Saint John's Day in Winter 2020

Houston York Rite Masonry wishes all Brothers and Companions a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

The Selection of a Mark

 

  

    

    So far as we know, no American Grand Chapter has any restriction as to the selection of a mark.  The only restrictions imposed are those requiring his mark to be entered before he receives the Royal Arch degree, or within six months after receiving the degree.  At least 38 of the Grand Chapters require registration before advancement.  The ritual says “at some convenient period,” and many companions never find a convenient time. 

     In Ireland, the general rule is to adopt marks which consist of seven straight lines – and no crests or monograms.  Scotland requires straight lines; and old instruction was “3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 points joined together to form any figure they please” with a few minor exceptions.  Some jurisdictions frown upon the use of an equilateral triangle as a mark.

    As a general thing, the mark should be recorded before exaltation to the Royal Arch; every Royal Arch Mason would be possessed of a mark; after his degree, it may be hard to contact him again. 

Updated Schedule for the Royal Arch Degree

After deliberation with several members of the Chapter, and in the interest of safety and family harmony, especially during this holiday season, the Most Excellent High Priest Chuck Ivy has decided to postpone the conferral of the Royal Arch Degree until later next month.  According to the revised schedule, the Degree will be conferred on the first three candidates on Monday, January 25, 2021, and will be conferred on the second three candidates on the following Monday, February 1.  If any Companion is aware of any conflicts, he should contact the Most Excellent High Priest as soon as possible.

All Royal Arch Masons are invited to attend the conferrals.  Proper attire is strongly recommended.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1 , Royal and Select Masters, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, December  14, 2020.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Updated Schedule for Degree Work

 

Since our September stated convocation, Washington Chapter No. 2 R.A.M. was privileged to advance six Master Masons to the honorary degree of Mark Master Mason, three on October 26 and three on the following Monday.  However, due to circumstances beyond the Chapter's control, the original schedule for degree work has fallen behind.  Therefore, the Most Excellent High Priest has announced the following updated degree schedule:

Monday, November 16:  Past Master Degree (first three candidates)

Monday, November 23:  Past Master Degree (second three candidates)

Monday, November 30:  Most Excellent Master Degree (first three candidates)

Monday, December 7:  Most Excellent Master Degree (second three candidates)

Monday, December 21:  Royal Arch Degree (first three candidates)

Monday, December 28:  Royal Arch Degree (remaining three candidates)

It is expected that degree work will start at 7:00 pm.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Convocation of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 9, 2020.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Resumption of Conferral of the Capitular Degrees

 

Companions and Brethren:

Since we are now able to confer degrees, Washington Chapter No. 2 would like to begin the work on six candidates who have been elected to membership in our Chapter.

I would like the schedule to be as follows, barring no conflicts from members or candidates:

Monday, October 19:     Mark Master Degree (3 candidates)

Monday, October 26:     Mark Master Degree (next 3 candidates)

Monday, November 2:   Past Master Degree (all 6 candidates)

Monday, November 16: Most Excellent Master Degree (all 6 candidates)

Monday, November 23: (no degree work – Thanksgiving week)

Monday, November 30: Royal Arch Degree (first 3 candidates)

Monday, December 7:    Royal Arch Degree (remaining 3 candidates)

Potentially, all degree work would start at 7 pm, but I defer to the experience of our Degree Potentially, all degree work would start at 7 pm, but I defer to the experience of our Degree Master as to whether we need to get things going earlier for any given set of ritual given the number we are trying to confer.

Candidates:  Please let me know ASAP if you have any conflicts with these dates.  I realize they are packed pretty close together, but I am hoping we can get everyone through the Chapter degrees before Christmas, potentially doing the Council degrees in early January.

Officers and ritualists:  Companion Marvin Hass will be the point of contact for putting together the degree teams.  Please coordinate with him about which parts you are willing and able to do.  We may be able to get some assistance from other Chapters in the area, and I have included PHP Edward Peebles from Park Place Chapter No. 458 and a few others from other chapters who have helped us in the past in this chain as well in hopes some of their members can help fill spots if necessary.

