So that we may understand the relationship of the Royal Arch with Craft Masonry we need to know a little of the history of Craft Masonry and its influence on the Royal Arch.

At the beginning of the 18th Century, Freemasonry as we know it today, was established and in 1717 a Grand Lodge was formed. These Masons were to become known as "The Moderns". In 1751 a further group of Freemasons formed themselves into another Grand Lodge and they became known as "The Antients" and for the whole of the remainder of the 18th Century the two Grand Lodges existed in rivalry.

At the beginning of the 18th Century there were only two degrees in Freemasonry but this developed, in both Grand Lodges, to three degrees and, from the Third Degree, the Antients developed a fourth degree known as "The Royal Arch"

But the Moderns didn't recognise this Fourth Degree and so this created a problem when in 1813 the two Grand Lodges combined to create the United Grand Lodge of England.

The compromise reached allowed the Moderns to limit the degrees to three and allowed the Antients to keep the Royal Arch degree and so The Royal Arch became the completion of the Third Degree.

Today, The Grand Master and Pro Grand Master in the Craft are also First Grand Principal and First Pro Grand Principal in Supreme Grand Chapter. The Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer and some other Grand Lodge Officers also hold the same rank in Grand Chapter. The Provincial Grand Master is also the Grand Superintendent in the Royal Arch. This relationship does not happen in any other Masonic Degree.