The author has previously stated on many occasions that if we don't take the time to understand what the contents of our ceremonies mean, and explain them, then we are in danger of them becoming empty shells devoid of any relevance—just empty words and empty actions. Our ceremonies are really based on practical knowledge. This book starts by looking at where the Royal Arch degree comes from and the factors that influence it both historically and through religion. It goes on to consider the moral lessons it teaches, how those moral lessons were derived, the meaning behind the allegory, and the place of Royal Arch in our modern world. It also traces the origins of Royal Arch, studies the three most important buildings in Britain related to Royal Arch Masonry, and delves into religion, faith and fact. Other mysteries of Freemasonry are also explored in depth.
Kevin L. Gest was born and raised in Kent, England, in a town with strong Knights Templar connections. His academic qualifications were initially engineering related. These contained no small measure of emphasis on mathematics and geometry, an understanding of which proved invaluable when evaluating aspects of Solomon’s Temple for this book. He started his professional career in design engineering in the aerospace industry in the United Kingdom.