OUR HISTORY

After the Hiramic legend of the Craft Degrees stops; the York Rite degrees begins, and

empowers the Craftsman with tools for his journey as a Master Mason. One writer referred to it

as the “root, heart, and sacred part of Masonry. York Rite Masonry and the Scottish Rite or

High Degrees both came to Georgia with the help of Bro. J. H. Walker. The first Holy Royal

Arch Chapters may have been in the state as early as the 19th century, but the Grand Chapter is

dated to 1903. The very first Prince Hall Royal Arch Chapters as far as records suggest

originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Union Chapter in 1820 and Jerusalem Chapter in

1826. Along with Friendship Chapter in 1844 they all met and formed the First African

Independent Grand Chapter in October of 1844. There are also records to suggest that some

members of African Lodge #459 in Philadelphia were elevated in 1791 to the membership of

Zion Royal Arch Chapter #2 with Jacob Jenkins as the first Grand High Priest. Members of

African Lodge #459 in Boston are said to have written the Grand Lodge of England seeking

authority to confer the Royal Arch degrees in 1824, and found that no such authority was

needed.

The custom of the establishment of Royal Arch Chapters was in the beginning a sanction of

the Grand Lodge. In the MWPHGL of Georgia the Lodges are governed by the Grand Lodge,

Chapters by the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Commanderies by the Grand

Encampment, and Consistories, by the Councils of Deliberation and the Deputy of the Orient.

However, these all are subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Georgia and the Grand Master per the

Amendment of the Constitution on June 17, 1997 under Articles IX Section 15 and filed with

the Secretary of State on August 27, 1997.

 

Some researchers assert that the term York Rite could be better termed as the Modern York

Rite as to distinguish from the Ancient York Rite that existed in England in 1717 at the first

Grand Lodge (Appletree Tavern where 4 lodges assembled). During the first speculative Grand

Lodge period there were only three pure degrees of the one rite of the Ancient Free and Accepted

Masons: the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason. At that time, the Holy

Royal Arch Degree was attached to the Master Mason’s degree as the last degree. Scholars

assert that the first time the Royal Arch Degree (Mainstream) was conferred in America was in

1753, December 22nd. The records show the Degree being conferred in America at

Fredericksburg Lodge in Virginia. In Georgia our Royal Arch Chapter is rumored to have come

to the State by way of Florida. William Grimshaw has had many of his facts questioned by

modern day researches of the history of Prince Hall Masonry. He asserts in his book the Official

History of Freemasonry among Negroes, page 266 that the Royal Arch Masonry entered the State of Georgia in 1885. A Chapter of the District of Columbia, under the title of Georgia

Chapter #21was chartered. The accepted chronology of the Grand Chapter of Georgia states that

the Grand Chapter was organized and established on April 23, 1903 under the normal

circumstances of calling together three chapters and forming this grand body.