How to share the companionship: Guidance for multiple candidate exaltations in the Royal Arch

Increasing success of membership initiatives is already leading to more Master Masons wanting to take their step into the Royal Arch – but whilst that’s good news, it brings with it some challenges.

That’s the view of Lincolnshire’s Provincial Royal Arch DC Phil Anyan, who says initiatives like including the Royal Arch registration fee with the Craft one and launching Building Together are creating an expectation and enthusiasm to which we must react with positivity.

He says: “We’re in danger of developing a log-jam of Master Masons who want to become Royal Arch companions, but we have a finite number of meetings at which they can do so.

“The obvious solution is to exalt more than one candidate at a ceremony. There’s no reason that can’t happen, but we must do it in a way that doesn’t detract from the undoubted drama of a Royal Arch exaltation ceremony. Whatever we do, the ceremony must be impactful and dramatic for the candidates, and enjoyable for the Companions watching and delivering it.”

Phil’s advice offers a mixture of practicality and preparedness. He’s come up with this list of ten top tips:

1. Seek advice: There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Others have done multiple ceremonies, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t learn from them what works and what doesn’t
2. Don’t overcrowd: Remember the size constraints of our Lodge or Chapter rooms and consider how many people might need to be involved. Don’t have so many people that movement is restricted
3. Introduce the candidates: A multiple exaltation is the foundation for a bond of companionship; introduce your candidates beforehand so they can start their bonding at the earliest opportunity
4. Retain the ritual: Don’t change your Chapter’s ritual to squeeze in extra candidates
5. Learn the ritual: Fumbling with sheets of paper, candidates, and props not only looks clumsy but can also become embarrassing
6. Split the words: There’s no reason longer pieces of ritual shouldn’t be shared (even when someone says ‘We’ve never done that before’)
7. Rehearse the moves: Make sure everyone involved knows what to do and where to stand. Have more than one rehearsal if necessary. Invite others to take part
8. Have the equipment: You’ll need to duplicate some items. Get them in plenty of time, and use them in your rehearsals
9. Commit to doing a multiple ceremony: Embrace the ‘multiple’ concept. Don’t repeat elements of the ceremony for individual candidates; that would be like doing more than one exaltation at the same meeting
10. Streamline the night: Do you really need to present that Certificate or do all the lectures on the same night? Consider postponing them to the next meeting to ease time pressure

Deputy Grand Superintendent Mike Rix added: “Considerable work in developing multiple exaltation ceremony rituals for their own Chapters has been done by Zeb Zamo for St Hugh Chapter and John Elliott for the Round Table Chapter. Both would be happy to offer support to other Chapters too.”

And finally, says Phil: “Above all, the priority should be to make the ceremony enjoyable and memorable for candidates and companions alike. By following these tips, each exaltation can be a special occasion, reinforcing the sense of unity and tradition that defines the companionship of Royal Arch.”

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