• High Priest Message
• SCHEDULE
  • 2026
  • Educational Minute:
    ORDER OF MASONIC DEGREES IN THE YORK RITE
• 2025 OFFICERS
• HONORARY MEMBERS
• FROM THE SECRETARY

Companions:
Welcome back to Oxford Chapter No. 254! I hope everyone has enjoyed the summer break and is ready for a great fall season of Royal Arch Masonry.

We have an exciting lineup planned for the remainder of the year, with programs designed to offer a good mix of Royal Arch Masonry education, fellowship, and fun. Our goal is to make each Convocation something worth looking forward to - an opportunity to learn something new, enjoy one another’s company, and strengthen the bonds of our Chapter. Further details regarding the October and November Convocations will be provided at our September Convocation, which, due to Labor Day, will be held on the third Monday of the month.

Whether you have been attending regularly or haven’t been to the Chapter in a while, this is a great time to reconnect. If you are an officer, now would be a good time review your parts for both opening and closing. 

I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
 
With Fervency and Zeal,
E∴ Richard D. Howard, High Priest

District Officers

The following is the order in which the York Rite Degrees and Orders would be portrayed if presented in their chronological order:
1. The portion of the Royal Arch antedating
2. the building of the Temple (Chapter)
3. The Entered Apprentice (lodge)
4. The Fellow Craft (Lodge)
5. The Mark Master Mason (Chapter)
6. The Royal Master, 1st Section (Council)
7. The Select Master (Council)
8. The Master Mason (Lodge)
9. The Royal Master, 2nd Section (Council)
10. The Past Master (Chapter)
11. The Most Excellent Master (Chapter)
12. The Super Excellent Master (Council)
13. and one section of the Royal Arch (Chapter)
14. The Concluding Section of
15. The Royal Arch (Chapter)
16. The Red Cross (Commandery)
17. Order of Malta (Commandery)
18. Order of the Temple (Commandery)

From this arrangement it can be readily seen that any Mason who does not take all the degrees and orders in the York Rite cannot possibly have a thorough knowledge of even the Symbolic Lodge, let alone the Chapter, Council and Commandery.

Are You Concerned?

The Companions of Oxford Chapter #254 should be very proud of the fact that they can confer all the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry and have
repeatedly done so for other Chapters throughout the district and State. There is, however, a reason to be concerned. Only one companion has joined Oxford Chapter #254 since June 2013. We did have two companions affiliate with us, one in 2013 and one in 2014.

Over the years, our active companions have come from Oxford Lodge #175. Unfortunately, the occupations of the newer brothers have prevented them from being active or joining Royal Arch Masonry. Members of Oxford Lodge know the situation and I am confident things will change, hopefully sooner rather than later. We are fortunate to have membership from Sherburne, New Berlin, Edmeston, Hamilton, Eaton and Greene.

This prompts me to call on those Oxford Chapter companions, who have membership in other Lodges, to promote and encourage their brothers to join Royal Arch Masonry here in Oxford. We have a lot to offer them at the present time, but things can change rapidly if we don't begin to bring in new members. We also need to take on ritual duties currently being done by our older companions. Please ask yourself, when was
the last time I brought in a member to Oxford Chapter or learned a new part for a degree?

Obviously candidates are out there or we wouldn't be conferring all these degrees for other Chapters. We all have a stake in this matter, both in Lodge and Chapter. If you need a petition I have them or you can download one from the Grand Chapter website (www.ny-royal-arch.org).