ruffashlar
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Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
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Post by ruffashlar on Jan 26, 2005 16:45:36 GMT
Indeed, that's true: the First Principal and another Officer (I forget which - chief prompter, by the sounds of it ;D) of my Royal Arch Chapter are both solid gold Craft members in my Mother Lodge, quite the pinnacle of Masonic knowledge, real Freemasons and excellent fellows into the bargain. Everyone wishes their floor work were as good as theirs, and they are the exemplar we try to follow.
Be that as it may, there is still the perception that Chapter sucks in Masonic light as if it were a blue-and-red-zigzag Black Hole.
From the other side, Arch members think the Craft puts people off the whole system by either actively mistreating them or squandering their enthusiasm in boring, timewasting delaying tactics.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 30, 2005 11:43:46 GMT
So why was passing of the veils done away with in England ??
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Post by mrmason on Jan 30, 2005 13:04:09 GMT
The English ritual as far as I remember was revamped by the Duke of Sussex. It is termed today as the Standard, Perfect, Complete ritual,( English Comp's will keep me right ). It was during this revamping or de-christianising that the veils were abolished, as the Arch degree was seen in those days as a Christian degree. According to Jones in his Freemasons Book of the Royal Arch, the veils in Bristol were revived at the turn of the 1900's and not as most presume a survival. In earlier Arch degrees( up to 1902) candidates were informed by lecture of the veils, and that they would have at one time been hung in a seperate room. On researching this part of the ceremony Sir Ernest Cook( Grand Superintendant at that time) and one other, visited Ireland to see the veils being performed. During their stay they didn't manage to see the veils being performed but were able to get information about them and on their return had 3 veils made for the Beaufort Chapter in Bristol. This eventually caught on and the other Bristol Chapters followed suit. In 1929 they were then convinced that a 4th veil should be hung( probably the white veil) and so another was added to the ceremony. Jones stresses that this degree worked in Bristol must not be seen as a survival of the early 18th century working, but a revival.
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ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Jan 30, 2005 19:44:34 GMT
If the white veil was truly a later add-on, this would explain a discrepancy between the triune nature of the Royal Arch generally and this inelegantly slavish fixation upon the four Classical elements.
For, of course, in Hebrew cosmology, there are but three, corresponding to the three Mother Letters: Aleph, Shin and Mem - suggestive of Almanah, Shelomoh and Malekh. The fourth value, Earth, was included in the Letter Tau which, drawn in the Phoenician manner, has particular significance in the Arch Degree.
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Post by whistler on Feb 1, 2005 7:50:14 GMT
The Co-masonic ritual teaches that before the inquirer can find that hidden Light which dwells in all created things, his vision must be purified that he can behold that light with his eyes unveiled. This attainment of true spiritual vision is symbolized by the Passing of the Four Veils, for the veils represent those limitations of consciousness which blinds his vision of truth . The P...W..s of the veils explain the means by which he may lift the barriers that hold him back, and show him the qualities that must be developed if real spiritual progress is to be made... That is why someone who has not passed through the veils could not be admitted into a Co-masonic Royal Arch Chapter
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Post by pastmasterchris on Feb 11, 2005 14:44:13 GMT
Thought you might like to know that in the HFAF we include the Passing of the Veils in our Royal Arch ceremony. We use the "Complete" ritual.
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Post by whistler on Feb 13, 2005 23:54:10 GMT
Thought you might like to know that in the HFAF we include the Passing of the Veils in our Royal Arch ceremony. We use the "Complete" ritual. Greeting and Welcome, to the most open Masonic Forum I have found on the net... In Our Co-masonic Ritual the veils are also part of the complete Royal Arch ceremony.
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Post by Kevin on Feb 14, 2005 5:46:26 GMT
[quote author=whistler In Our Co-masonic Ritual the veils are also part of the complete Royal Arch ceremony.[/quote]
Our RA chapter also works the Mark and Excellent Master degrees and the veils are part of the EM and the RA ceremonies. I can't imagine how they could be done without them.
Whistler, did you not like my comment on your ashlar question? ;D
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Post by hollandr on Feb 14, 2005 9:30:38 GMT
I would be interested if any brother has information on when or from where the veils entered the ritual.
There is an easy proof of the sumerian origin of the 3 fold name in the east. The words in the center are jewish. I suspect the veils may be hindu.
And my direct observation is that the 3 fold grip is non-human in origin.
