ParallelismsThe parallelisms between Craft Masonry (Blue Lodge) and the first three degrees of Capitular Masonry (York Rite) should be clear. However, they are not exact. The Capitular Degrees go beyond mere instruction in moral, ethical, intellectual and spiritual matters - they deal implicitly with consciousness, and are purposefully designed to induce the candidate to dig deep into his mentality to become aware of his soul and its content.
For example, in order to complete the Temple, the capstone must be found from among the rubbish, where it was cast in the Mark Master Degree. In the Most Excellent Master Degree, it is put in place as the final step in building the Temple, which could only be done after the interior work on the Temple was completed. This interior work, of course, represents the interior work the candidate must do on himself - specifically, to become aware of his own conflicting attributes and negative and self-serving tendencies, and overcome them. This consciousness is crucial to enable the candidate to progress from "brother" to "companion." As happens far too often, in society generally, our natural egotism prevents us from acting harmoniously.
The signs of the Capitular Degrees, in fact, point to consciousness in a subtle way. Taken together as a group, they have the same effect as the signs of the Craft Degrees of focusing the candidate's attention on the emotions, the intellect and the spirit. But they operate on a higher level in focusing attention on the three human faculties (seeing, hearing and speaking) that are engaged in making it possible for the human creature to be conscious - first, of himself, and then of his relationship to others and to God.
[Taken from The Royal Arch Path by Philip A. Hardiman. K.Y.G.C.H.)
Fraternally,
Norm Leeper, PM, HA
Secretary, SCRL
