Who’s Who in Royal Arch Masonry?
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BEZALEL
When Moses needed master artisans and craftsmen to work on the tabernacle, the Lord called Bezalel, son of Uri, and “filled him with … ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship” (Exodus 31:3). Bezalel and his assistant Aholiab led a large group of workers who designed and worked in fine metals, precious stones, rare wood, and luxurious cloth of blue, purple, and scarlet. All these were needed for the splendors of the tabernacle, including its furnishings and the “finely worked garments” for Aaron and his sons “for their service as priests (Exodus 31:10). Even the metal mirrors of the ministering women were used to form the great bronze laver. More than 300 years later, in the time of Solomon, it was said that Bezalel’s altar still stood in the temple
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AHOLIAB
God chose Aholiab to assist Bezaleel in the design and construction of the tabernacle. Aholiab’s name means, “father’s tent.” He was of the tribe of Dan. His name appears in various forms in the Bible – “Aholah, Aholibah, Aholbanah, and Oholiab, but all mean the same thing and refer to the same person.
Aholiab was a worker in cloth of various grades and colors including fine linen as well as an engraver and an artisan in wood. He may have begun as a tentmaker, an essential trade in his time. He probably learned his skills from the Egyptians, as a slave before the Exodus.
Both Aholiab and Bezaleel were particularly skilled in working with wood from the acacia tree, which grew abundantly in Sinai, where the Tabernacle was built. This wood was light in weight, but durable, particularly suited to the needs of a movable structure such as the tabernacle, which had to accompany the Israelites in their wanderings.
In the dramas of the Masonic degrees, Aholiab’s role, and that of Bezaleel, exemplifies the truth that the greatest reward for the craftsman is the approval of his own conscience, and that labor, dignified and enhanced by light and love, is true worship of God. The union of labor, light and love reveals the essence of Freemasonry.
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MOSES
Moses, whose name comes from the Egyptian “mes” or “mesu,” meaning “a son” was born at Goshen, Egypt, the son of Amram and Jochebed, and the younger brother of Miriam and Aaron. He is believed to have been born between 1400 B.C. and 1300 B.C. with the Exodus dated about 1250 B.C.
Moses’ birth came during the Egyptian oppression of the Israelites, and at a time when the Egyptians had adopted a policy of infanticide against newly born Israelite males as a means of curbing the growth of the Israelite population. His mother’s well-known efforts to save Moses resulted in his adoption by an Egyptian princess and his nursing by his own mother. Moses grew up as an Egyptian prince – “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians”; but one also indoctrinated in his Israelite religion and heritage by his mother. This helped to prepare Moses for leadership of the Israelites by giving him knowledge and confidence, but, he still lacked wisdom and self-discipline.
When he was about 40 years old, Moses killed an Egyptian whom he found mistreating an Israelite. When the killing became known, Moses fled to Midian in the Sinai, beginning the next phase of his preparation for leadership. Jethro, the high priest of Midian, befriended Moses and employed him. Moses married one of Jethro’s daughters, Zipporah, and remained with Jethro for 40 years, tending his father-in-law’s flocks and living as a nomad. He learned much from Jethro, gaining wisdom, acquiring self-control and growing spiritually.
Moses, however, never forgot his own people, their suffering and their God. He named his first son Gershom, meaning “an exile”; and another son Eliezer, meaning, “God is help.” Moses was now prepared to receive the call from God.
That call came when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, directing him to deliver the Israelites from their oppression by leading them out of Egypt. Moses returned to Egypt, meeting Aaron on the way. Together, with Aaron speaking for Moses, they gained the support of the Israelite elders. They approached Pharaoh, thus beginning a series of confrontations between them and the Egyptian ruler. Using the powers God had provided and at God’s direction, Moses performed miracles and brought plagues on the Egyptians. These attained their purpose when, after the tenth plague – the death of all Egyptian first-born males – allowed the Israelites to leave.