Cheers
Russell
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Post by Proton on Mar 18, 2005 20:06:33 GMT
The RA ritual that we practise under the EC (English Constitution) is a compromise that was adopted by a group approved by the Duke of Sussex in 1834. As we were not privy to those discussions, the two influencing factors that the group used to formulate the framework of the RA today were: That the ceremony had to be complete in itself and should therefore incorporate, or exclude items that used to be provided in the associated degrees of Mark, Excellent & Super Excellent. That the ceremony had to accommodate the new arrangement in which a candidate could be admitted without having been a WM. Now prior to 1830 the only way of joining the RA was to have been through the chair as WM. So, a degree called passing the chair was introduced to resolve this problem. An attempt was made to adhere to these above guidelines, but due to the strict time limits on ceremonies, some features were omitted. So, it is highly likely that due, in the main to time constraints that the veils was dropped. Whether or not the Mark degree was also part of the RA ceremony is a matter of debate following the Union of 1813, and the formation of SGRA Chapter in 1815. This as far as the Moderns were concerned finally removed the other orders including the Mark from Craft masonry. Antients Lodges, on the other hand, were of the opinion that anything Masonic could be practised in a Craft lodge. The minutes of these lodges circa 1800s testify to this as there is record of Mark, Kt, KM, RC etc degrees being worked. I seem to recall that I have mentioned this before on another thread and in another forum! In November 2005, EC SGRA Chapter voted on further changes in the RA which included the mandatory removal of parts of the ritual, and the option to deliver shortened versions of the three lectures. One could mix and match the old and new but we were advised care should be taken when doing so. Another aspect was the removal of the need to have been through the chair of a craft lodge. As far as I have been able to research the Excellent Masters degree (EM) immediately preceded the RA. It was called The Passing the Veils ceremony, when performed, it took the candidate through three veils that were hung across the Chapter room. The veils represented three stages in the journey of Moses and the Israelites from Egypt to the Holy Land. Originally passwords and tokens were exchanged at each of the three stages, but these were all excluded in 1834. Well..... some chapters did. So when the ceremonies were no longer practised the items on display were no longer mentioned but the steps remained, these are taken by the three principals at the opening of the RAC. The earliest reference that I can find to the EM degree, is from Bro Thomas Dunkerley, who was Master of the first warranted lodge onboard a Royal Naval Man-of-War. Dunkerley was responsible for issuing a hand written certificate to a Bro Gray after he was initiated, passed and raised onboard HMS Prince, in 1760. While the ship was at the Downes anchorge. Dunkerley signed the certificate with his name and the initials EM, meaning Exellent Master. I suspect that Dunkerley saw or was a participant in such a ceremony whlst he was in the Americas, and probably visited Army Regiments who had ambulatory lodges attached to them and were probably from the Irish Constitution, which was during the seige of Quebec. A copy of the certificate is held in the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London. Trust this helps, Proton
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 18, 2005 20:24:27 GMT
Mike,
often i see posts that i feel would be great for inclusion as a small article in Our Lodge magazine.
With ref to your last informative post :
May i use with accreditaion ??
I will add your Lodge and no if you let me know what it is and what one to use .
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Post by whistler on Mar 18, 2005 20:33:52 GMT
As we pass through each veil, we are given the word to enable us to open the veil. We are also given the significance of the word, both are very important in preparing ourselves on the journey to our destination in the Holy Royal Arch Degree. It is the the lack of this significant work on ourselves, I do not understand how people can reach the HRA degree.
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Post by Proton on Mar 25, 2005 1:21:33 GMT
Lee, Given that you edit, produce and circulate your own in-house magazine, I would be pleased to submit some articles to you if you consider that they merit interest! I have had a number of articles published in The Square magazine. These are very tightly worded due to space issues. I do have a few more on the stocks so to speak. We will talk in April. Proton
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 25, 2005 10:56:43 GMT
Mike,Thank you for the offer of an article.It is most appreciated.
Unfortunately there seems to be more support from brothers who are not members of the lodge so it is quite a task top get them to do something.
I will look forward to talking with you on Friday week aboout this .
Martin is to deliver the Traditional History.
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Post by Proton on Mar 26, 2005 0:55:43 GMT
Having an in house magazine is a good thing provided that you have an abundance of source material. I have not seen your magazine but my london lodge has produced in the past such a method of communication with members of the lodge who are spread far and wide in the UK and abroad. Basically the editor produced a page (two sides) of information concerning ladies nights, some historical articles about how FMH at GQS was financed (I wrote that) and details of promotions and festivals etc. The Visiting Grand Officer (VGO) liked the magazine, it was chatty and educational, part of one's daily advancement so to speak! I would not recommend competing with the Deacon magazine, as that will be quite a challendge! Lets have a look at what you have produced. Proton
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 26, 2005 14:00:07 GMT
The Symbolism of the Veil In the Royal Arch degrees, there is a ceremony called the "passing of the veils". This ceremony is no longer practiced in English RA workings except Bristol workings. The veil, still used in many cultures and ceremonies around the world, has several symbolic significance. In an old Royal Arch lecture, possibly as early as 1800, reads "the Veil of the temple signifies the Son of God, Jesus Christ, hanging upon the Altar of the Cross, as the teue veil between God and us….." In this context, the word veil alludes to a promise, or bond. In ancient Rome a red veil, or a veil with red stripes, distinguished newly-married women from the unmarried, again signifying a bond between them and their husbands. It is also worn by widows, who made a profession of continence. The veil is also a symbol of the pre-enlightened state, hidden knowledge, secrecy, illusion, and ignorance. It conceals, but is often intended as protection rather than deception; it might also be a mark of modesty and virtue in many cultures, often worn by women and girls to display their lack of vanity. In earlier times, women wore veils to Church, to indicate their removal from the vanities of this world. Nuns too were veiled, as the expressions "to take the veil" for entry into cloister life. According to the famed historian Josephus, there were four veils that adorned the Tabernacle. The white veil signified the earth, the blue veil signified the air, the purple veil signified the sea (because the purple color comes from murex, a shell-fish) and red signified fire. Today, the Passing of the Veils ceremony uses three veils, sometimes four. Veils are also often used to cover a religious, or holy, object to keep it from the public. The significance again is less to conceal something; rather is signifies something special. In Exodus 34, we learn that when Moses came down Mt. Sinai, "the skin of his face shone", which he had to cover with a veil as the people were unable to look upon his shining face. The Koran (7:44) mentions that a veil divides the damned from the chosen. The unbelievers tell the Prophet in Koran (41:4) that "between us and thee there is a veil". The verb, to reveal, comes from re-veil, which signifies to pull back or to cover again something with a veil. Saint Ludmilla (860-921) was said to have been strangled by a veil, and hence the symbol is associated with her (see illustration below), and is the patron Saint of widows.
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