grandroyalarch

Welcome to the official web site of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of
Virginia, Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch. The Grand Royal Arch
Chapter of Virginia is affiliated with the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of
England and Wales.

FREEMASONRY, under the English Constitution, reaches its climax and
conclusion in the Order of the Holy Royal Arch. There exists a variety of
other degrees ramifying from the main stem of the Masonic system which
either elaborate side-points of its doctrine or re-express its teachings in
alternative symbolism. These, while of greater or less merit and interest,
are beyond our present consideration, and, indeed, are superfluities
tending rather to diffuse the student's attention than to deepen his insight
into the central purpose of the Craft. The taking of additional higher
degrees may be indulged in almost indefinitely, but to what purpose if the
initial ones, which contain all that is necessary for the understanding of the
subject, remain imperfectly assimilated ? It is a fallacy to suppose that the
multiplying of degrees will result in the discovery of important arcane
secrets which one has failed to find in the rites of the Craft and the Royal
Arch. The higher degrees indeed illustrate truths of much interest and often
set forth with impressive ceremonial beauty, the appreciation of which will
be the greater after and not before the meaning of the preliminary ones
has been thoroughly absorbed; whilst the pursuit of " secrets " is certain to
prove illusory, for the only secrets worth the name or the finding are those
incommunicable ones which discover themselves within the personal
consciousness of the seeker who is in earnest to translate ceremonial
representation into facts of spiritual experience.

Check our web site daily for more information concerning the Supreme
Order of the Holy Royal Arch.