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.