Regulation 43 outlines the procedure for petitioning a Charter to establish a new Royal Arch Chapter. Applications must be submitted to the First Grand Principal and signed by at least nine Royal Arch Masons registered under the Supreme Grand Chapter's Constitution. For Chapters outside District Grand Chapter territories, a minimum of five-ninths of the signatories must be registered Companions. Non-registered Companions can sign only if exalted in a recognized Chapter and commit to obeying the First Grand Principal and Grand Chapter regulations. The petition requires details of each signatory's Chapter affiliations and must include a certificate from each Chapter as per Regulation 70. Additionally, a recommendation must be obtained either from the Master and Wardens of the relevant Lodge or the Principals of a regular Chapter, with majority approval and prior notice given. The completed petition is sent to the Grand Scribe E., and if in a Metropolitan Area, initially to the Metropolitan Grand Superintendent for review.
December 8th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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Regulation 43: Petition for Charter for New Chapter. Every application for a Charter to hold a new Chapter must be by petition to the First Grand Principal, signed by not less than nine Royal Arch Masons regularly registered under the Constitution of the Supreme Grand Chapter. Provided that in the case of petitions for Chapters to meet in Districts or abroad not within the territory of any District Grand Chapter, it shall suffice if at least five-ninths in number of the signatories are Companions so registered, but no Companion not so registered shall sign the petition unless he shall have been exalted in a recognised Chapter, and shall at the same time promise in writing strict obedience to the First Grand Principal and to the regulations of the Grand Chapter. The petition must specify every Chapter to which each signatory belongs and every Chapter to which he has at any time belonged, and in respect of each of the signatories must be accompanied by a certificate from every such Chapter giving the information required by Regulation 70.
To such petition must be added a recommendation either (a) signed in open Lodge by the Master and Wardens of the regular Lodge under the Grand Lodge to which the proposed Chapter is to be attached with the approval of a majority of the members then present; or (b) signed in open Chapter by the Principals of a regular Chapter under the Grand Chapter with the approval of a majority of the members then present; and in either case notice that the petition is to be submitted for approval must have been given on the summons convening the meeting at which it is to be considered.
The petition must then be transmitted to the Grand Scribe E. for submission to the First Grand Principal, provided that if the Chapter is proposed to be holden in a Metropolitan Area, Province or District the petition with the certificates and recommendation is in the first instance to be forwarded to the Metropolitan Grand Superintendent or Grand Superintendent who is to transmit the same with his observations thereon to the Grand Scribe E.