The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

434
Chapter 7 - Rituals
often Chapters were held on Sundays, but outside the hours of divine
worship." 1334
Der Bau eines Gewölbes wurde in der Maurerei als die höchste Kunst
betrachtet. Und so ist auch der Grad vom Heiligen Königlichen
Gewölbe eigentlich die Krönung der ganzen Freimaurerei. Dieser Grad
[...] ist [...] 'die Quintessenz der orthodoxen freimaurerischen
Philosophie. Ihr Symbolismus ist von der höchsten und erhabensten Art,
und das schöne Ritual drückt die höchsten Ideale aus, verbunden mit
einem aufrichtigen Suchen und schließlichen Finden des Göttlichen
Lichtes und der Göttlichen Wahrheit. Ohne den Grad des Royal Arch
würden die voraufgegangenen verschiedenen Grade unvollständig und
inkonsequent sein.' Häufig wird dieser Grad als typisch jüdisch
hingestellt. Wenn man tiefer in ihn eindringt, dann ergibt sich, daß er
eigentlich eine alttestamentliche Sache neutestamentlich interpretiert:
der Fremdling wird Hausgenosse. 1335
The essence of the ritual is the quest for the lost Master Mason's word, the
name of God. The ritual of the first three degrees has shown that in the Third
Degree of Craft Masonry, through the death of Grand Master Hiram Abiff the
word was lost, and the craftsmen were supplied with a substitute. Therefore, the
Royal Arch Degree can be considered the continuing, the resolution, and the
crowning of the Third Degree of Masonry.
There are several theories as to how the denomination "Royal Arch"
originated 1336 : 1. Firstly, it might be possible that it refers to an architectural
arch, and that the prefix "Royal" was added just as in "Royal Art." 2. It may also
be derived from the ceiling of Masonry, the "starry-decked heaven," "clouded
canopy," or "blue arch of heaven." 3. Others allege that the ark denotes the
rainbow. 4. A further possibility is that "arch" is used in the sense of degree of
attainment or status (first, leading, eminent, royally preeminent). 5. Finally, the
ritual deals with secrets deposited in the third arch (some claim it is the ninth) of
King Solomon's temple, and this is where the denomination "Royal Arch" may
be derived from.
The Royal Arch Degree is the seventh degree of the American system,
following 1. Entered Apprentice, 2. Fellow Craft, 3. Master Mason, 4. Mark
Mason, 5. Past Master, and 6. Most Excellent Master. In other countries, there
are different intermediate degrees, for example in Ireland, where after the first
three degrees of Craft Masonry follow 4. Past Master, 5. Excellent Master, and 6.
Super-Excellent Master. According to Duncan, "[i]n America, we find an
essential variation from any other system of the Royal Arch. The names of the
officers vary materially, as also do the ceremonies." 1337
1334 Lewis, p. 119/120.
1335 Dierickx, p. 128/129.
1336 Cf. CME, p. 576.
1337 Duncan, p. 217.