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The Long Sought Word—Excerpts from a pamphlet issued by Committee on Masonic Education, Grand Chapter R.A. M. of Ohio

Text Box: It is truly unfortunate that many good and influential men in our Craft Lodges place a period instead of a comma after “Master Mason” and make no mention of the importance of the balance of the quote Regulation. The feeling of distinction and gratification on being raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason is common to all attaining that honor. The WORD is, in Masonry, the symbol of Truth. We want you to share with us the joy, the pleasure and the companionship of really completing the Master’s Degree by having communicated to you the Mason Word in the Royal Arch Degree. Brother Master Mason—Are you in possession if all the Light, rights and benefits of a Master Mason as understood by our ancient brethren? You are not! Not until exalted to the degree of Holy Royal Arch! The abrupt ending of the Third Degree indicates that if there is a “substitute,” there surely must also be a “Real Word.” You were also told that you had received all the Light and knowledge that could be communicated to you in a Symbolic or Craft Lodge. The Foundation The Craft Lodge, sometimes referred to as the Blue Lodge, or the Symbolic Degrees, is the all enduring foundation of all Masonry, It receives the loyalty, respect and admiration of every Master Mason. The Entered Apprentice is taught to subdue his passions, and improve himself in Masonry. He is taught the depth and breath of charity, the importance of an upright life. The Fellowcraft receives more Light and he is instructed in the kind of wages he is to receive. The Master Mason is taught important moral lessons and cautioned to become a better informed Mason. Interesting, vital, beautiful and valuable as are the first, second and third degrees, much cryptic and unexplained ritual and ceremony still remain. The answers lie in the Capitular Degrees—The Chapter. The Capitular Rite consists of the Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch Degrees. Degree of Mark Master “Marks” were employed by operative Masons as early as 978. Cathedral builders place their Mark upon their work. In the York Rite, Mark Master Lodges are part of the Chapter. Here you receive a degree of considerable antiquity that may be older than the Royal Arch. The Mark Master Degree is the complement of the Fellowcraft Degree, stresses the dignity of labor, and entitles its producers to wages. You will be please and inspired with “A white stone with a new name written” Degree of Past Master By the ancient regulations no Master Mason could receive the Holy Royal Arch unless he had been duly elected and regularly installed to preside over and govern a regular and duly constituted Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. To increase the number who might benefit by the Royal Arch degree you are now given the privilege of “Passing the Chair.” Here man’s relationship to authority is enjoined, for to rule one must perforce to learn to submit and obey. It is called the degree of “responsibility.” Having completed this degree you are ready for greater Light. Most Excellent Master You know the building of the Temple of King Solomon. In the Capitular Rite, the ceremony of completion and dedication of the First Temple is unquestionably one of the most beautiful, imposing and inspirational degrees in Freemasonry. As the brethren are greeted as Most Excellent Masters you will rejoice and be proud of your advance in Masonry as man exclaims, “For He is good, His mercy endureth forever. Degree of Holy Royal Arch You have now arrived at the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry, historically and traditionally—mayhap the most important degree. The ritualistic grandeur of this degree with the rebuilding of the Temple and the recovery of True Masonic Word emphasizes that the Royal Arch Degree, as the summit indeed “completes the Master Mason or Third Degree.” The Word—its loss, recovery, symbolism—and the relationships, hopes and reward that can come only with exaltation are yours as a Master Mason as soon as you enter the Chapter. The newly raised Brother, and he that has delayed, advance and receive the light of Royal Arch Degree. You will widen your sphere of Masonic Friends, as you meet members from several Lodges in on Chapter, and find companionship that can be enjoyed no where else as in a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. Friendliness pervades the Tabernacle. Brethren in good standing in their