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The
Mystery of the Royal Arch Word
Art deHoyos, 32°
This
precious treasure, long concealed,
Was by three worthy knights revealed,
Where erst a temple stood.
Its ancient ruins they explored,
And found the Grand Mysterious Word
Made known before the flood.
This article
is based upon a general familiarity with some form of the Royal
Arch ritual. It is not a study of the present-day "Royal Arch
Word" nor of its symbolism; rather, it offers one possible
source for the trilingual compound word associated with the triangle.
For the purposes of this article, irrespective of the rite in which
it occurs, this is denominated the "Compound Word."
The Ineffable
and Sublime Tradition
Royal Arch
Masonry occupies a unique and perhaps enviable position within the
Masonic superstructure. Existing under a variety of forms it is
present in several Masonic systems. Under the British Constitution
as well as in the American York Rite, it is considered the "completion"
of the Craft ritual, while in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite (A.&A.S.R.) its "secrets" are fundamental to
the Lodge of Perfection.
A version of
the Royal Arch degree likely arose between 1737 and 1740. Although
an investigation of the origins of the degree is beyond the scope
of this work, it should be noted that all forms of the rituals likely
derive from a common ancestor. The Royal Arch is sometimes denominated
"ineffable" and "sublime" in our rituals because
it concerns the nature of the Hebrew shem hameforash (arpnv oa),
or unspoken name of God. This name was regarded as so sacred that
the ancient Jews would not pronounce it, but substituted the word
adonai (hbst), "Lord."
Jurisdictional
Variations
In spite of
jurisdictional variations in the rituals, such as the dramatis personae
and the alleged historical setting, the core of the ceremony (the
discovery of the name of God) is the unifying underlying theme in
all versions. The discovery of this sacred name is based on a legend
which antedates Speculative Freemasonry by at least 1200 years and
embodies traditions common to both early Christian and Qabalistic
writings.
An Early
Masonic Version of the Legend
The Scottish
Rite inherited its version of this degree from Steven Morin's 25-degree
Rite which is fortunately preserved in toto in the 1783 Francken
Manuscript, now owned by the Supreme Council 33°, Northern Masonic
Jurisdicion.
According to
the this version of this legend, Enoch sought revelation to learn
the Almighty's true name, after which he beheld a triangular golden
plate in a vision. Upon the plate was inscribed the Tetragrammaton,
vuvh, YHWH, or sacred four-letter name of God, which he was forbidden
to pronounce. Presently he seemed to be lowered perpendicularly
into the earth through nine arches into a vault where he again beheld
the same plate. In commemoration of the vision he subsequently constructed
a subterranean temple at the location of its manifestation, and
duplicated the plate encrusting it with agate. The plate was set
atop a marble pedestal and deposited in the ninth arch. Enoch was
then commanded by God to place a stone door, in which a iron ring
had been set, over the first arch to permit entry, and also to protect
the treasure from the impending deluge. Enoch also constructed two
pillars, one of brass, the other of brick, and upon them inscribed
the arts and sciences to preserve this knowledge for the world.
The location and knowledge of Enoch's temple was lost following
the flood.
King Solomon
coincidentally selected the same site for his temple and upon beginning
construction discovered the ruins and a variety of treasures. Fearing
that the antediluvian structure had been dedicated to a "false
god" Solomon changed the temple's planned location. King Solomon
also constructed a secret vault beneath the Sanctum Sanctorum which
was supported by a large pillar denominated the Pillar of Beauty
as it was destined to support the Ark of the Covenant.
Some time later
he sent three Craftsmen to search the ruins for more treasures,
at which time they discovered the stone door with the iron ring.
One of the three tied a rope about his waist and was thrice lowered
into the vault when, upon penetrating the ninth arch, he beheld
Enoch's gold plate which greatly astonished him. After informing
his companions of the discovery the three entered the vault by means
of a rope ladder and retrieved the treasure which they presented
to King Solomon who then created them Knights of the Royal Arch.
Solomon informed them that in time they should be made acquainted
with the true pronunciation of the Divine name, and permitted them
to enter his secret vault where they encrusted the golden plate
upon the Pillar of Beauty. The name of the chamber was then changed
from the secret to the sacred vault.
Judaeo-Christian
Sources and Possible Origins
Three versions
of the legend can be found that pre-date Speculative Freemasonry.
A Fourth-century version is recorded in a work by Philostorgius,
the Arian church historian, while a late thirteenth-century variation
was recorded in the Ecclesiastical History of Nicephorus Callistus,
the Greek historian. Masonic scholar Bernard E. Jones, in his Freemasons
Book of the Royal Arch, identifies another version based on Callistus
and contained in Samuel Lee's Orbis Miraculum, published in 1659.
A portion of Lee's version follows.
When the
foundations [of the Temple at Jerusalem] were a laying, as I have
said, there was a stone among the rest, to which the bottom of
the foundation was fastened, that slipt from its place, and discovered
the mouth of a cave which had been cut in rock. Now when they
could not see the bottom by reason of its depth; the Overseers
of the building being desirous to have a certain knowledge of
the [sic] they tied a long rope to one of the Labourers, and let
him down: He being come to the bottom, found water in it, that
took him up to the mid-ancles, and searching every part of that
hollow place, he found it to be four square, as far as he could
conjecture by feeling. Then returning toward the mouth of it,
found a book lying there wrapped up in a piece of thin and clean
linnen. Having taken it into his hands, he signified by the rope
that they should draw him up. When he was pulled up he shews the
book, which struck them with admiration, especially seeming so
fresh and untoucht as it did, being found in so dark and obscure
a hole. The Book being unfolded, did amaze not only the Jews,
but the Grecians also, holding forth even at the beginning of
it in great Letters (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.) To speak plainly, that Scripture
did manifestly contain the whole gospel....
*
* *
This excerpt is from Heredom,
the transactions of the Scottish Rite Research Society
Volume II, Year 1993
©1993-2002, Scottish Rite Research Society
All Rights Reserved
Scottish Rite Research Society
1733 16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009-3103
202-232-3579 voice, 202-383-1847 fax
srrs@srmason-sj.org,
www.srmason-sj.org
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