guests and I now thank them very much for supporting us here today. It also gives me the opportunity to thank them for their generous hospitality which we have enjoyed during the past year. Now is also a good time for me to thank my Deputy Grand Superintendent, Jack Flint for his unstinting efforts during the...
read moreLong Service Certificates 2012-2013
The following Companions will have achieved 50 years continuous membership within the Province of Middlesex. John Ernest Clark of Comet Chapter No. 9190, Exalted 10th June 1963. Harold James Coombes of Tithe Farm coronation Chapter No. 7789, Exalted 6th February 1963. Michael Tadman of Old Hamptonian Chapter No. 5730, Exalted 1st November 1962. The following Companions will have achieved 60 years continuous membership within the Province of Middlesex. John Bramwell Webb of Jersey Chapter No. 2163, Exalted 28th April 1953. Gordon Lionel Bourne...
read moreMost Excellent Grand Superintendent & Executive
The Royal Arch is an integral part of the Province and as such is presided over by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Roger Croome, and assisted by the Royal Arch Chapter Executive...
read moreScribes E – Provincial Service of Thanksgiving
Please find attached letters from E.Comp. Clive Pigram, PAGSoj, P3rdProvGPrin regarding the Provincial Annual Service of Thanksgiving to be held at Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 21st October 2012. Scribes E Letter Booking Form Any enquiries to E.Comp. Clive Pigram.
read morePrince Michael of Kent Chapter No. 9120
The Prince Michael of Kent Chapter is a Middlesex Provincial Grand Stewards Chapter and is primarily for the association of Provincial Grand Officers present and past, of the Royal Arch Province of Middlesex, who have served the Office of Provincial Grand Steward of the Royal Arch, in the Province of Middlesex. History On Tuesday 19th February 1991, 210 companions from 65 different chapters congregated for a special event. There were many eminent members of the Province present at the occasion, which because of the numbers involved, entailed...
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