Within the framework of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the Royal Arch is seen as the essential completion of a Master Mason’s journey. While the Craft encompasses the first three degrees—Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason—the Royal Arch is not a separate or optional path, but rather the natural continuation of that progression. Though administratively distinct, the Royal Arch Chapter works in close harmony with Craft Lodges and is open exclusively to Master Masons.
The initiation into the Royal Arch, known as the ceremony of Exaltation, is rich in symbolism and spiritual depth. It centres around the rediscovery of the "Lost Word," a metaphorical return to the deeper truths that lie beneath the surface of the teachings within the Craft.
This ceremony brings themes of completion, enlightenment, and a renewed connection with the Divine to the fore. It invites Companions to contemplate life’s greater meaning and the eternal values embedded in Masonic tradition. In doing so, the Royal Arch offers a deeper, more profound understanding of the Craft, completing the spiritual journey that begins with the first degree.
Any Master Mason or Past Master who has yet to join the Royal Arch is warmly encouraged to do so. Far from being the end of one’s Masonic path, the Royal Arch offers a deeper understanding of the principles first encountered in the Craft.