Many of Moses’ greatest problems, however, arose from the people he led. Quarrelsome and rebellious, they murmured constantly against his authority and disputed his decisions. At times they rebelled openly, threatening to depose and kill Moses. God provided Moses and the Israelites with everything needed to deal with their problems, but even the most awe-inspiring manifestations of God’s glory and mercy seemed, at best, to have only a transient effect on the moods and attitudes of the people.
From the making of the golden calf, the discontent with manna, to the challenge to Aaron’s authority as high priest, the people gave Moses constant problems. With God’s help, Moses managed to control this mood of rebellion.
He was one of the great leaders of history in almost every sense – spiritual, political, diplomatic and military. Moses’ leadership ability came from God, but Moses used this Divine gift wisely and effectively.
In Masonic ritual, Moses appears as the great leader and lawgiver of the Israelites. The emphasis is placed on his moral leadership and his special relationship to God. Moses acts as God’s spokesman on various moral issues. God’s revelation of His sacred and ineffable name to Moses at the Burning Bush indicates Moses’ special relationship to God. Throughout Masonry, the importance of this unique relationship is demonstrated by the portrayal of or reference to Moses as the human instrument by which God exercises His authority.
Moses is not only important to the Chapter and Council of York Rite Masonry, but He is also found in many degrees of the Scottish Rite.
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The members of Fay Hempstead Chapter #144 of Little Rock Arkansas did double duty on May 28, 2011 when they prepared the evening meal for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House adjacent to the Little Rock Children’s Hospital and presented them with aluminum can tabs. Over 40 residents that otherwise would have to find meals on an otherwise limited budget, were able to eat their fill of Pasta and all the trimmings prepared by Companion Angelo Coppola. Other companions brought dishes that complimented the meal. In addition to feeding the residents, you see Companions holding gallon milk jugs full of aluminum tabs that open aluminum cans. Six gallons of tabs (that’s approximately 876 cases of beverages), were presented to the House by the Chapter. Pictured from left to right are Companions Garry Jones Php, EHP John Root, MEPGHP and PGM Dick Browning , Angelo Coppola, Php. In front is Companion Mack McManus, King Fay Hempstead Chapter.
The tab contribution adds to the ongoing project for the Ronald McDonald House that resulted in revenue last year of over $ 10,000 for use in supporting parents and children of Children’s Hospital that would not otherwise be able to be near their children who are patients in Little Rock Children’s Hospital next door and other nearby hospitals. Should any Chapter find it their leave to assist in the tab program, Fay Hempstead would be pleased to be the recipient of these tabs and insure that they are delivered to the Ronald McDonald House in the name of the Chapter that contributes them.
A Mason Looks at the Lord’s Prayer
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“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12
The one sin that men have more difficulty with than any other is the sin of an unforgiving spirit. Yet, there are few forms of dissipation that will do more damage to the human soul and body than the dissipation of bitterness. Bitterness is an acid that destroys its own container.
The man who refuses to forgive destroys the bridge over which he himself must travel. Doing an injury puts you below your enemy, revenging one makes you even with him; forgiving it sets you above him!
Forgiveness may be a tough pill to swallow but it is God’s medicine for His people. We may have to wrinkle our nose and clench our teeth but once it goes down it will clean out every root of bitterness before it grows strong.
REMEMBER: Forgiveness may not change the past, but it will enlarge the future.
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“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12
Have you noticed that the Lord’s Prayer is constructed so that we ask for our needs before we ask the Lord to forgive us? Does this seem odd to you? Perhaps you would think we would have to be forgiven before He would provide for us. Yet, the Lord’s Prayer teaches us that God meets our needs because He unconditionally loves us. We are His children when we obey and when we disobey.
For forty years, the Israelites were in rebellion in the wilderness, but God always provided for their needs. So, Christ teaches us to pray for our needs first, and then for forgiveness.
