Current Officers

Most Excellent High Priest Ernest L. Runyon
Excellent King William G. (Bill) Crow
Excellent Scribe/Sec pro-tem Stephen L. Maxwell
Treasurer Kirby G. Rudisill, PHP
Secretary Daniel E. Queen, PHP
Chaplain Charles F. Hanes, Affil. PHP
Captain of the Host Stephen C. Runyon, PHP
Principal Sojourner Christopher Hood, PHP
Royal Arch Captain Loyd O. Addy, Sr, PHP
Master of the 3rd Veil Billy Campbell
Master of the 2nd Veil Leonard Newman
Master of the 1st Veil Paul T. Mason, PHP
Guard Charles E. Seets

About the Chapter

Riverside Chapter No. 468, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered on December 6, 1949 by the Most Excellent Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas. The Chapter of Royal Arch Masons is the first part of the York Rite system of Masonic Degrees, and is also known as "Capitular Masonry". Capitular Masonry consists of four degrees: Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and the Royal Arch Degree. The degrees deal specifically with the Hiramic Legend, further enlightening the candidate on the incidents that occurred prior to and following the events in the Third Degree of Masonry.

The Temple of life is not yet completed, and those faithful Craftsmen who have labored so long are deprived by the wickedness of others, of that for which they have wrought so faithfully, the WORD which would entitle them to WAGES. Because of the symbolism used in the Symbolic Degrees, often difficult of comprehension, the following Degrees exist to elucidate, explain and make clear the wonderful knowledge imparted to us in symbolic form, and to supply that which was lost but later FOUND.

MARK MASTER - The work on the Temple continues. Amplifying the Fellowcraft Degree, we are taught that the learning we receive there can most usefully and judiciously be employed for our honor and the profit of others, to whom our duty is more clearly defined. A beautiful lesson is exemplified, inculcating the encouraging truth that though we are often misunderstood, underrated, and traduced, there is ONE who will make the rejected stone, the Head of the Corner.

PAST MASTER - This Degree begins the preparation for the Royal Arch, which we are told was removed from the Symbolic Degrees, of which it was once a part, to reserve it for the more earnest seeker for more Light in Masonry. Originally only actual Past Masters of Lodges were admitted to the sublime secrets of the Royal Arch, which meant that very few could receive them. The Degree of Past Master (virtual) by teaching the candidate that he must first learn to obey before he can rule, and to govern himself before he can govern others, fulfills the obligation and qualifies him for advancement.

MOST EXCELLENT MASTER - Here we have the most significant Degree in Ancient Craft Masonry. King Solomon's Temple, which was begun so auspiciously and halted so dramatically in the Third Degree, is here completed amid much rejoicing and great splendor. The labors of the Craft are given the blessing of the Lord descending as fire from heaven, and King Solomon is his gratitude, received and acknowledged them Most Excellent Masters, empowered to travel and receive Master's Wages, and charged with the responsibility of sharing their Masonic Light and Knowledge, with those who needed it.

ROYAL ARCH - In this Degree we find the actual completion of the Masters Degree and the Recovery of the Word. After the death of King Solomon, his magnificent Temple was destroyed and the Israelites carried away captive to Babylon. Here they lived for about seventy years, many of them acquiring considerable wealth, and some attaining high rank and influence in the Chaldean government. However, when liberated by King Cyrus, many of them returned to Jerusalem and begun rebuilding the Temple. While this work was going on and the rubbish of the ruins of the first Temple was being cleared away, many interesting and valuable discoveries were made, chief of which was the recovery of the lost Word.

With the recovery of that which was lost it would seem, to be the novitate that his search for Light was ended; however, in order that he might better acquire the lessons, a seemingly inverse movement of the Degrees historically is set up.

Past High Priests

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