AFTER THE CRAFT AND BELONGING TO IT: the Royal Arch. 

Freemasonry in England is over 300 years old. There are distinct three rituals in ‘craft’ masonry, which Cestrefeld offers, but the journey is culminated in the Royal Arch degree, only open to a Master Mason.

Historically when freemasonry in England came together with a merging of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 to form the United Grand Lodge of England, a definition of ‘Pure Ancient Masonry’ was adopted. This consisted  of the three Craft degrees and no more: those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master Mason, (to include the Supreme order of the Holy Royal Arch).

Where the Craft degrees are accepted as being complete in themselves and seem on a practical level, the Royal Arch degree acts to transcend from the physical teachings of Craft masonry. Therefore as a man is more than a practical being, the Royal Arch helps feed the spiritual aspects of mans nature and thus better complete the Masonic journey as the last piece in the jigsaw is revealed.

As well as being an excellent experience, membership of the Royal Arch also expands the circle of companionship as the Chapter includes fellow masons from other lodges.

The Royal Arch Chapters in Chesterfieid are: Scarsdale and Lutadarum and membership of either is open to any Cestrefeld Master Mason in good standing.