Saint John's Day in Winter 2021

 

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

The Four Principal Banners

                                                                                          by

Harry Mendoza

 

     The four Principal Standards bear devices of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle.  When were these emblems first used in the Royal Arch?  Whence did they come?  What or whom do they represent?

 When were they first used in the Royal Arch?

      It is not possible to be sure whether the four Principal Standards with the emblems they bear were in use at the start of Royal Arch masonry, which is believed to have been during the 1740s.  We have no information on the subject for that period.

     What we do know is that in 1764 Laurence Dermott, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the Antients, referred in their Constitutions to armorial bearings said to belong to Rabbi Jehuda Leon, who had been displaying in Holland, Paris, Vienna, and London a model he had made of King Solomon’s Temple.

      Dermott quotes the emblazonment of these Arms, which can be simplified as follows:

     in the first quarter               blue, with a gold lion, rampant;

     in the second quarter         gold, with a black ox, walking;

     in the third quarter             gold, a man in crimson robe edge with ermine and                                                                                                    his hands erect;

     in the fourth quarter           blue, with an eagle perched, its wings raised, gold.

  

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 13, 2021.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters 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 8, 2021.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Our New Royal Arch Banners

At the installation of our current Most Excellent High Priest, Companion Maynard Fernando, Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, was gifted with four beautiful silk banners representing the tribes of Dan, Reuben, Ephraim, and Judah.  The banners were given to the Chapter by Right Excellent Companion Robertino Solon, District Deputy Grand High Priest for Capitular District 17, who served as the Installing Marshal for the ceremony.

As Companion Jeff Bennett wrote in his short talk, “Royal Arch Banners Part 1” (which can be found on the Grand Chapter’s web site), “According to our Very Excellent Eldon L. Brooks, a Past Grand High Priest, all Texas Chapters chartered on or before the year 1900 use these four banners of the tribes of Israel in conjunction with the four veils of the Tabernacle and/or the stations of the Masters of the Veils.”  Since Washington Chapter was chartered by the Grand Chapter of Texas in 1850, we would thus be allowed to use these banners during our ceremonies.  Therefore, during our meetings, the banners will be situated next to the stations of the Royal Arch Captain and the three Masters of the Veils, and will be displayed behind the Grand Council during conferrals of the Royal Arch Degree.

We wish to express our profound gratitude to R. E. Companion Solon for his beautiful and thoughtful gift to our Chapter.

 

Called Meeting Notice

 

A Called Meeting of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, for the purpose of receiving the District Deputy Grand High Priest for his semi-annual visit, will be held at the Masonic Hall at 4911 Montrose Boulevard at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 11, immediately prior to the Stated Assembly of Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters.  No other business will be conducted.  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, October 11, 2021.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Our Newest Members

Washington Chapter was privileged to confer the Royal Arch Degree this evening on three worthy brothers, all from the Houston area.

Joel M. De Guzman

(West University Lodge No. 1292)

Willie Ragasa

(West University Lodge No. 1292)

Vigil Roxas

(Gray Lodge No. 329)

Welcome, Companions!

 

Aaron's Rod

 

by

William K. Bissey

 

    In the Royal Arch degree, the candidates undertake a symbolic journey from Babylon to Jerusalem.  After they prove themselves to be Most Excellent Masters, the candidates are handed the working tools of the degree.  They are then informed that the rubbish of the old temple must be cleared to prepare for the building of the new temple.  The candidates are also instructed to bring up for inspection anything that might be of importance in building the new temple.  Thus, the scene is established for the discovery of the imitation of the Ark of the Covenant with its precious treasures.

     Upon opening the Ark, it is discovered that that it contains among the three treasures an imitation of Aaron’s rod.  In the ritual, Joshua describes the unique characteristics of this precious relic.  Shortly thereafter the candidates are read an incomplete verse from the Volume of Sacred Law (Numbers 17:10).

     After the reading of the passage from the book of Numbers, the candidates may wonder why was Aaron’s rod in the Ark of the Covenant.  For that matter, if the candidates have listened closely, they may even wonder if Aaron’s rod was placed in the Ark of the Covenant.  However, the candidates, especially if they have forgotten their Sunday school lessons, may have several more questions.  Questions such as, who was Aaron and what was his importance to the children of Israel?  What happened to the Ark of the Covenant and its precious relics?  

Our Newest Members

 

Washington Chapter was privileged to confer the Royal Arch Degree this evening on three worthy brothers, all of whom hail from different lodges in the Houston area.

Stephen Aganan

(Solidarity Lodge No. 1457)

Jason Macik

(Garden Oaks Lodge No. 1306)

Grady VanWright

(Holland Lodge No. 1)

Welcome, Companions!

Stated Meeting Cancelled

Due to the impending landfall of Tropical Storm Nicholas and its effects on the Houston area, including intense rainfall with some street flooding through tomorrow, the Most Excellent High Priest has cancelled tonight's Stated Meeting.  The official visit of the District Deputy Grand High Priest will be rescheduled.