Fraternally yours,

Chuck Ivy                                                                                                                                                Most Excellent High Priest                                                                                                        Washington Chapter No. 2 R.A.M.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1 , Royal and Select Masters, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 12, 2020.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

A Proclamation from the M. I. Grand Master Regarding Degree Conferrals

 

A Proclamation from the M. E. Grand High Priest Regarding Degree Conferrals

 

Most Excellent Master – Consecration Ceremony for the Enlightened Mind

by ROBERT G. DAVIS 

      In the York Rite system of degrees, that of Most Excellent Master is the first which most likely originated in America.  While we can find several degrees in England, Ireland and Scotland, which bear the names of Excellent none of them have any resemblance to the Most Excellent Master degree practised in most, if not all, the American Grand Chapters of Royal Arch Masons.

     It is believed the degree originated in Temple Chapter at Albany, New York about 1797.  Indeed, Thomas Smith Webb, author of the American craft ritual, was situated in Albany at that time and was busily publishing the first American ritual monitor, which included the York degrees.  He and a fellow named Hanmer had organized Temple Lodge a year earlier so they could work the Royal Arch degree.  Webb gave an account of the Most Excellent Master degree in his first edition of the Freemason’s Monitor.  It is not known whether Webb invented the degree, or simply arranged it from other previous works.  There is some evidence that it had been worked for several years prior to 1797. However, in publishing it with his first monitor, he may well have expanded or improved its ritual form.  Regardless of origin, Webb is certainly given the credit for having brought the Most Excellent Master into the Royal Arch system.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Convocation of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, September 14, 2020.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1 , Royal and Select Masters, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, August 10, 2020.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Message from the Most Excellent Grand High Priest regarding Installations of Officers

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Meeting of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, July 13, 2020.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

A Proclamation from the Most Illustrious Grand Master

A Proclamation from the Most Excellent Grand High Priest

St John's Day in Summer 2020

Houston York Rite Masonry would like to wish all Brothers and Companions a safe and happy day.

Veils in Royal Arch Masonry

By CABELL F. COBBS

      The ceremony of “passing the veils” or the use of the veils in Royal Arch Ceremonies is as old as the Degree itself, and its origins are, with the degree, lost in the oral traditions of the past.  Some say it symbolizes the difficulties encountered by the Jews on their returning journey from Babylon with the holy vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar; others that it involves the veils of the tabernacle of Moses or those of the Temple of Solomon.  Other commentators note it as a reference to the rending of the veil of the last Temple upon the death of Jesus on the Cross.

     The use of veils originated, with the Royal Arch in English Freemasonry and was well known, with some distinctions, in Ireland and Scotland.  Originally, the work was with three veils, with the fourth being used in Ireland and, of course, here.  In Scotland, the ceremony in fact forms the Excellent Master Degree.

    Much of the confusion in the symbolism comes from the Jewish historian Josephus, who declares:

    When Moses distinguished the tabernacle into three parts, and allowed two of them to the priests, as a place accessible and common, he denoted the land and see, these being of general access to all; but he set apart the third division for God, because heaven is inaccessible to men….

    The veils, too, which are composed of four things, they are declared the four elements; for the fine linen was proper to signify the earth, because the flax grows out of the earth; the purple signified the sea, because the color is dyed by the blood of the sea shell fish; the blue is fit to signify the air; and the scarlet will naturally be an indication of fire.

Installation of Officers

The Installation of Officers of Washinton Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, and Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, June 29, 2020.  Members of the Chapter and the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons and Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Called Meeting Notice

A Called Meeting of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, for the purpose of electing the officers for the 2020 - 2021 Capitular year, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard on Monday, June 8, 2020, immediately following the Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1 , Royal and Select Masters, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, June 8, 2020.  The election of officers for the 2020 - 2021 Cryptic year will be held at this meeting.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Clarification from the Most Excellent Grand High Priest

Stated Meeting - Cancelled

In accordance with the edict issued on March 19, 2020, by David M. Baskin, Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas, the Stated Meeting of Washington Chapter No. 2 scheduled for Monday, May 11, 2020, has been cancelled.

