Irish Royal Arch Certificate (1825) This must be one of the most colourful certificates issued. It is Irish from 1825 at a time when lodges conferred not just Royal Arch degrees, but Templar degrees and various others. The curtains at top represent the veils ceremony of the Excellent Master Degree. The arch with keystones and the three great lights are below. The dating of the certificate using AL (Anno Lucis) is common with old lodge certificates. Down the left is the red ribbon denoting arch colours—again this was common at the time and really adds to the certificate. Perhaps with fewer candidates today, we could revert from the standard mass produced certificate to a better certificate that is less likely to end up in a drawer.
Where is this unique little statue? Right outside Ulster Hall’s front doors. The decorated lamp post, with cherub, masonic apron, trowel, and ruler, dates from 1862 when Ulster Hall in Belfast was designed by William J. Barre (1830-1867). Strangely enough, his greatest rival in Belfast architectural competitions was Sir Charles Lanyon, one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Cross Keys May 2021
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