The Grand Council

by

 Dean L. Bates, Past High Priest (IL)

     The first three officers of a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, namely, the High Priest, King, and Scribe, are often referred to as the Grand Council.  These officers represent Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and Haggai, who formed the first grand council at Jerusalem following the return of the Jews from Babylonish captivity in the year B.C.

     In order to obtain an understanding of the lives and works of Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and Haggai, it would appear necessary to first present a background of the times in which they lived and to briefly review the history of the Hebrew people.

     Israel’s real history, as distinguished from legend, begins with the entrance of the Hebrew tribes into Palestine and the conquest of the Philistines by King David.  After conquering the Philistines, David subdued the surrounding nations.  David reigned from 1010 to 975 B.C., and was succeeded by one of his sons, Solomon, who ruled from 975 to 935 B.C.

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 12, 2018.  In addition, the Thrice Illustrious Master, Joseph Taylor, has set aside the fourth Monday of each month for degree work and ritual practice.  Members of the Council are encouraged to attend.  All Royal and Select Masters are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.

Passing the Veils: its Historical Development and Symbolism

PETER JOHN MILLHEISER

2005 Grand Historian Lecture,

The Most Excellent Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Florida

      Some of the most fascinating changes that have occurred in the Royal Arch ritual have been those of the legends of the vault and the veils.  Philostorgius, the fourth century great historian, wrote that as the Roman Emperor Julian was attempting to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, a stone was dislodged revealing a hidden vault.  Workers were lowered into the vault, whose dimensions formed a perfect square.  One of the workers struck his foot against a column upon which was found a book wrapped in a fine linen cloth.  His companions outside the vault then pulled this worker up by a rope tied around his waist.  The book appeared new, and written in the book in large letters was the Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

    There were other variations of the vault legend.  In the Book of Enoch, Enoch had a vision from God of nine vaults and he proceeded to build a secret sanctuary based on the plan that had been revealed to him.  The vaults were built one under the other and in the ninth and lowest vault was a triangle of the purist gold upon which was inscribed the name of God.

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 December 11, 2017.  In addition, the Thrice Illustrious Master, Joseph Taylor, has set aside the fourth Monday of each month for degree work and ritual practice.  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 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, November 13, 2017.  As a reminder, the Most Excellent High Priest, Joseph Taylor, has set aside the fourth Monday of each month for degree work and ritual practice.  Members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend. All Royal Arch Masons are welcome.

Proper attire is recommended.