Seems like yesterday

A Seminar for Royal Arch Companions Tuesday 14th September 2004 - 18:00 Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2

Royal Arch Ritual Reform - Right or Wrong?

“Royal Arch Ritual Reform – Right or Wrong?” was the provocative title of the Cornerstone Society’s first Royal Arch event which was arranged to provide a forum for discussion on the well publicised proposals which were put before Supreme Grand Chapter in November 2004. The Companions assembled in Lodge Room 17 at Freemasons’ Hall, eager to listen to the speaker, Richard Sandbach, who as a member of the Royal Arch Strategic Working Party has been deeply involved with this process. There were many distinguished attendees, including R A H Morrow, Grand Scribe E and the Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.

Following a brief introduction by Mark St J Qualter, Richard Sandbach began his talk which set the Royal Arch reform proposals against the conext of ritual in general and Freemasonry as a whole. He pointed out that It is after all our ritual that differentiates Freemasonry from other bodies, clubs or groups.

He explained that ritual is the method of communicating the teaching of Freemasonry and its objectives of “Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth”. Good ritual allows the candidate to “recognise, note, analyse and understand” what is happening and what has happened to him during a ceremony and to involve those who are both taking part and watching. Therefore, the ceremony must have impact and relevance to be effective and strike hardest at the most receptive moment.

The evolution of language itself can reduce the clarity of the meaning of ritual. Several examples were given including the definition of Freemasonry itself, “a peculiar system of morality”. The meaning of “peculiar” has changed from “distinguished in nature or character” to “unusual, strange, odd”.

The Strategic Working Party undertook to examine and question whether and to what extent Royal Arch ritual was falling short and in its recommendations have sought to bring the Exaltation ceremony up to date in terms of the language used and its context in contemporary society, whilst preserving its meaning and tradition.

We were reminded of the important role Freemasonry has to play in today’s world and how its message of tolerance and understanding is more relevant now than perhaps it has ever been. If it is to survive, Freemasonry must be able to adapt. The proposals aim to embrace these issues and make the Royal Arch an attractive and relevant proposition to the newly raised Master Mason.

As is the tradition in all Cornerstone Society events, a lively question and answer session followed.

Thereafter, the Companions together with Richard Sandbach, retired to the Drawing Room at Freemasons’ Hall to round off a highly successful and thought provoking evening with a glass of wine and further animated discussion.

Transcript of the Lecture

Biography of Richard Sandbach

Richard Sandbach was initiated into the Craft in 1949 in the Clerestory Lodge No 6551 and became Worshipful Master in 1956. He is a Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076. He has served on the General and Finance Committees of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and has been a member of the Board of General Purposes. His efforts and considerable contribution to Freemasonry culminated in his appointments as Grand Superintendent and Provincial Grand Master in Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.

He is a member of several other orders including the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales, where he became Sovereign Grand Commander in 2002.

Richard has researched and written extensively on the subject of Freemasonry and his work includes “Priest and Freemason”, a biography of Rev. Dr George Oliver, “Understanding the Royal Arch”, “Talks for Lodge and Chapter” and he was the founder of the “Peterborough” series of booklets, which provide invaluable information and guidance for a candidate as he starts his Masonic journey.