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There is a cute story about Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, who supposedly arranged a meeting with His Holiness, the Pope. He informed the Pope that he was willing to leave his entire estate of $1 billion to the Catholic Church. He asked only one favor in return. He said, “You know that part of the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Give us this day our daily bread? I want you to change it to, “Give us this day our daily chicken.”
The Pope responded, “You don’t know what you’re asking. I can’t amend The Lord’s Prayer.” Colonel Sanders said, “Well, if you want the billion dollars, you see what you can work out.”
A week later, the Pope met with the College of Cardinals and announced that he had some good news and some bad news. “The good news,” he said, “is that Colonel Sanders is leaving us his entire estate of almost $1 billion. The bad news is, we’ve lost the wonder bread account.”
Well, in reality, we could not substitute another word here. To the Hebrew mind, bread was the principal food of life. Bread was so sacred in the Middle East, that it wasn’t cut, it was broken. To cut bread would be like cutting life itself. That is where we get the New Testament expression of breaking bread (Matthew 26:26; Acts 2:42; 20:7)
To pray for bread is to ask God to supply all of our needs, anything we need to sustain and to strengthen us. <
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Through the entire Lord’s Prayer, we cannot forget those around us. Even in this line, “Give US this day OUR daily bread”, we’re reminded to pray not only “give it to me” but “to all of us, thy children.”
As Masonic ritual reminds us, “Do good unto all, recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful.”
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“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11
I heard about a farmer who went into a city and stopped at a diner for lunch. Some teenagers at a certain table were making fun of him, how he looked, how he talked. When he sat down to eat, he prayed first, and then began his meal. One of the more brazen teenagers said, “Hey, does everybody out on the farm bow their heads like that before they eat?” The farmer never looked up, but responded, “Nope, the hogs don’t.”
Friend, this prayer is an invitation to come to God with even those things that others might call small. In Proverbs 30:8, Most Excellent King Solomon wrote, “…give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food allotted to me.”
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The kingdom of God is prominent in the Bible. In Matthew you find the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven, mentioned 49 times. In the book of Mark, you will find it 16 times. In the book of Luke, it’s mentioned 38 times. With the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven mentioned so frequently in Scripture it is a central theme for every person of faith.
Louis XIV, in France, tried to establish the kingdom of God here on earth. Hitler tried to establish what he thought was a kingdom that would reign for one thousand years – the Third Reich – a perfect master race, but it did not happen.
Karl Marx tried to devise a system of government that would bring a kingdom of peace on earth, without God’s help. But neither Marx, nor Hitler, nor Louis, nor any other of the great men who ever reigned have ever ushered in the kingdom of God.
But, the greatest story every told is not quite over yet. The kingdom of God is coming! It is an expectation in the heart of every believer.
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A Mason Looks at the Lord’s Prayer
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
In the days of kingdoms, castles, and knights in shining armor, there was a custom to let the people know when the king was home. When the king was on the throne, the colors of the kingdom, the royal flag, would be flying from the top of the castle.
Joy is the flag that flies from the castle of the heart when God is on the throne. When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we are praying for the Lord to be enthroned in our lives.
In 1516, Thomas More wrote a book called, “Utopia.” In that book he described an imaginary ideal society, free of poverty, suffering, pain, and sorrow. The word comes from a Greek word that literally means “no place.” That is, there is no place like it.
We know, of course, that utopia is a dream. Yet, there is a state better than utopia that is real, called the kingdom of God. Can you imagine what it will be like when the Great Architect of the Universe rules over every life as Lord? That’s not utopia…it’s heaven!
Praying, “Thy Kingdom Come” is a prayer for others to surrender to the control of the King. We are to pray for others to come into the kingdom.
In Greek mythology, there’s the story of a goddess who, wishing to make her child Achilles immortal, dipped him beneath the waters of the river Styx. She submerged all his body into the river except his heels, because that’s where she was holding him. It was in that un-submerged heel that Achilles was mortally wounded. You see, the only part of our lives that are vulnerable to Satan; the only part where he can get a foothold, is that which has not been surrendered totally to the LORD
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Have you ever wondered where the Masonic Lord’s Prayer came from? As accurately as we are able to determine, the Symbolized Masonic Lord’s Prayer pictured above, was painted about 1875. The artist is unknown.
