Every Master Mason aspires to attain the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry.  Many feel with regret that it is not practicable for them to share in all the light shed by the several bodies, but all wish most earnestly to receive all the light and instruction which pertains to the Ancient Craft-the origin and foundation of the Institution.  In the life of every Master Mason, moreover, there comes a time when he realizes that he has not yet attained that goal, that he Is not yet in possession of all the rights and light of a Master Mason, as these were known and understood by his ancient brethren.

The preparatory Degrees conferred in the Chapter are those of Mark Master Mason, Past Master and Most Excellent Master.  All are beautiful, all are interesting, all teach valuable lessons, but the Most Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Mason is more august, sublime and important than all that precedes it.  It brings to light many essentials of the Craft contained ONLY in this Most Sublime Degree and explains many cryptic passages of the first three Degrees incomprehensible to the Master Mason.  Without knowledge of these the Masonic character cannot be complete.  It has been said that "The Royal Arch stands as the rainbow of promise in the Ritual; it stands as the promise of the resurrection; of that which was lost and that which shall be recovered."

All who are Exalted to that Most Sublime Degree, particularly by those who are seeking ·to complete their Masonic education; will justly appreciate the value of Royal Arch Masonry. It reveals the full light of Ancient Craft masonry, presents it as a complete system in accordance with the original plan and confers at last the rights and light of a Master Mason in fact as well as in name. It truly leads to a fuller understanding of the purposes and spirit of Freemasonry, for standing upon this towering summit we are able for the first time to perceive the completeness of the Ancient Craft and to understand how all its forms and ceremonies, from the Entered Apprentice to the Master Mason's Degree, are the preparation for the final goal, the Most Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Mason.

The antiquity of Mark Masonry cannot be doubted. Operatively considered, and even Speculative, it has enjoyed special prominence for centuries, records of the custom of the adoption of Marks by theoretical brethren according to existing records dating back to the 8th day of June, A. D. 1600.  Mark Masonry formerly consisted of the degrees of Mark Man and Mark Master Mason.  These degrees, in the sense given to the word "degree," were wholly unknown to the Operative Freemasons of the Middle Ages.  They were undoubtedly invented and put into working order in Scotland.  That they were founded upon the custom established by the Operative Freemasons of Cologne and Strasburg and later introduced into other countries of Europe, in requiring the selection and registration of Marks, is clear.

The story of the Temple origin of the Mark Master Degree is a myth, as is the legend of the Third degree. From all we know about the time of origin of the Mark Degree, we are led to believe that it was invented or fabricated later the Third or Master Masons Degree.  The Mark was and is directly associated with both Operative and Speculative Freemasonry and from time immemorial it has been the custom for the skilled craftsman to chisel his distinctive Mark on stones fashioned by him, so as to indicate his workmanship.  The existence of proprietary marks on European Buildings may be traced as far back as the 10th century. The Greek artists who introduced the Byzantine style of architecture, for which the Freemasons afterwards substituted the Gothic, probably brought them over at that time.  But it was not until the 15th century that we were furnished with any historical evidence that there was an organized systems of laws by which the imparting, owning, and using of these marks was regulated.

The Mark degree is important because it is the connecting link between operative and speculative Masonry. As early as 1599 we find that non-operative Masons were admitted to operative Mark Lodges. What this ceremony consisted of no one knows. There may have been some moral teachings connected with it. The records hover; merely show the payment of a fee and the registering of a Mark.  The early history of the degree in what is now the United States is very similar to that in the other countries and is very meager. It was conferred in Lodges as part of the Lodge work as was the Most Excellent and the Royal Arch. Apparently Lodges worked the degrees as an inherent right and not under the authority of a charter.

Ohio was no different in its practices than the rest of the country. Almost as soon as Marietta was settled, American Union Lodge was opened. This Lodge was originally a military lodge warranted by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1776. After the close of the war and the dissolution of the Army the warrant was in possession of the Master, Jonathan Heart, who carried it to Fort Harmar, near Marietta, where he was stationed. Under this warrant American Union Lodge was opened in Marietta in 1790.

Unlike many of the early Masonic Bodies American Union Lodge did keep fairly complete minutes, which have been preserved. From these minutes we learn the American Union Chapter, under the aegis of American Union Lodge, began holding meetings in 1792 and conferred all of the degrees although the minutes refer to them as steps rather than degrees and do not mention them by name until 1797. The degrees were the Past Master, Mark Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch.

With the organization in 1797 of what eventually became known as the General Grand Chapter and with the forming of Grand Chapters, the degrees of Mark, Past, Most Excellent and Royal Arch came under the jurisdiction of Chapters operating independently of Symbolic Lodges. 

