Royal Arch Tracing Board

INTRODUCTION

Presentation of the “Vault” Royal Arch Tracing Board. There are two versions of the Tracing – the Concise and Complete – Only the concise is available currently.

Concise and Complete Versions

The “Concise” version is ideal to give following an Exaltation. The candidate may well be overwhelmed by the ceremony and a recap using the Tracing Board will help him process the ceremony and its meaning. The presentation of a personal A4 copy is, of course, discretionary.
Giving the complete version is probably too much in one evening for a candidate, but provides an excellent opportunity for a more meaningful explanation of the board and some of its symbolism.
The “Complete” version not only describes the Tracing Board in greater detail but also alludes to the potential symbolism that it contains. The very shape of the board is emblematic, and there is hardly an object depicted that is not worthy of consideration.

Usage Notes

The text itself is not meant to be memorised. We have tried to weave a story together describing many of the items painted on the board, but each speaker is different, and he can use his own language to communicate the central themes.

Printed Copies & Charity

Printed copies of the A4 / A3 and A1 Tracing Boards are available from us, although we do make a charge to cover the cost of printing and postage. All profits made go to our chosen charity – The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association 209617.

Disclaimer

We should emphasise that this document is not endorsed in any way by any Masonic Authority be it Provincial, Metropolitan or Supreme Grand Chapter. It is provided by the MRARA and compiled from various texts and thoughts. Any errors, inaccuracies or incorrect suppositions will be corrected whenever found and are entirely our own!

Royal Arch Tracing Board – Concise Version

Immediately following the exaltation ceremony.

Companion (name), congratulations on being exalted into the Royal Arch and into this (name) Chapter in particular. You may have found the ceremony overwhelming and there is a lot for you to take in, which is quite understandable.

However, help is at hand as the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” is very apt this afternoon. I would like to draw your attention to this picture which is a replica of the Royal Arch Tracing Board painted by John Harris, who is very well known for his Tracing Boards in the 3 Craft degrees.

You may remember that during your exaltation you represented one of the three Sojourners who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem to assist in the building of the 2nd Temple. In the background you can see a city and in the foreground lay the ruins of the 1st Temple.

Along the edges are some pillars alluded to in the ceremony “of exquisite beauty” and a little further back we note two other pillars potentially representing those mentioned in the Craft.

As you, and your fellow sojourners, were a little late in arriving to assist, the offices of the highest importance were already filled. You were, however, given the task of clearing the ground to help prepare the foundations for the 2nd Temple, and furnished with a pick, crowbar and shovel respectively.

Starting your endeavours very early in the morning, you came across a dome like structure which you prized open with the working tools just mentioned.

Having made a small opening one of you descended into the void but had rope tied about his arms and body to assist him whilst exploring the dark vault.

The sojourner discovered some sort of block and next to it a scroll. He signalled to his companions to assist him out of the vault and returned to the surface, with the scroll in his possession.

As the sun had risen by this time all 3 sojourners were able to read its contents.

Noting the importance of the scroll the companion descended again, and thanks to the light cast by the sun, discovered that the block was a pedestal with a veil covering the top.

Upon lifting the veil, he saw the plate of Gold, with the triangle, circle and word. He was immediately struck by the significance of what he saw.

After being drawn up for the second time, the vault was resealed, and the find was reported immediately to the Grand Sanhedrin and the rest you know!

That, my companion, in a nutshell, is the story of the Royal Arch and the important part that you had to play in the ceremony.

To help cement this evening into your mind and to give you a better understanding I am pleased to be able to present to you, on behalf of your fellow companions, this personal A4 copy of the board for you to reflect on.