The original painting was acquired by M.G. Lidley Company of Columbus, Ohio, which had been formed in 1865 to publish Odd Fellows papers and which later added selected Masonic publications to its line.
When customers requested sources for Lodge paraphernalia, the company expanded in scope to include Masonic regalia. The business grew rapidly and at one point employed more than 1,000 people.
During the Depression of the 1930’s, the company merged with Henderson-Ames of Kalamazoon, Michigan to become known as Lilley-Ames. Under the economic hardships of the Great Depression, the once-bustling company eventually faded from the scene, and the historic Lord’s Prayer was discontinued.
In 1971, while rummaging through an attic in Chicago, Jim Miller of Illinois found a faded print of the Lord’s Prayer. With the help of a commercial printer friend, the faded print was color enhanced and restored. The printer then made color-separated negatives and printed some copies. Miller was able to secure a copyright for the refurbished artwork in 1975.
Then, in an unfortunate fire, the artwork was lost forever.
When Miller suffered a stroke in the fall of 1986, he had to give up selling prints of the prayer. He and his printer partner sold James E. Stratton, 32’, KCCH their total interests – inventory of prints, negatives, and copyright.
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“Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
God calls us to follow Him. God calls us to obedience. It is fitting, therefore, that we are to pray for obedience. We pray for a kingdom and a kingdom presupposes the idea of a king. A king is sovereign, and a king has subjects who are called to obey His word, His way, and His will.
Some people get the idea that God’s will for their life would be something they wouldn’t like. They think God is a cosmic “kill joy” stomping on everyone’s fun and raining on parades.
Friend, nothing could be further from the truth. God’s will is something to get in on! Micah 7:8 says, “When I fall I shall arise; when I sit in the darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” When you submit to God’s will, if you fall down, He’ll lift you up, and if you sit in darkness, He’ll provide light!
No one can pray, “Thy kingdom come” in the world until first of all he has prayed “Thy kingdom come” in his heart.
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“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
If you say the word, “kingdom” around a small child, they’re likely to be thinking of “The Magic Kingdom” – Disney World! What if the entire world were Disney World? Think about it. Everything would be clean, everybody would be nice, all news would be good news, the only work would be play, and the only object would be fun, and life would be a thrill a minute.
There would only be one problem. Most of the world could not afford to get in!
This week, we’re looking at an entirely different kingdom. It’s the kingdom of the Lord’s Prayer. No, it’s the not the “Magic” kingdom. It’s the “Master’s Kingdom!” In this kingdom, God is King! There is no war in this kingdom, only peace. There’s no sadness in this kingdom, only joy. There’s no sickness in this kingdom, only health. There’s no death in this kingdom, only life. There’s no hate in this kingdom, only love. There’s no fear in this kingdom, only faith!
Amazingly, the Bible says that in this kingdom, the lion will lie down with the lamb; a child will play with a snake; the wolf will feed with the sheep, not on the sheep! It’s called, in the Bible, the kingdom of God. It is a kingdom where God’s will is always done.
God’s kingdom resonates all through the Scripture. It is a place of unconditional love, peace, wholeness, justice, and compassion. In the Old Testament it is shalom or wholeness. In Revelation, it is a New Heaven and a New Earth.
God’s “will done on earth” and His “kingdom come” are two ways of saying the same thing. While we wait His kingdom’s coming, we are to be saying, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” When we learn to do that, for us, a bit of God’s Kingdom will already be here on earth.”
- Today’s Message from the Grand High Priest is excerpted, in part, from the book, “The Lord’s Prayer: 35 Daily Devotionals”, by Pastor, Steven Tiner.
