Organization: Order of the Holy Royal Arch
Jurisdiction: Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia
Chapter: Hiram 45 (Front Royal)
Period: January 4, 2025 – Present

Completed the Royal Arch degree and maintain membership in the chapter. Attendance is currently limited due to overlapping civic commitments, with the intent to increase participation as schedules permit. Represents continued Masonic advancement and readiness for deeper involvement when availability allows.

Royal Arch Degree Festival

The start of 2025 brought a significant leap forward in my Masonic journey. On January 4, 2025, I became a member of Hiram Royal Arch Chapter No. 45.

To mark the occasion, I carpooled down to Richmond with my fellow brothers to the Venerable Masons Hall. We arrived in the early morning for a “Degree Festival”—a marathon event where we moved through all the Royal Arch degrees in a single day, from sunrise until evening.

A 21st-Century Record

There was a palpable energy in the building that day. I wasn’t just one of a few; I was part of a class of 29 new members. We later learned that this was a 21st-century record for the most candidates initiated in a single day for the Royal Arch in Virginia. Being part of such a large, historic group lent the experience a sense of shared momentum.

The Royal Arch is often described as the “completion” of the Master Mason degree, and going through the rituals in such a grand, focused setting made the lessons resonate even more clearly.

The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia includes additional degrees that, in other jurisdictions, are usually part of the Cryptic Masonry (Council of Royal and Select Masters). By keeping these degrees within the Royal Arch, Virginia offers a more streamlined and vibrant experience for its members.

A Building Touched by History

The setting for the festival was just as remarkable as the ceremony itself. The Venerable Masons Hall is a treasure trove of American history. Most notably, the building is equipped with an original lightning rod installed by Benjamin Franklin. It is one of only two still in existence today. Standing in a space protected by the handiwork of one of our most famous brothers—and a fellow scientist/techie—felt like a direct link to the origins of the Craft in the New World.

Looking Toward Leadership

Beyond the spiritual and historical education, joining the Royal Arch opened a new door for my service back home at Unity No. 146. One of the benefits of becoming a Royal Arch Mason is that it qualifies you to serve as a Junior Warden in the Blue Lodge.

I’m proud to say that toward the end of the year, that transition became a reality. Stepping into the Junior Warden’s station was a responsibility I felt ready to take on, thanks in large part to the foundation laid during that long, record-breaking Saturday in Richmond.

The Quest for the Red Jacket

In the Royal Arch, the “Red Jacket” is the signature look of a Companion. It distinguishes us from the “Blue Lodge” and signifies our advancement in the Craft. Shortly after joining, a brother who often visits my home lodge had a generous offer. He had lost a significant amount of weight and offered me his red jacket.

It was a classic Masonic gesture—passing the mantle from one brother to another. However, when I tried it on, we quickly realized that while he had shrunk, I was still… well, “big-boned”. It was far too small.

That one generous offer kicked off a months-long saga. Because I’m a man of a certain stature, I couldn’t just pick one up off a rack at a local shop. I began a long path of ordering jackets online, waiting for the mail, and feeling that familiar disappointment when they arrived and wouldn’t button or sit right on the shoulders.

A Full Circle

From the carpool conversations at dawn to the final degree at dusk, the day was a reminder that Masonry is a lifelong classroom. Whether it’s through the study of ancient symbols or the preservation of 18th-century lightning rods, we are always finding new ways to connect the past to our future service in the community.

Junior Warden

Prior to the Blue Lodge elections at the end of 2025, I was asked if I would be willing to progress from Senior Deacon to Junior Warden. I hadn’t yet begun working toward a Warden’s Certificate, as I was told not to acquire it too soon since it had a short life of three years. I wasn’t sure I even qualified. I thought another brother was going for the spot, since he often served pro-tem.

I was told that having completed the Past Master’s degree in the Royal Arch would be sufficient.

That sent my thoughts racing back to the festival—trying to recall exactly where that degree fit among the others. Then it clicked. I understood why it mattered and how it connected to the path ahead.

With that realization, I felt ready to move forward—but I also knew I needed help preparing for the certificate, and I asked for it. I later learned that the other brother hadn’t been a member of the Royal Arch or had the degree.

Other Commitments

For a while, attending Royal Arch meetings was challenging because they overlapped with county commitments. When the County Board of Supervisors shifted their first meeting of the month to daytime hours starting in February 2026, it unexpectedly opened the door for me to participate more consistently.

In the months that followed, I found myself back in the lodge more often—still a bit bewildered, trying to keep up with my responsibilities as a member. At the same time, I was regularly practicing in my Blue Lodge—sometimes three times a week—working toward earning my Warden’s Certificate to better support the Master, while also beginning my Master’s proficiency work, starting with the Entered Apprentice catechism.

Beyond that, I attended Subordinate Lodge Officer Training (SLOT), the District Education Leadership Conference (DELC), and the Area Education School, named after the man who taught me catechism each Thursday. There were weeks when I was in the lodge nearly every day, immersed in training, meetings, breakfast, education, or simply building goodwill.

It created a strange contrast. During the day, I was preparing for leadership—improving, memorizing, and even catching moments where my instructors tested whether I noticed something intentionally left out. Hours later, I would return to the same room and feel like a new candidate again—unfamiliar, stumbling, and learning as I went.

In Masonry and its appendant bodies, each new position brings a different perspective. The foundation from prior roles helps—but in many ways, you’re starting all over again.

Second Grand Master (Pro-Tem)

I was still sitting there on April 7, 2026, wearing a dark suit jacket—still waiting on yet another red jacket, this one from Uniformal Warehouse in a size 56. I figured going one size up might finally do the trick. I received a warning from a brother the previous week that this vendor’s quality wasn’t up to par, but I had already placed the order and needed a red jacket that fit.

This night, one of the other members asked if I had ordered long sleeves.

I paused—what?

I hadn’t seen that option. Then I looked down and realized my dress shirt cuffs were extending well past my jacket sleeves. Apparently… that’s a thing. My suit jacket was custom-tailored for my size, and the gentleman made no mention of it or any warning.

Before I could dwell on it too much, I was asked to sit as Second Grand Master Pro-Tem—the first time I had ever taken an officer’s seat in the Royal Arch.

I was both honored and a bit disoriented, quickly realizing there was a sword involved and a role to fulfill that I hadn’t fully anticipated. Still, I followed along as best I could, and followed the lead of the first grand master.

The meeting carried on. It wasn’t without a hitch, but I got through it.