From the Quarries

The Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem, as explored by W.Bro. E.H. Shackleton in this paper from 1930, represents the zenith of Freemasonry under the English Constitution, building upon and completing the Master Mason degree. Rooted in the 1813 Articles of Union, the Royal Arch exemplifies a transformative journey of spiritual regeneration, urging candidates to transcend their lower nature through discipline and self-renunciation. Drawing from universal archetypes—such as Osiris, Mithra, and Hiram Abiff—it reveals a shared esoteric tradition across civilizations. Through symbolic and allegorical rituals, it leads initiates to a profound understanding of the union between humanity and the Divine, described as the “squaring of the circle” or the fusion of temporal life with eternal spirit. The degree emphasizes the essential role of the physical body in spiritual evolution, portraying the ultimate enlightenment as a harmonious unity, symbolized by the celestial “Jerusalem,” contrasting with the chaos of the worldly “Babylon.”