CHAPTER IV.

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE.

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.

"THIS Degree," says the late Br. Webb, "is indescribably more august, sublime, and important than all which precede it; and is the summit and perfection of Ancient Masonry. It impresses on our minds a belief of the being and existence of a Supreme Deity; without beginning of days or end of years; and reminds us of the reverence due to his holy name.

"This Degree brings to light many essentials of the Craft, which were for the space of four hundred and seventy years buried in darkness; and without a knowledge of which the Masonic character cannot be complete."

It is founded on, and commemorates, events connected with the destruction of the first and the rebuilding of the second Temple. We have, therefore, thought that a concise narration of the history of the Jews, during the period indicated, would not be uninteresting, nor wholly without its usefulness, to those for whom this work is particularly designed.

After the death of Solomon, ten of the tribes revolted under Jeroboam, and formed the kingdom of Israel, of which Samaria was the capital. The two remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin continued faithful in their allegiance to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, and constituted the kingdom of Judah, of which Jerusalem was the capital. And thus were founded the two separate and independent kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Israel soon fell into the grossest idolatry and licentiousness Rehoboam, following the pernicious example of his adversary, apostatized from the true religion of his fathers: Judah also became weakened in her strength, and her people corrupt in their morals. It was in vain that a succession of inspired Prophets arose in both kingdoms, to plead with the people to renounce their errors and embrace the truth. It was in vain that the Almighty threatened them with destruction. They regarded his threats and admonitions with levity and indifferThe cup of their abominations was full. Israel fell before the strong arm of the Assyrian, and her rebellious children

ence.

were scattered, no man can tell whither. A little while, and Jerusalem herself lay prostrate beneath the victorious sword of the Chaldean. Her Temple was plundered; her holy places were desecrated; the pride of her people made captive; her national independence sacrificed; and Judah became tributary to an idolatrous power! Then began the seventy years captivity Eighteen years afterwards, in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar again besieged and took the city-destroyed the Temple, and seized upon all the holy vessels, together with the two brazen pillars; and the remnant of the people that escaped the sword carried he away captive into Babylon, where they remained servants to him and his successors, until the reign of Cyrus, King of Persia; who, in the first year of his reign, through the intercession of Daniel, and in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, issued his royal proclamation, granting them permission to "go up to Jerusalem," and rebuild their city, and the "House of the Lord." He appointed Zerubbabel governor of Judea, and restored, for the service of the new Temple, five thousand four hundred gold and silver vessels, which had been taken from the old Temple by Nebuchadnezzar. About fifty thousand of the Jews accepted the offer of Cyrus to return into their own country, and marched to Jerusalem under the banner of Zerubbabel.

Ezra tells us, that among the number who sought permission to go up with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem, there were those who "could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel;” and those, also, who “sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found." The Almighty, from the burning bush, communicated unto Moses certain words and signs, by which he was enabled to lead the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage. In like manner, Zerubbabel, the governor, and Jeshua, the High Priest, and the chief of the fathers, tradition says, adopted words and signs, as marks by which the true descendants of Abraham should forever after be distinguished from those who "could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel."

Their first care, on their arrival at Jerusalem, was to restore the sacrifices and to regulate the offices and orders of the Priests and Levites. Jeshua, the son of Joscdec, was at this

time the High Priest; and Zerubbabel, the son of Shea tiel, the governor, or, Masonically speaking, the King. The third person in rank was the Prophet Haggai, who probably officiated as Scribe.

The fact is not to be doubted, that, on their first arrival at Jerusalem, they were compelled to dwell in terts. Judea had been made desolate; the city had long been laid in ruins; the Temple had been destroyed. They were, therefore, necessarily driven to the primitive tent and tabernacle, such as their fathers, such as Abraham and Isaac, and the other Patriarchs, dwelt in, and offered up acceptable sacrifices to God. The tabernacle which Moses erected near Sinai, according to the pattern shown to him in the Mount, was partly the place of his residence as King of Israel, and partly the medium of that solemn worship which the people rendered to the Almighty. It was fifty-five feet long, eighteen broad, and eighteen high; and, according to an estimate by Bishop Cumberland, cost nearly a million of dollars. It is fully described in Exodus.