Please be safe, Companions!

 

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 13, 2021.  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 9, 2021.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

 

Upcoming Degree Schedule

The Most Excellent High Priest of Washington Chapter No. 2 R. A. M. has announced the following degree schedule for the Capitular degrees.  Dates are subject to change.

Monday, July 19:  Mark Master Degree

Monday, July 26:  Mark Master Degree

Monday, August 2:      Past Master Degree

Monday, August 16:    Past Master Degree

Monday, August 23:  Most Excellent Master Degree

Monday, August 30:  Most Excellent Master Degree

Monday, September 20:   Royal Arch Degree

Monday, September 27:    Royal Arch Degree

In addition, the Thrice Illustrious Master of Houston Council No. 1 R. & S. M. has announced the following degree schedule for the Cryptic degrees.  Again, dates are subject to change.

Monday, October 4:    Royal and Select Degrees

Monday, October 18:  Royal and Select Degrees

 

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, July 12, 2021.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

 

St John's Day in Summer 2021

 

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

The Circle as a Symbol

 

by 

ROY A. WELLS

 

      The Regius Manuscript, which dates from circa 1390, and many of the later Rolls of Ancient Charges, not only provided Regulations which governed the conduct of the stonemasons’ craft, but were so constructed as to be a useful guide for social and domestic behavior for those concerned.  Invariably these Rolls included an imaginary line of descent in the biblical history of the builders, but in addition a legend regarding the handing down and preservation of the several liberal arts and sciences.  They were more than just extensions of the religious teaching, which was center upon the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man., they provided an encouragement for the development of talent in all forms.  Geometry, because of its continued application in design and close association with architecture, was given considerable prominence.

     Let us turn to Geometry for a description of the circle where we find it classified as: “A plane figure bounded by a single curved line, called the circumference, which is everywhere equally distant from a point within, called a centre.”  Similarly, the description for a point is: “That which has position but no magnitude.”  One might well say that its presence is felt but it cannot be seen, which is a tremendously potent attribute of the Almighty.

Our Newest Members

 

Washington Chapter was privileged to confer the Royal Arch Degree this evening on three worthy brothers, all of whom hail from Temple Lodge No. 4.

Howard Aron

Kevin Binder

Louis Binder

Welcome, Companions!

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 14, 2021.  In addition to the regular order of business, the election of officers for the 2021 – 2022 Cryptic year will be held.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters 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, May 10, 2021.  In addition to the regular order of business, the election of officers for the 2021 – 2022 Capitular year will be held.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

More Upcoming Degree Work

 

The Most Excellent High Priest of Washington Chapter  No. 2 R. A. M. has announced the following degree schedule for the Capitular degrees:

Monday, April 26:  Mark Master Degree

Monday, May 3:    Past Master Degree

Monday, May 24:  Most Excellent Master Degree

Monday, June 7:    Royal Arch Degree

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, April 12, 2021.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

 

Upcoming Degree Work

The Thrice Illustrious Master of Houston Council No. 1 R. & S. M. has announced the following degree schedule for the Cryptic degrees:

Monday, March 29:  Royal and Select Master Degrees (first three candidates)

Monday, April 5:       Royal and Select Master Degrees (second three candidates)

 

Our Newest Members

 

For the second time in eight days, Washington Chapter was privileged to confer the Royal Arch Degree on three worthy brothers, all of whom hail from different lodges in the Houston area.

Kevin Clingan

(Gray Lodge No. 329)

Steven Cobb

(Holland Lodge No. 1)

Jeffrey Holder

(Jacques DeMolay No. 1390)

Welcome, Companions!

Symbolism of the Ark of the Covenant

 by

Rabbi Hirsch Geffen

(1879 - 1977)

      The Ark of the Covenant contained the most sacred monument of the Jewish, or of any other, religion.  At the east end of every synagogue, the Jews have a chest which they call Aron, or Ark, in which they lock the Pentateuch, written on parchment.  As the Ark was the emblem of the peace and alliance God made with His people, it was put under the shadow of the wings of the cherubim.

     The Ark was a symbol of the divine presence and protection of the Israelites, and a pledge of the stability of the theocracy, so long as the people adhered to articles of the Covenant which the Ark contained.

    It is perpetually called the Ark of the Covenant, with a primary preference to the Covenant vouchsafed by God to Noah, with a secondary reference to the same covenant renewed in a particular manner with the seed of Abraham.  Hence, in the Tabernacle, it was surmounted by the mercy seat and the cherubim; as the mercy of God rested on the diluvian ark, and as His providence guarded it from surrounding dangers, the Holy Ark was to remind the people of the most signal instance of Divine mercy and judgement.

Our Newest Members

After several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington Chapter was able to confer the Royal Arch Degree on three worthy brothers, all of whom hail from West University Lodge No. 1292.

Pai Chin Huang

Brandon Lam

David Mitkovski

Welcome, Companions!

 

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, March 8, 2021.  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, February 8, 2021.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters 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, January 11, 2021.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend.  All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.