arena
Ask the Metropolitan Grand Director of Ceremonies
In a new series for arena, the MetGDC answers your questions on Masonic etiquette...
Question: I am confused about whether I can wearmy Chapter jewel in a Craft meeting. I wear my PZ jewel inmeetings of my lodge but was told it wasn’t correct at the recent Metropolitan Grand Lodge Annual Meeting. Is this correct?
Answer: Thanks for the question, which is most appropriate this year when we are celebrating the Royal Arch’s Bicentenary. Members of the Royal Arch (also known as “RA” or “Chapter”) wear the RA jewel with justifiable pride at all Craft meetings, from the largest meetings of Grand Lodge to the smallest private lodge. It signifies the indissoluble link between Craft and Chapter which was confirmed 200 years ago, and is why it is the only jewel of another order which is allowed to be worn in a Craft meeting. It is also appropriate that it is worn as the most important breast jewel, closest to the centre of the body. Members of the RA should always wear their Chapter jewels in Craft lodges as a result. The problem is that there are a
variety of breast jewels which are worn in Chapter meetings, and members often become confused about which one they can wear in the Craft. For example, there is the jewel of the Order, PZ jewels (the RA equivalent of a PM’s jewel),
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and Centenary jewels as well as the MetGC Founder’s jewel. The answer is very simple.
Only the jewel of the Order is permitted to be worn in the Craft. This is the jewel with a white ribbon for Companions, a crimson ribbon for Principals and Past Principals and the tri-coloured ribbon for holders of Grand, Metropolitan or Provincial Ranks. Other breast jewels should not be worn. For the avoidance of doubt this also includes the MetGC Founder’s jewel with the crimson ribbon: only the MetGL Founder’s jewel, with the blue ribbon, can be worn at a Craft meeting. Finally, and especially during
this Bicentenary year, wear your Chapter jewel with pride in lodge meetings; it can be a useful talking point with brethren who aren’t in the Royal Arch, and you may be able to help them take that final step in pure ancient Masonry. And if you aren’t in Chapter, ask someone who is wearing a RA jewel about it at the next Craft meeting you attend!
W. Bro Patrick Penny, The Metropolitan Grand DC
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