As the election of officers for the next Capitular year was scheduled for this meeting, information should shortly follow on when the election can be rescheduled.

Until then, all Companions are encouraged to stay at home if they can, wear a mask or some other face covering if they must go out, and wash their hands as often as necessary.

Stay well, Companions!

COVID-19 Update from the Most Excellent Grand High Priest

Texas Masonic Retirement Center News

Arlington and Tarrant County officials are calling the Texas Masonic Retirement Center a model for retirement and assisted living facilities to follow in the fight against respiratory disease COVID-19.

Following the death of a senior adult resident last month who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the prompt and consistent actions on the part of Texas Masonic Center staff and administrators, which included superintendent Gary Blair’s direction for adherence to strict isolation and security protocols, ensured that the staff and residents at the Arlington facility and also the local community were protected.

As of April 4, 2020, the Texas Masonic Retirement Center (TMRC) in Arlington has been released from the City of Arlington’s and the Tarrant County Public Health’s Control Order.

In all, 263 individuals at the Texas Masonic Retirement Center were tested for COVID-19, through a joint effort of the Arlington Fire Department, Texas Department of State Health Services, Tarrant County Public Health. In total, five individuals at TMRC tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“We appreciate the cooperation and dedication of all our partners at DSHS and Clinical Pathology Labs (CPL); the public health team, the City of Arlington and Arlington Fire Department and the Texas Masonic Retirement staff. This was truly a team effort,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “Thanks to the Joint Response Team, we were able to conduct all the necessary testing and help mitigate the potential spread of the virus among a very vulnerable population.” 

Stated Assembly - Cancelled

In accordance with the edict issued on March 18, 2020, by Don Paul Payton, Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas, the Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1 scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2020, has been cancelled.

All Companions are encouraged to stay at home if they can, wear a mask or some other face covering if they must go out, and wash their hands as often as necessary.

Stay well, Companions!

Message from the Most Excellent Grand High Priest

Message from the Most Illustrious Grand Master

The Degree of Royal Master

  

    One of the most beautiful degrees in American Rite Freemasonry is that of the Royal Master, first of the degrees of the Cryptic Rite.  In the review section of the proceedings of the Grand Council of Missouri is to be found this description of the degree and its symbolism.

   

   Far too little attention has been given by students of Freemasonry to the first of the degrees conferred in the Council of Royal and Select Masters.  We refer to the degree of Royal Master, a degree which is essential to a proper understanding of Ancient Craft Masonry and its symbolism.

   A candidate for the degree of Royal Master may be regarded as a Fellowcraft in search of Divine Truth, who, having received the necessary preceding degrees believes that he is, of right, entitled to a full enlightenment in the Masonic mysteries by receiving the secrets of a Master Mason.

   There seems to be several opinions as to why the name Royal Master is used.  Some are of the opinion that it is derived from the name of the traditional Masonic patron, Solomon, King of Israel, who, with Hiram, King of Tyre, is said to have established this substitute for the Master Mason degree.  Others are of the opinion that the title is given to those who have acquired a true knowledge of the WORD, and have thereby become Masters – indeed Royal Masters – for the true Freemason is a King, not of a material kingdom but a Kingdom of Love, Love for fellow-man, that Love that will bring the universal brotherhood.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Meeting of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 9, 2020.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Stated Meeting Notice

The next Stated Meeting of Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on February 10, 2020.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

York Rite Festival

Gulf Coast York Rite College No. 106 is hosting a York Rite Festival at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard on Saturday, January 25, 2020, during which the Chapter and Council degrees will be conferred. Registration begins at 9:00 am.   Members of the Chapter and Council  are invited to attend.

Proper attire is recommended.