Page 25 of the Points of Procedure outlines key decisions by the Board of General Purposes from 1917 to 2014 regarding Royal Arch practices. It specifies that Royal Arch Regalia cannot be worn in Craft Lodges, although approved Royal Arch Jewels may be displayed with appropriate ribbons. Candidates for initiation as Serving Brothers must sign both the Registration Form and the Declaration Book. Lodge Summonses cannot be sent via postcard. The document addresses the delivery of lectures post-exaltation, emphasizing that signs of the degree must be communicated during the ceremony, with a recommendation for lectures to be delivered in full shortly thereafter. It establishes a quorum for Chapter convocations, requiring five Companions to open a Chapter and seven for Exaltation ceremonies. Additionally, it notes that the R. or H. sign is only given at specific times, and lists suitable topics for private Chapter papers, available from the Librarian at Freemasons' Hall.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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Points of Procedure: Page 25
Decisions by the Board of General Purposes 1917-2014
Royal Arch Regalia
Question: May Royal Arch Regalia be worn in a Craft Lodge?
Answer: No; but approved Royal Arch Jewels may be worn suspended by ribbons of the appropriate colour.
Serving Brother
Question: Should a Candidate for initiation as a Serving Brother under Rule 170, Book of Constitutions, sign. (a) The Registration Form?
Answer: Yes
Question: (b) The Declaration Book?
Answer: Yes
Summonses (see also P. 41)
Question: Is it in order for a Lodge Summons to be sent out by post card?
Answer: No, nor should a post card be used as an invitation to any function with which Masonry is concerned.
Royal Arch Information
Delivery of Lectures after Exaltation
The Committee is aware that constraints of time and other factors make it inadvisable for multiple lectures to be given at the same meeting that a candidate is exalted. It wishes to make it clear that on each occasion that an Exaltation takes place the signs of the degree must be communicated (either as a separate part of the relevant Lecture, or elsewhere in the ceremony, according to the particular working adopted by the Chapter). It also hopes that the Lectures will not be neglected and that every candidate will have an opportunity to hear all of the Lectures delivered in full within a reasonable time after Exaltation. Whilst not wishing to encourage a widespread departure from the existing practice, the Committee considers that in some circumstances it may be desirable for any or all of the Lectures to be delivered by competent Companions below the rank of Installed First (or Second or Third) Principal in order that the dignity of the ceremony may be properly maintained.
Quorum for Chapter Convocations
The Committee has been asked to give an opinion on the number of Companions required to open a Royal Arch Chapter and work any of the ceremonies. After careful consideration of the requirements of the Royal Arch ritual and a comparison with the position in the Craft, the Committee recommends to Grand Chapter that no Chapter should be opened unless there are five, and no ceremony of Exaltation worked unless there are seven Companions present (excluding the Janitor and the candidate), of whom two must be members of the Chapter and three must be qualified to occupy the respective Principals' Chairs. Further, that no Conclave of Installed First or Second Principals should be opened unless at least two such Principals are present (excluding the Janitor and the Principal Elect).
Saluting the Pedestal
Supreme Grand Chapter on 10 November 2004 approved "a recommendation that the R. or H. sign should no longer be given before addressing the Principals for the first time." In consequence the R. or H. sign is only to be given when opening or closing a Chapter, or by Companions who arrive after the Chapter is opened or who leave before the Chapter is closed.
Papers for Delivery in Private Chapters
The list below shows topics, covered in papers given in Grand Chapter in recent years, which the Committee considers suitable for delivery in private Chapters. Copies of the papers, with, if appropriate, introductory notes, can be obtained from the Librarian in Freemasons' Hall.
Lecturer
Title
Date
E Comp A.R. Hewitt, PGStB
The Supreme Grand Chapter of England. A brief history from Lord Blayney to the Duke of Sussex.
1 July 1966
E Comp A.R. Hewitt, PGStB
The First Bi-Centenaries of Royal Arch Chapters
12 February 1969
E Comp R.A. Wells, PAGDC
A short Study of the Symbols on the Principal Banners
12 November 1969
E Comp A.R. Hewitt, PGStB
Grand Chapter Ritual of the Late 18th Century
11 November 1970
E Comp A.R. Hewitt, PGStB
Early Royal Arch Regalia
9 February 1972
E Comp T.O. Haunch
The Royal Arch in England, Ireland and Scotland - Apparent differences within a Basic Identity
14 February 1973
E Comp A.R. Hewitt, PGStB
Looking Back 200 Years
13 February 1974
E Comp R.A. Wells, PAGDC
Concerning Royal Arch Installations
12 February 1975
E Comp T.O. Haunch, PGStB
The Royal Arch in Relation to the Scandinavian Rite
11 February 1976
E Comp C.N. Batham
Whence came the Royal Arch
8 February 1978
E Comp Surg Capt G.S. Irvine, CBE, PGSwdB
Variations in the Devices on Royal Arch Banners
14 February 1979
E Comp the Rev Canon R. Tydeman, PGSN
A new approach to Mystical Hebrew
14 November 1979
E Comp K.W.H. Hastwell, PGStB
The Enthusiasm of the Principal Sojourner
13 February 1980
E Comp I.H. Mendoza
The Pass-Words leading to the R.A.
11 February 1981