Regulation 42 outlines the process for conferring Overseas Grand Chapter Rank to Past First Principals in Chapters abroad that are not part of any District. The First Grand Principal may award this rank annually, limited to one for each registered Chapter as of September 1 of the previous year. Additional appointments may be made at the First Grand Principal's discretion for Masonic celebrations. Companions who are not Installed First Principals may also receive Overseas Chapter Rank, which grants them precedence after holders of Overseas Grand Chapter Rank. If these Companions later become Past First Principals, they automatically gain Overseas Grand Chapter Rank. The First Grand Principal can confer Overseas Grand Chapter Rank on qualified Past First Principals who are current or former Officers of Provincial or District Grand Chapters, or holders of London Grand Chapter Rank. A registration fee applies for those receiving either rank. Holders are entitled to wear specific regalia at Royal Arch meetings, with precedence recognized only within their respective Chapters.
December 8th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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Regulation 42: Overseas Grand Chapter Rank. The First Grand Principal may once a year confer the rank designated Overseas Grand Chapter Rank on Past First Principals in Chapters abroad not included in any District who are members of the Grand Chapter in accordance with Regulation 5 to a number not exceeding one for every such Chapter registered in the books of the Grand Chapter on 1 September of the preceding year. On such occasions as shall seem to him proper for Masonic celebration or otherwise, the First Grand Principal is empowered to confer Overseas Grand Chapter Rank on an additional number of qualified Companions.
The First Grand Principal, to the extent that the numbers permitted to be appointed to Overseas Grand Chapter Rank under this Regulation have not been exceeded, may confer the rank designated Overseas Chapter Rank on Companions in Chapters abroad not under a District who are not Installed First Principals, the holders of such rank to take precedence immediately after the Holders of Overseas Grand Chapter Rank; and any such Companion shall, in the event that he becomes a Past First Principal and thereby a member of the Grand Chapter in accordance with Regulation 5, thereupon become a Holder of Overseas Grand Chapter Rank without the need for further appointment.
The First Grand Principal may also at his discretion and without regard to the above limitation confer Overseas Grand Chapter Rank on Past First Principals in Chapters abroad not included in any District who are Officers (present or past) of Provincial or District Grand Chapters or holders of London Grand Chapter Rank. He may also annually at his discretion appoint Past First Principals who already hold Overseas or London Grand Chapter Rank, or are Past Provincial or District Grand Officers, to be holders of Senior Overseas Grand Chapter Rank; such Companions will thereafter be designated "Holders of Senior Overseas Grand Chapter Rank".
The holders of such respective ranks shall be entitled, during the pleasure of the First Grand Principal, to wear at all Royal Arch meetings the distinctive regalia prescribed under Regulations 85, 87, 94, 96 and 97, but can claim precedence as such only within the Chapters in which Senior Overseas Grand Chapter Rank, Overseas Grand Chapter Rank and Overseas Chapter Rank are conferred. A registration fee, as laid down in Regulation 98, shall be payable by each Companion upon whom Overseas Grand Chapter Rank or Overseas Chapter Rank is conferred.