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“Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Without question, Napoleon Bonaparte was the greatest general of his day…perhaps of all time! An unequaled politician, Napoleon was known for an unconquerable will. Napoleon set out to have the whole world at his feet; and it seemed as if it would be, and as if nothing could prevent it.
Napoleon was once asked if God was on the side of France. Cynically, he answered, “God is on the side that has the heaviest artillery.”
He would lead his grand army to march on Moscow. He said, “Russia next, then Britain and Napoleon shall rule the world.” But God spoke and a tiny, soft snowflake fell on the emperor’s coat sleeve. He brushed it off as nothing but another fell and another. Before long, Napoleon’s proud army was retreating back, broken and defeated, a sick shadow of its former strength.
The mightiest army of the day, the mightiest ruler of the day fell to the quiet strength of accumulated snowflakes. As they retreated from Russia, Napoleon is recorded to have said, “God Almighty was too much for me.”
Later Napoleon lost both his army and his empire at the Battle of Waterloo. He would be exiled to the island of St. Helena where he finally admitted, “Man proposes…God disposes.”
Friend, the Hebrew empire with all its greatness when ruled by David and Solomon, came and went; the Roman empire came and went; Napoleon’s empire came and went; the United States, great as she is, will one day fade away. But every time you pray the Lord ’s Prayer, you are praying, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” And His Kingdom will be a Kingdom of which there shall be no end. In that Kingdom which is to come, Satan will be bound, the Earth will be renewed, the church will be glorified, and the anti-Christ will be defeated
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A Mason Looks at the Lord’s Prayer
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.” Matthew 6:9
A Roman Emperor was enjoying a great victory. He marched his troops through the streets with his captured trophies, and his prisoners behind him. The streets were lined with cheering people; the tall legionnaires had lined the edges of the streets to keep the people in their places.
On the triumphal route, there was a platform where the Empress and her family were sitting to watch the Emperor go by, and all of the pride of his victory. With his mother, was the Emperor’s youngest son, just a little boy. As the Emperor came near, the boy jumped off the platform, burrowed through the crowd, and tried to dodge between the legs of one of those legionnaires, so he could run out to meet his father’s chariot.
The legionnaire stopped him, “you can’t do that. Don’t you know who is in that chariot? That’s the Emperor. You can’t run out to his chariot.”
The little lad looked at the legionnaire and laughed and said, “He may be your Emperor, but he is my father.”
Think about it. The God who scooped out the oceans, heaped up the mountains, flung the stars into space, and hung the planets in orbit, is the Father of all who trust in Him.
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A Mason Looks at the Lord’s Prayer
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” Matthew 6:9
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father”, He was introducing a radically different concept. In the Old Testament God is only referred to as Father fourteen times, and every time it is in reference to the entire nation of Israel, never to an individual. The three greatest men of the Old Testament, Abraham, Moses, and David, never called God “Father” in a personal way.
A reverent Jew would never have called God, “Father.” Yet, the word Jesus used was a word that was even more intimate than the normal word, Father. Jesus spoke Aramaic for this was the language of His day and culture. The common Aramaic word for “father” is the word “Abba.” It is a word that a little child would use, that literally means, “Papa” or “Daddy.” In America, our children say, “Da-da”. In the Middle East, they say, “Ab-ba.”
I shall never forget being in Israel in the Spring of 2006. I had traveled with the Knights Templar. We were in the restaurant of a motel in Galilee when I heard a little boy shout across the room, “Ab-ba!” Chill bumps went down my spine as I thought of this word that Jesus used to address God.
We can come before the Great Architect of the Universe just as a small child would come to his papa or to his daddy
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A Mason looks at the Lord’s Prayer
In Arkansas, Companions gather around the altar of Royal Arch Masonry and pray the Lord’s Prayer together at each opening and closing of chapter. Let’s take the next few weeks to examine this masterpiece of prayer.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” Matthew 6:9
Why is it that both the Bible and Freemasonry always refer to God as “Father”? After all, God is a sexless God. God is neither male or female; God is Spirit.
