The third regular step is the pathway to the third degree and for Joe Lynch of Adelphi Lodge No 6819, this was a moment he has been waiting for some time, to be able to call himself a master Mason. Lodge meetings are always a team effort and the occasion of this third degree was no different. With everyone settled in their respective positions, WM Tom Smith, welcomed Assistant Provincial Grand Master John James, who is an honorary member, and Assistant to the Grand Principals Ian Sanderson to the lodge and hoped that they enjoyed the ceremony that was to come.
Having opened the lodge in the first and second degree, Joe was presented to the WM, and having answered the necessary questions, it was time for director of ceremonies, Paul Dooley, to occupy the chair of King Solomon for the next part of the ceremony.
Stand-in inner guard, Sean Keyes, announced a report on the door of the lodge and the ceremony of being raised to the third degree was underway. Paul Dooley conducted the third degree with authority having been well versed in the delivery of the ceremony, with Joe conducted superbly by senior deacon Darren Fulton and junior deacon David Beckett.
The senior and junior wardens, Colin Higginson and Tom Murphy, were equally impressive in their ritual knowledge and it was obvious that the team have been practicing well. The amount of work which is performed behind the scenes is not always commented upon, and yet when a ceremony is performed well it shows the amount of hard work which has been put into making that so.
Having been raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason, and adorned with the badge of that degree, the working tools of a master Mason were delivered by junior deacon David Beckett, who confidently explained each of the operative tools of that degree. The next part of the ceremony is the delivery of the Traditional History.
In this case, assistant secretary Paul Shirley was set to orate that to Joe, unfortunately he was unavoidably delayed by the vagaries of the rail network and replacement bus services. Having been suitably forewarned by the customary Freemasonry standard of 10 minutes before, up stepped John James, who delivered the traditional history to Joe. Quite an honour to have that impressive passage of ritual orated to you by an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. John was very warmly applauded and thanked for stepping in at such short notice, and even more impressive when one thinks how large a piece of ritual it is to be delivered.
Newly made master Mason Joe Lynch was seated in the lodge, which was the cue for Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals Ian Sanderson, to rise, and having given his congratulations to brother Joe, began his talk; ‘The Royal Arch – Discover More – Continue the Journey’.
Ian explained that every master Mason, should aspire to continue their journey from initiation in the Craft, subsequent degrees of fellow craft, and then master Mason and after a period of four weeks or more continue that journey towards exaltation as a companion in the Royal Arch. Pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees; the entered apprentice, the fellow craft and the master Mason, including the Royal Arch.
Ian recognised that it is a personal choice for a master Mason with regards to the timing of when to join Royal Arch, noting that a master Mason does not have to wait until they had been through the chair of their lodge and could join as soon as four weeks after becoming a master Mason, and had received their Grand Lodge Certificate.
Noting the hard work and progress that brother Joe had made in the science, the continuation of that journey and the search for the genuine secrets of a master Mason, can only be achieved by joining the Royal Arch.
Describing the spectacular, colourful and dramatic ceremony, Ian described the colours and symbolism which is intertwined with Craft Masonry. Noting that the tessellated border of the carpet on the floor of the lodge is of interlaced triangles of red and blue, this is symbolic of the indissoluble link between the Craft and Royal Arch and is proudly displayed on the sash that all Royal Arch companions wear.
Expounding on that link, the companionship and collaboration within the Royal Arch as described in the rebuilding of King Solomon’s temple, and the teamwork of belonging to a chapter were discussed. Many lodges have natural links to chapters often outside of their immediate ‘groups’ and this allows companions to form new friendships and meet other people outside of their lodge.
If you are interested in joining Royal Arch, or perhaps have been in the Royal Arch, before and would like to rejoin, then your lodge Royal Arch mentor can help you to find and join a chapter, opening a new door in your Masonic journey. There are many specialist interest chapters and the provincial stewards chapter demonstration team performing the ‘passing of the veils’ ceremony being one to particularly watch out for.
As always in Freemasonry, often people join a lodge or chapter, simply because they were asked to, and that is a message we often hear. The Royal Arch jewel proudly worn in lodges tells us who is a Royal Arch companion, next time you see a brother without one, then ask him if he is in chapter and whether he would like to join, and be welcomed into the wonderful and colourful order of the Royal Arch.
At the conclusion of his talk, Ian welcomed and answered several questions from lodge members and was warmly applauded and congratulated for his informative and very interesting talk. Ian is very keen to give a talk at lodges that may or may not have business to attend to, or as in this case after a ceremony has been conducted, if any lodge would like to take advantage of this informative talk, please contact Ian and he would be more than happy to attend.
The business of the lodge having been attended to, and as third degree ceremonies are very thirsty work, director of ceremonies Paul Dooley requested the stewards of the lodge retire to arrange refreshments. The lodge was thereafter suitably closed in solemn form and all retired to dinner at the Crompton’s Dining Rooms, to continue and congratulate our newly made master Mason, Joe Lynch.