Soon after the erection of the premier Grand Chapter it seems likely that the Antients’ for the first time found the scales tilted against them, and, although to them any separate control of the Royal Arch was of no advantage, they obviously felt compelled to counter the efforts of their rivals by creating their own Grand Chapter. So, in 1771, they replied to Lord Blayney’s gesture, but their Grand Chapter was nothing more than a nominal body; it is not known to have had minutes before 1783, and it is doubtful whether for a long time it had even the semblance of a separate organization, certainly never an independent one such as that of the first Grand Chapter. The explanation is simple enough: the Moderns’ had formed their Grand Chapter in the face of official dislike; it had to be separate and distinct, or otherwise could not have existed at all. On the other hand, the Antients’ system embraced and comprehended the Royal Arch; its Brethren loved it, respected it, believed it to be an integral part of the Masonic Order; any independent organization for its control was superfluous. Nevertheless, they felt obliged to make a positive reply to Lord Blayney’s move, for they had enjoyed in the Royal Arch a considerable asset which now might tend to disappear, so they founded a ‘Grand Chapter.’ Very slowly at first, but quite definitely in the course of a generation or so, the Antient’ Brethren would be looking not to the lodge, but to the chapter when they wished to be exalted, but for years to come they would view with disapproval the setting up of any authority, even a shadowy one, coming between their Grand Lodge and the working of the R.A. in their lodges. There continued for many years a most distinct ‘oneness’ between their Grand Lodge and their Grand Chapter; indeed, in general, it was impossible to distinguish between them.
That the arrival of the first Grand Chapter forced their hands is obvious from many minutes of the Antients’ Grand Lodge. Consider the proceedings of September 4, 1771, when Laurence Dermott, the new Deputy Grand Master, was in the chair. The Grand Secretary (Dicky) asked whether his Grace, the Duke of Atholl, was Grand Master “in every respect.” The meeting unanimously answered the question in the affirmative. Then the Grand Secretary said he had heard it advanced that the Grand Master “had not a right to” inspect into the proceedings of the R.A.; that he, the Grand Secretary, had “with regret perceived many flagrant abuses of this most sacred part of Masonry; and therefore proposed that the Master and Past Masters of the Warranted Lodges be conven’d as soon as possible in order to put that part of Masonry on a Solid Basis.”
In this same year, 1771, matters relating to the R.A. having come before it, the Antients’ Grand Lodge “considered that as several members of Grand Lodge were not Royal Arch masons, the Chapter were the ‘properest’ persons to adjust and determine this matter”; it was then agreed that the case be referred to their Chapter “with full power and authority to hear and determine and finally adjust the same.” In November 1773 it was resolved in Grand Lodge “that this Chapter perfectly coincided and agrees that Masters and Past Masters (Bona‑fide) only ought to be admitted Masters of the Royal Arch.” Then, in the next month, December, we find the Grand Lodge deciding when the Grand Chapter is to meet, the actual resolution being that a General Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch shall meet on the first Wednesday of the Months of April and October in every year to regulate all matters in that branch of Masonry, and that at such meetings a faithful copy of the Transactions with a list of all the Royal Arch Masons of the respective Lodges shall be returned to the Grand Secretary to be Inrolled.
At this very same meeting we hear what is undoubtedly an echo of the disquiet created in the Antients’ ranks by the formation of the first Grand Chapter:
The Master 193 reported that several Members of His Lodge was very refractory, insisting that the Grand Lodge had no power to hinder them from being admitted Royal Arch Masons, and that they was countenanced in such proceedings by Bror. Robinson, the Landlord of the House they assembled in.
Then follows an attack on this Brother Robinson, who was summoned to attend the next Steward’s Lodge. (In the Antients’ system, the functions of the Steward’s Lodge somewhat resembled those of to‑day’s Board of General Purposes.)
There is further evidence of the close association of the two bodies when in 1788‑89 it was resolved that copies of the R.A. regulations should be included in the Circular Letter of the Year. This followed an inquiry by a select committee into a report that many and gross abuses had been practised; so seriously was the matter regarded that, pending the completion of the inquiry and thorough reform, no R.A. masons could be made without consent of Grand Lodge officers. Later, in 1791, we find the Grand Lodge confirming a “report of the General Grand Chapter and Committee of the Holy Royal Arch” and agreeing to circulate it to all lodges under the Antients’ constitution. At about this period there are references in the minutes to “A Book of the Royal Arch: Transactions,” but it is not known whether a copy of this book is in existence. In the years 1796‑97 Grand Lodge read the minutes of the last Grand Chapter of the R.A. and passed them unanimously. A minute of June 3, 1807, of the Antients’ Grand Lodge, recorded that fees received on exaltees had been finally paid into Grand Lodge. More complete evidence of the real identity of the two bodies is hardly possible.