The key to understanding why God is called “Father” is image. Just as the Bible refers to God as “He”, not in a masculine way, but in a personal way, so it refers to God as “Father.” It is not that God is like a father; God is our Father. That is His very nature. There is only one God and I Corinthians 8:6 says, “Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we are for Him…”
It is interesting that Jesus began teaching His disciples to pray, not by directing them to a place of prayer; you can pray anywhere! He doesn’t define for us a posture of prayer; you can pray kneeling, lying down, standing up, walking, or sitting. In fact, you should pray without ceasing.
Jesus does, however, give us a perfect pattern of prayer. He lays the foundation for prayer by reminding us to whom we are to pray. We learn immediately from the very first sentence who God is who God is not. He is “Our Father”. Jesus taught His disciples to begin praying with two majestic words, “Our Father”. And, as we’ll see, these two words tell us volumes about our relationship to God.
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A Masonic Look at the Lord’s Prayer
In Arkansas, Companions gather around the altar of Royal Arch Masonry and pray the Lord’s Prayer together at each opening and closing of chapter. Let’s take the next few weeks to examine this masterpiece of prayer.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” Matthew 6:9
Billy Graham was speaking to a group of clergy in London, England, several years ago, and he was asked the question, “If you had your ministry to do all over again, what would you change?” People looked startled, because what could the most successful evangelist in the history of the church, possibly change? Billy Graham responded that if he had to do it over again he would “study three times as much as he had done, and he would give much more time to prayer.”
Of all the things the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Not one time did Peter go to Jesus and say, “I want you to teach that walking on the water trick you do.” Neither James or John took Jesus a bass and a loaf of bread and said, “We’re having a big family reunion next week; show us that gig you did on the hill the other day with the five thousand.” They never asked Jesus to teach them how to turn water into wine, how to stop storms, or raise the dead. Instead, they came to Him saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
St. Francis de Sales once said, “He who prays fervently knows not whether he prays or not, for he is not thinking of the prayer which he makes, but of God, to whom he makes it.”
The Lord’s Prayer begins with “GOD.” It is to “Our Father” we pray.
Begin today praying the Lord’s Prayer on a daily basis. You’ll discover something new every day that you hadn’t before
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Who’s Who in Royal Arch Masonry
Who is Haggai?
Haggai is represented by the Scribe in the Royal Arch Chapter. He is the tenth of the twelve “minor prophets”. Haggai was one of the main encouragers of the rebuilding of the temple, but he may have been a very old man by that time. Haggai asked in 2:3 of his book, “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?” Many interpreters believe that rhetorical question implies that Haggai had seen the temple before it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 B.C.E. If that is the case, he may have been a very old man by the time of the rebuilding of the temple. He may have been close to 80 years old at the time of his first recorded prophecy, because it came at least 66 years after Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the Temple.
It’s not clear whether or not Haggai returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra does not list him among those who participated in the first return. This is not conclusive, because he may have been overlooked or mentioned by another name. But he may have returned at some time after Zerubbabel and Jeshua or he may have been among those who were not carried off to Babylon.
Haggai appears in Scripture as he delivers a pronouncement from God to Zerubbabel and Jeshua rebuking the people for their failure to rebuild the Temple.
Haggai’s call caused a religious revival and an almost immediate resumption of work on the Temple. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the rebuilding of the Temple resumed within three weeks. Shortly afterwards, Haggai presented his last recorded message and nothing more is heard of him.
He had done his work well. In four years, the Temple had been completed.
In Masonic ritual, Haggai is mentioned and quoted on several occasions, always, of course, in connection with the rebuilding of the Temple. He is an illustration of determination and earnestness.
Want to read more about Haggai? He’s found in the Bible in Ezra 4-6; and Haggai 1 and 2.
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Who’s Who in Royal Arch Masonry
Who is Zerubbabel?
