- Masonic Lodge (Freemasons Lodge) on Athy Road, Carlow next to
The Seven Oaks Hotel.
- Donated by "Carloman"
The following extracts have been supplied by: Michael Purcell
Carlow Royal Arch Chapter 116.
Extract from
the Minutes of Freemasons Lodge No. 524, Carlow, dated 12th
March 1803, reads:
"At a Royal
Arch Super Excellent Royal Encampment held at Carlow, 12th March 1803,
Br. Rochfort HP, Br. Edge 1st Sojourner, Br. Well 2nd Sojourner and
seven other named brethren in offices etc. Three named brethren being
first installed were then initiated in the Royal Arch Encampment."
At a
preparatory convocation on 25th February 1829 to form the Supreme Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland, it was decided that the Officers of
Subordinate Chapters were to be: The three Principals or Grand Masters,
three Sojourners, two Scribes and one High Priest. Although placed last,
the High Priest was the one who conducted the ceremonies in the Chapter.
In 1864 the
Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland made certain revisions to
Royal Arch working. The "Passing the Chair" was abolished, the Excellent
and Super Excellent ceased to be known as separate Degrees, and, some
parts were made portion of the Royal Arch. “The three Grand Masters
were converted into the Excellent King, High Priest and Chief Scribe”.
The functions of the former High Priest, who was in the Chair, were
divided between the Captain of Hosts and Superintendent of the
Tabernacle. The three Sojourners and the two Scribes were dispensed with
and replaced by Royal Arch Captain, Captain of the Scarlet Veil, Captain
of the Purple Veil and Captain of the Blue Veil.
As we see in
the Minutes of the Carlow Lodge for 12th March 1803, the candidates for
the Royal Arch were first installed. The candidate was placed in the
chair, examined or tested and, upon being found of real worth and
personal merit, the Fellow Craft was said to have "Passed the Chair".
Before 1800,
the Royal Arch was exemplified to depict King Solomon's Temple in the
time of King Josiah. For a description of the Temple we turn to 2nd
Chronicles, Chapter 3, Verse 14.
'One part of
the door, approximately 7 ft. by 7 ft., of the Sanctum Sanctorium, or
Holy of Holies, within which was deposited the Ark of the Covenant, was
left open, but the interior was partly concealed by three sets of veils,
coloured Blue, Purple and Crimson. Behind the Ark one could see the
three symbolical Grand Masters, namely King Solomon, King Hiram of Tyre
and Hiram A'Biff. The High Priest was the mouthpiece of the Chapter and
it was he who directed the candidate how to find the truth'.
The officer
was very courteous and the party seemed to avoid everything of an
unpleasant nature.