Rules and Regulations
No rules relating to the Royal Arch appear to have been made in the early years by the Antients’ Grand Lodge, whose book of constitutions, Ahiman Rezon for 1756 and 1778, did not include any, although having borrowed a phrase from Anderson’s first Constitutions (it helped itself cheerfully from any useful source), its rule No. a stated that “the Master of a particular Lodge has the right and authority of congregating the members of his own Lodge into a Chapter upon any emergency or occurrence,” but, as stated earlier, it is extremely unlikely ‑ practically impossible ‑ that ” Chapter” in Anderson’s instance had anything to do with the R.A. In 1783, however, the Antients’ Grand Lodge ordered a register of the Excellent Royal Arch Masons returned by lodges to be made, and more than ten years later, in 1794‑95, they went through the rules and regulations on which they had been working and issued them in revised form as a set.
The earliest‑known Antients’ register of R.A. masons dates back to 1782‑83, but, to tell the truth, it is not a live, current register, but more in the nature of a list of Brethren known to be (or have been) R.A. masons, for it includes in an early entry Laurence Dermott’s name, to which is appended “D.G.M. No. 26, 1746” (Laurence was not Deputy Grand Master until many years later). The names of other prominent masons appearing in the list could not have been compiled from any normal returns.
The rules and regulations of 1794 are stated to be:
For the Introduction and Government of the Holy Royal Arch Chapters under the Protection and Supported by the Antient Grand Lodge of England Made at Several Times. Revised and corrected at a Grand Chapter, Octoder Ist, 1794. Confirmed in Grand Lodge, December 3rd, 1794.
The outstanding points of the rules are:
1. That every chapter shall be held “under the authority and sanction of a regular subsisting warrant granted by Grand Lodge according to the Old Institution.”
2. That six regularly registered Royal Arch masons be present at the making of an R.A. Mason.
3. “That no Brother shall be admitted into the H.R.A. but he who has regularly and faithfully passed through the three progressive degrees, and has filled and performed the office of Master in his Lodge to the satisfaction of his Brethren, to ascertain which they shall deliver up to him in open lodge, held in the Master’s degree, a certificate to the following purport:
To the presiding chiefs of the Chapter of Excellent Royal Arch Masons under the Lodge…. No…. Whereas our truly well beloved Brother … a geometric Master Mason, every way qualified so far as we are judged of the necessary qualifications for passing the Holy Royal Arch, we do hereby certify that the said trusty and well beloved brother has obtained the unanimous consent of our Lodge No…. for the recommendation and the signing of this certificate.
Given under our hands this ….. day of …..
W.M.
S.W.
J.W.
Secretary………………
4. “That a general Grand Chapter of the H.R.A. shall be held half yearly, on the first Wednesday in the months of April and October in each year, that every warranted Lodge shall be directed to summons its Excellent Royal Arch Members to attend the same, and that none but members of warranted Lodges and the present and past Grand Officers (being Royal Arch Masons) shall be members thereof, and certified sojourners to be admitted as visitors only.”
5. That Scribes shall keep a register of all Brethren admitted to the Degree and make due return half‑yearly.
6. That general Grand Chapters of Emergency may be called, on application being made to the Grand Chiefs by at least six Excellent Masons.
7. “That on the admission of a new brother the form of the return to General Grand Chapter shall be as follows:
We, the three Chiefs, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do certify that in a Chapter of Holy Royal Arch, convened and held under the sanction and authority of the Warrant of the Worshipful Lodge No…. our well beloved
Brethren, G.H., I.K., and L.M., having delivered to us the certificate hereunto subjoined and proved themselves by due examination to be well quali fied in all the three degrees of Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason, were by us admitted to the supreme degree of Excellent Royal Arch Masons. Given under our hands and Masonic Mark in Chapter this ….. day of ….. in the year of Masonry ….. and in the year of our Lord ….
……Z. ……H.
Scribe ……….
8. “That all registered Royal Arch Masons shall be entitled to a Grand Royal Arch certificate on the payment of three shillings, which shall be a perquisite of the Grand Scribe, they paying the expense of printing, parchment, ribbon, etc. etc.”
9. “That the expenses of General Grand Chapter for Tylers, summonses, etc. shall be borne from the Grand Fund as formerly ordered by Grand Lodge.”
10. That London Brethren, on admission, shall pay a fee of half a guinea, of which two shillings shall be paid to the general Grand Fund on registration and one shilling to the Grand Scribe; country, foreign and military chapters may charge a smaller fee but make the same payment on registration.
11. That a member of any particular lodge in London recommended by the Master, Wardens, and Secretary in open lodge assembled, and after due examination by any of the Three Grand Chiefs, or the Two Grand Scribes or any two of the same, the brother, being a Master Mason and duly registered at least twelve months as shall appear under the hands of the Grand Secretary, and having passed the chair, shall, if approved by the R.A. chapter to whom the brother is recommended be admitted to the sublime degree of Excellent or Royal Arch Masons.
12. The foregoing rule is adapted to Brethren in country or foreign lodges.
13. That the names of exaltees be duly returned.
14. That Excellent Brothers from country and foreign lodges “the two Scribes or any two of them” be entitled to be registered and receive a certificate.