Zerubbabel is very important to the Royal Arch Degree. He His name means, “seed of Babylon”, indicating he was born in Babylon. He was the grandson of King Jehoiachin, king of Judah. This made Zerubbabel a legal successor of Johoiachin and heir to the throne.
It was Zerubbabel, along with Jeshua, the High Priest, who returned to Jerusalem to begin the rebuilding of the Temple. Their first efforts at rebuilding the Temple ended in failure. The Samaritans opposed the project because the exiles who returned excluded them from it. The returned Jews lost their enthusiasm and began to concentrate on personal concerns, such as building costly homes for themselves. There was a 15 year halt.
In 520 B.C., Haggai called for the work on the Temple to be resumed. Zerubbabel and Jeshua responded and under their leadership, work on the Temple began within three weeks of Haggai’s challenge. It required only four years to complete the Temple.
Biblical historians refer to the Second Temple as “Zerubbabel’s Temple”. It was about a third larger than Solomon’s Temple, but didn’t have the splendor and ornamentation that Solomon’s Temple possessed.
Zerubbabel is not only famous for doing the work, but for doing it with such speed. It is his zeal and the zeal of the other workers that is commendable.
It’s interesting though, that while Zerubbabel’s Temple lasted longer than Solomon’s and Herod’s combined, Zerubbael disappears from Scripture before his temple is dedicated. Some speculate that he may have been executed for leading a movement that could have crowned him king of an independent Jewish nation. For whatever reason, he disappears from the Old Testament and is nowhere mentioned in the details of the Temple’s completion and dedication. He is mentioned in three New Testament verses that include him in the genealogy of Jesus.
In the Royal Arch Degree, Zerubbabel illustrates loyalty, faithfulness, devotion, and determination.
A letter “Z” is written on the floor of the Chapter Room each time the Royal Arch Captain salutes the three Masters of the Veils. (Arkansas Ritual)
In the Royal Arch Chapter, the office of King is symbolic of Zerubbabel. But, why the King, you may ask? The reason Zerubbabel is represented by a King is because the prophets of Zerubbabel’s day seemed to have messianic expectations of him, as a descendant of King David. Haggai said that the Jew who helped lead the first wave of his people home from exile in Babylon would be used by God to destroy other nations: “On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:23). The words “servant”, “signet ring” and “chosen” all imply kingship.
Want to read more about Zerubbabel? Here’s where he’s found in the Bible: Ezra 1-6; Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 4 and 6.
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Who’s Who in Royal Arch Masonry
Who is Jeshua?
Jeshua’s name means, “Yahweh is Salvation”. He was a high priest of Judah who was born during the exile of the Jews in Babylon. Don’t mistaken him with his namesake, Joshua, (of the Exodus) who was born in Egypt. This Jeshua’s father had been one of Nebuchadnezzar’s captives. Jerusalem was gone! The Temple was gone! The priestly function was gone. But somehow, Josedech, this Jeshua’s father, had survived it all. He clung, perhaps, to a word or two in Isaiah, to a statement or two in Jeremiah, and a page or two from Daniel’s recent works. And he conveyed his findings and his faith to his son.
Other Jewish boys settled down in Babylon. But young Jeshua caught another vision. He was a priest and would one day return to Jerusalem.
Before the exile, high priests had been subordinate to the kings of Judah. But when King Cyrus II of Persia permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, Jeshua assumed a major leadership role along with Zerubbabel. This is why the High Priest of the Chapter is the presiding officer. He represents Jeshua, the High Priest. Jeshua and Zerrubbabel erected an altar, restored worship in Jerusalem, and began rebuilding the temple foundations and city walls.
The Greek equivalent of the name, Jeshua, is Jesus. And he, like Jesus, came to bring the people back to God.