Our traditions inform us, that Zerubbabel and Jeshua erected a similar tabernacle near the ruins of the old Temple; the entrance of which was covered, like that made by Moses, with curtains of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine white twined linen. In it they set up the altar, and burnt incense thereon, day and night. It was in this tabernacle that the Grand Council, consisting of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, and the chief of the fathers, probably gave audience, and heard causes, and deliberated on the great and holy work before them; and from which they issued orders and directions to the workmen, in building the second Temple. The first year, the people were chiefly occupied in collecting materials and making arrangements for carrying on the work. At the commencement of the second year, they began to clear away the rubbish and dig the foundations. In the prosecution of their labors, the workmen, we are told by the Jewish Rabbins,* discovered a subterranean vault, or cavity, — the roof of which was supported by seven pairs of pillars, perfect and entire, which, from its situation, had escaped the fury of the flames that had consumed the Temple, and the desolation of the

* Buxtorf.

war that had destroyed the city. This vault, which had been built by Solomon, communicated subterraneously with his palace on Mount Zion; but, at the destruction of Jerusalem, the entrance having been filled up with the rubbish of the building, it escaped observation, and was subsequently discovered as above stated. This subterraneous passage was renewed by Zerubbabel. We read of it during the pontificate of Aristobulus, the son of Hyrcanus, as noticed by Prideaux; and it was also resumed by Herod, at the building of his Temple. The Rabbins add, that Josiah, foreseeing the destruction of the Temple, commanded the Levites to deposit the Ark of the Covenant in this vault, where it was found by Zerubbabel's workBut this is not, probably, correct. An old tradition (and which is confirmed by the Rabbins) informs us that Solomon, foreseeing the destruction of the Temple, and the captivity and dispersion of the Jewish nation, constructed this arch, the secret entrance to which was known only to himself and a few confidants, and caused a copy of the Ark, and all things therein contained, including the Book of the Law, to be placed in it for preservation.

men.

The second Temple was built on the old foundations of the first Temple. Unexpected difficulties for a time impeded the progress of the work. The people, called the Samaritans, who were the remnant of the ten tribes, but a corrupt race, made overtures to assist in the great national work. Their proposal was peremptorily and contemptuously rejected. "Ye have nothing to do with us, to build a house unto our God," was the stern reply of Zerubbabel. They were of those who "could not find the register of their genealogy," who "could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel." They could not give the words and signs which marked the true descendants of Abraham, and which were essential to their gaining admission within the veils of the sanctuary. But their influence at the court of Persia was such as to retard the advancement of the building, during the residue of the reign of Cyrus, as well as that of Cambyses, and Smerdis the Magian, up to the second year of Darius Hystaspes. At this time, through the influence of Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel was induced to recommence the work The Samaritans again inter

posed. The Persian Pashas of the province, Tatnai and Shetharboznai, sent to the sovereign for instructions. Darius commanded the archives to be searched, in which the original edict of Cyrus was found. Darius, who, in all respects, (says Milman,) pursued the policy of the great founder of the monarchy, reissued and confirmed the decree. Under the protection of Persian governors, the Jews pressed forward the work; and in the sixth year of Darius, the second Temple, built on the old foundations, but of far less costly and splendid materials, was finally completed.

SECTION FIRST.

This section explains the manner of opening a Chapter - the number, station, and duties of the officers, and the color of the Banners appropriate to the Degree. It furnishes many interesting particulars connected with the reign of King Solomon, and the building of the second Temple. It also illustrates the organization and government of the Chapter, and should therefore be carefully studied by every Companion who aspires to the dignity of official rank.

A Chapter of Royal Arch Masons consists of any convenient number of members, and the following officers, exclusive of the Treasurer, Chaplain, Stewards, and Tyler, viz: 1. M. E. High Priest, his station is in the East of the Sacred Sanctuary. 2. E. King, in the East, on the right of the M. E. H. P. 3. E. Scribe, in the East, on the left of the M. E. H. P. 4. Captain of the Host, on the right, in front of the E. K. 5. Principal Sojourner on the left, in front of the E. Scribe. 6. Royal Arch Captain, within the 4th Veil, or Sanctuary. 7. M. of 3d V., within the 3d V. M. of 2d V., within the 2d V.; M. of 1st V., within the 1st V.

CHARGE AT OPENING.

"Now we command you, Brethren, that ye withdraw yourselves from every Brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye receive of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us, for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. Neither did we eat any man's bread for