A note laid down that nine Excellent Masters, to assist the Grand Officers in visiting lodges (chapters), etc., were to be elected in October of each year: “That the general uniformity of Antient Masonry may be preserved and handed down unchanged to posterity.” These nine Brethren have come down to history as the “Nine Worthies,” and they soon had duties, and very important ones, in addition to those originally named.
They wore a special jewel whose chief motif was three arches, one within the other, these jewels being among the most distinctive of those made in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The names of these “Worthies” were kept in a special register, and one of their particular duties was to examine all persons undertaking to perform R.A. ceremonies, install Grand Officers, “or as to processions.” The “Nine Worthies” developed in the course of time into a Committee on the lines of to‑day’s Board of General Purposes; thus we find that in 1797 the question of estimating and reporting the expense of proper clothing and regalia for the Grand Chapter was referred to them. Probably all the “Worthies” were preceptors of considerable experience. One of them, J. H. Goldsworthy, appointed a few years later, was Lecture Master, had some part in bringing about the Union, and, living to be nearly eighty years of age, was a Senior Grand Deacon in 1845 and a member of the Board of General Pufposes as late as 1850. He died eight years later.
Further laws and regulations for the Holy Royal Arch Chapter were agreed in April 1807: “Revised, amended and approved in General Grand Chapter at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, London, April 1st, 1807.” They are included in the seventh edition of Ahiman Rejon, 180y, and the preamble to them (somewhat repeating that of the 1794 version) so clearly points to the Antients’ high regard for the Order that it may well be reproduced here:
Antient Freemasonry consists of four Degrees‑The three first of which are, that of Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the sublime degree of Master; and a Brother being well versed in these degrees and otherwise qualified is eligible to be admitted to the fourth degree, the Holy Royal Arch. This degree is certainly more august, sublime and important than those which precede it, and is the summit and perfection of Antient Masonry. It impresses on our minds a more firm belief of the existence of a Supreme Deity, without beginning of days or end of years and justly reminds us of the respect and veneration due to that Holy Name.
Until within those few years, this degree was not conferred upon any but those who had been a considerable time enrolled in the Fraternity; and could, beside, give the most unequivocal proofs of their skill and proficiency in the Craft.
It must of consequence be allowed that every regular and warranted Lodge possesses the power of forming and holding Meetings in each of these several degrees, the last of which, from its pre‑eminence, is denominated, among Masons, a Chapter. That this Supreme degree may be conducted with that regularity, order and solemnity becoming the sublime intention with which it has from time immemorial been held, as an essential and component part of Antient Masonry, and that which is the perfection and end of the beautiful system; the Excellent Masons of the Grand Lodge of England, according to the Old Constitutions, duly assembled and constitutionally convened in General Grand Chapter, have carefully collected and revised the regulations.
The rules of 1807 are in general effect the same as those of 1794 just given, but there are a few significant changes.
Rule No. 1 states that, agreeably to established custom, the Officers of the Grand Lodge for the time being are considered as the Grand Chiefs; the Grand Secretary and his Deputy for the time being shall act as Grand Scribes; and the said Grand Officers and Grand Scribes are to preside at all Grand Chapters, according to seniority; they usually appoint the most expert R.A. companions to the other offices; and none but Excellent R.A. masons, being members of warranted lodges, in and near the Metropolis, shall be members thereof. Certified Sojourners may be admitted as visitors only.
Rule No. 4 provides that, as from this date, every chapter under the authority of the Grand Chapter must have a “regular subsisting warrant of Craft masonry granted by the [Antients] Grand Lodge or a Charter of Constitution specifically granted for the purpose.” (Thus, the day in which the R.A. could be worked under the inherent authority of the Craft lodge appears to have closed.)
By Rule 10 the minimum fee for Exaltation is one guinea, out of which the chapter shall pay to the Grand Scribe three shillings, two shillings shall go to the general Fund of Grand Lodge, and to the Grand Scribe as a perquisite for his trouble, etc., one shilling.
It is expressly laid down in Rule 6 that the Candidate for the R.A. must have attained three progressive degrees; have passed the chair; been registered in the Grand Lodge books, as a Master Mason, for twelve months at least; and have been approved on examination by some one of the Grand Chiefs or Grand Scribes, to ascertain which a certificate must be given and signed in open lodge and further attested by the Grand Secretary.
There is little or nothing to help the historian to form an opinion as to the part played by the Antients’ Grand Chapter in preparing for and helping to bring about the Union,’ but the impression is that of itself, it did nothing, for it was part and parcel of the Antients’ Grand Lodge, and that body spoke for both Craft masonry and the Royal Arch, integral parts of one system. The Antients’ Grand Lodge must have had in the course of the very lengthy discussions a great deal to say about the Royal Arch, but what it said is a matter of inference and to be judged by the terms upon which peace was achieved. In the many references to the preliminary negotiations between the two high parties to be found in the Antients’ minutes there is not, so far as the present writer is aware, any reference to the Royal Arch.