The Degree of Mark Master is a continuation of the lessons taught in the 2nd (Fellowcraft) Degree. The Degree teaches that although we are often misunderstood, underrated and traduced, there is ONE who will make the rejected stone the Head of the corner.   The Mark Master Degree is based on the ceremony of registering a craftsman's mark in those years distinguished by operative craft masons and their temple building. Some scholars say it may be one of the earliest Masonic degrees.

The candidate for the Mark Master Degree represents a humble laborer in the quarries of King Solomon’s Temple. This degree expands on the lessons of charity first introduced in the Entered Apprentice Degree and developed further in the Master Mason Degree. It also encourages the thoughtful student of the Craft to be true to his heart and be ever willing to stand up for what he knows to be right, even if that position is unpopular.

The degree of Mark Master teaches us to discharge our several duties punctually and with precision, the duty of assisting a distressed brother is forcibly illustrated. Historically the degree illustrates the process by which the work on the temple accomplished by each craftsman was identified.

The Degree of Virtual Past Master teaches that before one can rule, he must learn to obey; before one can govern others, he must learn to govern himself.  This Degree is part of the Royal Arch Chapter because originally only Past Masters were allowed to receive the Degree of Royal Arch.  This Degree therefore fulfills that requirement.  The Past Master Degree came into being because the degree of Royal Arch was originally conferred on actual Past Masters only. The (virtual) Past Master Degree was instituted to make it possible for all worthy Brethren to receive the Royal Arch Degree.  This degree confers no actual status as a Past Master upon the candidate, but it qualifies him for admission to the Royal Arch. The first record of its conferral is found in England in 1768.

The Past Master degree came into being because originally the Symbolic Lodge only on actual Past Masters conferred the degree of Royal Arch. This restriction prevented many worthy brethren from receiving the full information of the degrees of Freemasonry. The degree of Past Master was instituted in order to conform to tradition and to make it possible for worthy brethren to receive the Royal Arch degree. The conferring of this degree by a Chapter gives a brother no rights as a Past Master in a Symbolic Lodge unless he has actually served as Master of his Lodge. The Most Excellent Master degree dramatizes the historical incidents of the completion and dedication of King Solomon’s Temple. This degree emphasizes the opportunity and obligation of Companions to disseminate light and knowledge to less informed brethren.

The Degree of Most Excellent Master is a very beautiful and dramatic Degree. Here the Temple on which work was halted so dramatically in the 3rd (Master Mason) Degree is completed.  The Most Excellent Master Degree is a product of American innovation.  It was conferred in a Royal Arch Chapter as early as 1783 in Middletown, Conn. It is a most spectacular degree, and the pageantry with which it is conferred makes it one of the most colorful in all Freemasonry.  It is the only degree that brings forcibly to our attention the completion and dedication of King Solomon's Temple; the very idea upon which all Masonic symbolism has been based.

The Degree of Royal Arch is the capstone of the Craft Degrees. It is concerned with the discovery of a crypt and the value of the resulting discoveries to the Craft. In this Degree, that which was lost in the 3rd (Master Mason) Degree is again found.

The Royal Arch Degree is the climax of Ancient Craft Masonry and Masonic Symbolism. It has been described as "the root and marrow of Freemasonry." It is the story of Jewish History during some of its darkest hours. Jerusalem and the Holy temple are destroyed, and the people are being held captive as slaves in Babylon. Here the candidate joins with his Brethren as they are set free from captivity to return home and engage in the noble and glorious work of rebuilding the City of Jerusalem and the Temple of God. It is during this rebuilding that they make a discovery that brings to light the greatest of all treasures in Masonry - the long-lost True Word of a Master Mason.

All who are Exalted to that most sublime degree, particularly by those who are seeking to complete their Masonic education, will appreciate the value of Royal Arch Masonry. It reveals the full light of Ancient Craft Masonry, presenting it as a complete and unified system. No other degrees of Freemasonry are so intimately linked with the Blue Lodge or have so ancient and noble a history.

The Royal Arch Degree is set in a later period in the history of the Jewish People. Events of the objects of the Jewish people were preserved, discovered and restored. This degree is the culmination of Ancient Craft Masonry for here we find that which was lost-the word for which you were given a substitute in the Master Mason degree is imparted to you in solemn and impressive ceremonies.

These Degrees continue the education, which the Master Mason received in the Symbolic Lodge. Any Master Mason who wishes "Further Light in Masonry" should receive them.