Old Cornish Working

Many old customs are often not recorded in the minutes as they were deemed standard knowledge and should not be divulged to the public. One of these was a part of the Royal Arch degree originally worked in lodges which eventually disappeared—perhaps heath and safety!

Some Scottish chapters have vaults for the candidates and some old rituals depict the lowering and raising of candidates being exalted. However, very little proof exists to say for certain that this was standard practice. However, as far away as Cornwall, some proof does exist—Falmouth, Penzance, Hayle and Truro, all fairly close to each other. The candidate was actually lowered and raised by pulleys from the ceiling.

In Volubian Chapter in Falmouth, the ceremony continues to be practiced in this form mentioned above. In Penzance, Holy Mount Chapter No.121 (attached to Mount Sinai Lodge) has only circumstantial evidence, but it’s strong. Although no one can remember this being part of the RA degree, the third floor of the masonic centre in Penzance used to be a chapter room. Probably the difficult access made the brethren change to using the lodge room below.

Although the room has never been used since, it still has some paintings on the ceiling pertaining to RA symbols. However, in the centre of the ceiling is a ring within a triangle and a line of the triple tau passing through the point of attachment which would support a pulley. There was also a table and steps (presumably for the candidate to walk up and be lowered) and an old harness used to lie on the floor in the corner.

In the lodge room opposite, the letter G hangs from the ceiling by a wire which apparently (before renovation in the 1980s) could support a 200 pound weight which would easily support a man. It would appear this ceremony was practiced in Penzance, but unfortunately no record in any minutes state when it was discontinued and the upstairs has been cleared a few years ago.