Jeshua appears in two of Zechariah’s visions. In one, his “filthy garments” symbolic of the people’s sins that led to exile, are replaced by “rich apparel.” (Zechariah 3:3, 4) to indicate restoration. In another, Jeshua is designated as the one who “shall bear royal honor.” (Zech. 6:13). Jeshua and Zerrubbabel are called “the two anointed who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Jeshua, I Capitular Masonry, is an illustration of perseverance and determination to overcome all obstacles.
Want to read more about Jeshua? In the Bible, he’s found in: Ezra 2-5; Nehemiah 7; Haggai 1-2; and Zechariah 3 and 6.
(On this day in 1692 Elias Ashmole died. In his diary he reported being made a Mason, thereby establishing that there were symbolic lodges before 1717, when the Grand Lodge of England was formed.)
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IDEAS FOR YOUR CHAPTER
IDEA: Spice up your Chapter’s newsletter to increase participation. Gain a greater reading audience for your Chapter’s newsletter by adding puzzles, anecdotes, or pictures. There are online sites that will design find-a-word games for you. Use the last names of Past Master’s or Masonic vocabulary words for your puzzle. Photos add interest for people who might not otherwise read the publication. It also provides a more personal, engaging format that enhances the written words and sets a mood of interest and enjoyment. Think about it for yourself. Would you rather look at a picture or a page bulging with text?
IDEA: When a fellow Companion passes away, be sure and organize the Chapter to be present at his funeral, dressed in Royal Arch Regalia (this is allowed in the monitor of the Arkansas Grand Lodge.) You will meet other Master Masons who may have never heard of the chapter. The Royal Arch apron, being unique, will spark questions and therefore an opportunity to give a petition.
IDEA: Have your secretary or treasurer to give you the names of people who have terminated their membership in the last four or five years. Visit them or ask well liked Past High Priests to talk with them. At the very least, you will find receptive individuals. They want to know what happened to Joe, and where Bill is living now. Not having been on the mailing list for awhile, former members possess little knowledge of the Chapter, although they have treasured memories of it. Some prefer to stay out of Capitular Masonry. For some, however, circumstances have changed, and they’d like to rejoin. You will do them as well as the Chapter a service by bringing these Companions back into the fold.
IDEA: Contact prospective resignations. Find out why people are thinking of leaving the Chapter. You may be able to resolve their difficulty. Often people contemplating demitting have been in a hospital, but no one visited them. Perhaps they feel ignored for other reasons. If you cannot personally contact them, consider a letter like this to prospective demits:
“Dear Companion (last name):
Do you read the obituaries in the newspapers? Have you noticed how much pride relatives show in a man’s having been a Mason? Our Craft is very highly regarded.
Even though it has not been convenient for you to attend meetings regularly, you are important to us. Prestige flows both ways – from you to the fraternity and from the fraternity to you.
If illness or a financial challenge makes it a hardship to pay your annual dues, we will be more than glad to remit them.
We need you, and I think you need us. I hope you can see your way to resuming your membership.
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Why is the Master of a Lodge Called “Worshipful”?
“Worshipful” is an old English word signifying “worthy of respect.” Masonically it is a title of respect for the office of the presiding officer, the Master, who the brethren believe possessed of sufficient knowledge, wisdom, and integrity to preside over them in a proper manner. We use the word in its ancient sense – not in its modern sense of denoting awe and humility before a Supreme Being.
In fact, English and Canadian mayors are still addressed as: “Your Worship.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 23 – Union Chapter will have a Mark Master’s Degree at 6:30 p.m.
June 4th – York Rite Bodies of Bentonville will hold a Country Breakfast from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
June 25th – Van Buren York Rite Bodies will have a Chapter and Council Degree Festival beginning at 8:00 a.m.
July 11th – Grand High Priest’s Official Visit to Fay Hempstead Chapter, 7:00 p.m.
July 29-30 York Rite College, Nashville, TN
August 26-30, General Grand Chapter, Raleigh, North Carolina
September 12 – Grand High Priest’s Official Visit to Texarkana Chapter, 7:00 p.m. |
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