Qualifying chapters completing ten out of the eighteen requirements will receive a beautiful framed certificate which will be presented to them at the Grand Chapter Convocation in July. The period of qualification spans from 1 May of each year, through 30 April of the following year.

ARCH OF EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE

PO BOX 603

1. A fraternal dinner for Royal Arch Masons; such dinner may be in conjunction with a stated or special convocation and is solely for the purpose of promoting fellowship;

2. A dinner for ladies and/or families, that includes a speaker or some type of entertainment; and/or

3. A Past High Priest’s Night dinner with some type of special recognition for these companions.

The chapter shall have donated a sum equal to or greater than US$50.00 to the official charity of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois during the subject year (as described above). These funds shall not come from an assessment, but may originate from a donation or a chapter fundraiser. The cheque number and value must be included in the GRAC-IL Forms 401-E.

7. Chapter Membership:

Chapter membership shall have shown a net increase in the total number of companions reported to the Grand Secretary during the subject year (as described above). This increase shall be derived by subtracting the total number of companions suspended, expelled, demitted, or deceased, from the total number of companions exalted, affiliated and reinstated. Companions added as a result of consolidation, merger or plural membership shall be excluded from the calculation. The calculations must be shown on the GRAC-IL Forms 401-E.

8. Degree Work:

The chapter shall have conferred both the Mark Master Degree [4°] and the Past Master (Virtual) Degree [5°] at least once each during the subject year (as described above). The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must show the dates of the degree work, list the cast members’ names and candidates’ names.

9. Educational Programme:

The chapter shall have offered one or more educational programmes during the subject year (as described above) at a stated convocation or at special event. This programme may be open to the public. Examples include, but are in no way limited to:

For credit, the GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must show the date of the meeting, the topic presented, and the number of people attending the event.

10. Degree Proficiency:

The chapter shall have opened and closed on the Holy Royal Arch Degree with no ritual books open except by a prompter. The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must show the officers’ names, the date, and the name of prompter.

11. Visitations to Other Chapters:

The chapter shall have, during the subject year (as described above), dispatched a representative mission consisting of no fewer than three companions to make two or more visits, as a group, to stated or special convocations of a chapter other than their own (the representative missions need not consist of the same companions at each visit). The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must show the dates, the chapters visited, and the companions who made the visits.

12. Degree Conferral at Another Chapter:

The chapter shall have provided a slate consisting of at least one dais officer and three other companions to assist in conferring one of the four capitular degrees at another chapter during the subject year (as described above). The qualifying chapter shall have assisted in the conferral of the degree upon a candidate of the chapter visited. The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must show the date, degree conferred and chapters involved.

13. The Grand Chapter Veil Fund:

The chapter shall have contributed a minimum of US$20.00 to the Grand Chapter Veil Fund during the subject year (as described above). The contribution will be made by cheque. The cheque number and value must be included in the GRAC-IL Forms 401-E.

14. Keystone Quest:

The chapter shall have participated in the Keystone Quest during the subject year (as described above). To qualify, a chapter must have conducted the first round of the Keystone Quest and submitted the completed materials for scoring, with a postmark dated no later than 31 December of the relevant year (as described above). The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must list the date the Keystone Quest was conducted.

15. Symbolic Lodge Visitation:

The Excellent High Priest and no less than two other companions shall have, during the subject year (as described above) visited two or more Symbolic Lodges to promote candidacy to be a Royal Arch Mason (the different visits may include different companions). The visiting companions are no longer required to wear the red & white Grand Royal Arch Chapter “IFIHY” button during the visit, although the wear of the button continues to be authorised, in order to prompt brethren to ask what the letters signify and thus provide the companion to state, “I found it. Have you?”; shall have come prepared with petitions and material to present to perspective candidates; and shall have completed and filed the requisite GRAC-IL Form 451 (“Lodge Visitation Programme Report”) with the Grand Chapter’s Visitation Committee. The GRAC-IL Forms 451-E must include the visitation dates, and names and numbers of the Blue Lodges visited, the names of the visiting companions, and any results from the visitation, and must have copies of the visitation report form attached thereto. Some IFIHY buttons may still be available from your District Deputy Grand High Priest.

16. Area Picnic:

A dais officer (Excellent High Priest, King or Scribe) and at least two other companions shall have the area picnic presented by their District Deputy Grand High Priest during the subject year (as described above). The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E should include the date and place of event, as well as a list of all the companions who attended.

17. Reinstatement Committee:

The chapter shall have, during the subject year (as described above), established or maintained a reinstatement committee to contact companions who have been suspended over the last three years and work towards assisting them in rejoining the chapter. The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must include the number of suspended companions who were contacted and any results, but no companions’ names shall be included.

18. Social Event:

The chapter shall have held at least one social event during the subject year (as described above), which included family, friends and potential candidates. Such event may consist of a picnic, holiday party, Past High Priest night or a chapter anniversary party. The GRAC-IL Forms 401-E must include the date of the event and number of people in attendance.