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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
the Law, long lost, now found." 1383 The box is an imitation of the Ark of the
Covenant, known only in Masonic tradition:
The original ark, built by Moses, Aholiab [...] and Bazaleel [...], was
burnt when the first temple was destroyed. Of this imitation, the
traditions of Masonry gives [sic] the only account. As the first ark was
the symbol of the divine presence with and protection of the Jewish
people, and pledge of the stability of their nation as long as they obeyed
the commands of God, so is this copy a symbol of God's presence with
us as long as we live conformably to the precepts contained in the Book
of the Law. 1384
This is a clear statement that Royal Arch Masonry requires the adherence to
the Book of the Law, i.e. the Bible. Furthermore, the Grand Council detect in the
ark the pot of manna deposited there by Moses, and the rod of Aaron, which
budded, blossomed, and brought forth fruit, and which was a testimony of the
appointment of the Levites to the priesthood. All these findings are commented
by the Scribe with quotations from the corresponding Biblical chapter of Moses.
Suddenly, when unfurling the scroll, the Scribe detects a piece of paper which is
a key to the mysterious characters on the imitative ark. Coil argues that the
degree inventors of the different Royal Arch rituals have added this mysticism to
make the Royal Arch appear even more secret: "The attempt at greater secrecy
by use of a cryptogram in one was sought by a symbolic Hebrew letter in the
other." 1385 But before the secrets are divulged, a procession is formed through the
veils from the West to the East, and the candidates follow the ark, until it is
placed on a pedestal just at the finishing of the Royal Arch Ode that is now sung.
This ode contains the symbolism of the "completion of the temple," begun in
Craft Masonry and achieved in the Royal Arch Degree, the symbolism of the
Mark Mason's degree (the cornerstone thrown among the rubbish and rediscovered),
and the symbolism of "rising" or "being exalted" to a future life in
heaven.
Hereafter, the candidates receive the secrets written on the ark: upon its three
sides the names of the ancient Grand Masters are written (King Solomon, King
Hiram of Tyre, Hiram Abiff). They are coded (p. 165) by means of the square
alphabet, which has already been illustrated in Section 4.4 on sign language. On
the fourth side appears the date when this deposit was made - in Anno Lucis,
"year of light," 3,000:
The letters on the top of the ark, written in triangular form, represent the
name of Deity in the Syrian, Chaldean, and Egyptian languages, which, when
given as one word, form the G R A W (the Grand Royal Arch Word). According
1383 P. 159.
1384 P. 160/161.
1385 CME, p. 203.