nions at Philadelphia, that the several chapters within their vicinity, have recently assembled and established a grand chapter of royal arch masons for their government. In conformity to their example, we think it our duty to recommend to the several chapters within the said states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, Vermont, and New-York, to unite and form a grand chapter for the said states. "The local situation of the states before mentioned, the easy and frequent intercourse between their several principal towns and cities, as well as the similarity of habits, manners and customs, as citizens and as masons, which prevail throughout the said states, induce us to believe that a union of all the chapters therein in one grand chapter, will have the most useful, lasting and happy effects in the uniform distribution and propagation of the sublime degrees of masonry. They therefore take the liberty of recommending to the consideration of your most excellent chapter, the propriety of appointing one or more delegate or delegates, to represent your chapter, at a meeting of the several chapters before mentioned, to be holden at the city of Hartford, in the state of Connecticut, on the fourth Wednesday of January next ensuing; investing them with full power and authority, in conjunction with the other delegates, to form and open a grand chapter of royal arch masons, and to establish a constitution for the government and regulation of all the chapters that now are, or may hereafter be, erected within the said states." In consequence of this address, the several chapters within the states therein enumerated (with the exception of two or three chapters only) appointed delegates, who assembled at Hartford, on the fourth Wednesday in January, 1798, and after several days deliberation upon the subject, they formed and adopted a constitution for the government of the royal arch chapters, and lodges of mark masters, past masters and most excellent masters throughout the said states; and having elected and installed their grand officers, the grand chapter became completely organized. CHAPTER XVI. On the ninth day of January, 1799, the grand chapter of the Northern States, met, by adjournment, at Providence, in the state of Rhode-Island, and revised their constitution, and ordered the same to be printed; which constitution, as revised and amended, is in the words following, viz. CONSTITUTION OF THE GENERAL GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF THE NORTHERN STATES OF AMERICA. WHEREAS the several chapters of royal arch masons in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, RhodeIsland, Connecticut, Vermont and New-York, are destitute of any supreme head or superintending power:-And whereas, from time immemorial, we find grand lodges of free and accepted masons have been established, wherever masonry has flourished, for the purpose of granting warrants for the institution of private lodges, as well as for the establishment of certain general rules and regulations for the government of the same :-And whereas, it is an opinion generally received, and well authenticated, that no grand lodge of master masons can claim, or exercise, authority over any convention or chapter of royal arch masons, nor any chapter, although of standing immemorial, exercise the authority of a grand chapter :And whereas it is highly expedient, for the regular government of all chapters within the said states, who exercise the rights and privileges of royal arch masons, and to prevent irregularities in the diffusion and use of those rights and privileges, that there should be a grand chapter of royal arch masons established within said states : Therefore, we, the delegates of St. Andrew's Chapter, Boston-King Cyrus's Chapter, Newburyport-Providence Chapter, Providence-Solomon's Chapter, Derby -Franklin Chapter, No. 4, Norwich-Franklin Chapter, No. 6, New-Haven-Temple Chapter, AlbanyHudson Chapter, Hudson-Horeb Chapter, Whitestown-to establish order and uniformity, to promote love and charity among masons, and to render more general and extensive the principles of benevolence and philanthropy-Do ordain and establish this as a constitution of a general grand royal arch chapter for the states aforesaid, to be denominated, The General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the Northern States of America. ARTICLE I. OF THE GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER. SECTION 1. There shall be a general grand chapter of royal arch masons, for the six northern states of America, enumerated in the preamble; which shall be holden as is hereinafter directed, and shall consist of a general grand high priest, general grand king, general grand scribe, secretary, treasurer, chaplain and marshal; and likewise of the several grand and deputy grand high priests, kings and scribes for the time being, of the several grand chapters hereinafter enumerated, and of the past general 1 1 grand high priests, kings and scribes of the said general grand chapter: and the said enumerated officers, or their proxies, shall be the only members and voters in the said general grand royal arch chapter. SECT. 2. The general grand officers shall be elected, by ballot, on the second Thursday in January, A. D. 1799, and in every seventh year thereafter; for which, and other purposes, the general grand chapter shall meet, septennially, in the city of Middletown, in the state of Connecticut, on the second Thursday in January. SECT. 3. A special meeting of the general grand chapter shall be called, whenever it may be required by a majority of the grand chapters of the northern states aforesaid; provided such requisition be made known in writing, by the said grand chapters, respectively, to the general grand high priest, king, or scribe of the northern states. And it shall be the duty of the said general officers, and they are each of them, severally, authorised empowered and directed, upon receiving official notice of such requisition from a majority of the grand chapters aforesaid, to appoint a time and place of meeting, and notify each of the said grand chapters thereof accordingly. SECT. 4. It shall be incumbent on the general grand high priest, general grand king, and general grand scribe, severally to improve and perfect themselves in the sublime arts and work of mark masters, past masters, most excellent masters, and royal arch masons: to make themselves masters of the several masonic lectures and ancient chargés; to consult with each other, and with the grand and deputy grand high priests, kings and scribes of the several states aforesaid, for the purpose of adopting measures suitable and proper for diffusing a knowledge of the said lectures and charges, and an uniform mode of working, in the several chapters and lodges throughout this jurisdiction; and the better to effect this laudable purpose, the aforesaid general grand officers are severally hereby authorised and empowered, to visit and preside in any and every chapter of royal arch masons, and lodge of most excellent, past, or mark master masons, throughout the said states, and to give such instructions and directions as the good of the fraternity may require; always adhering to the ancient landmarks of the order. SECT. 5. In all cases of the absence of any officer from any body of masons, instituted or holden by virtue of this constitution, the officer next in rank shall succeed his superior; unless through courtesy said officer should decline in favor of a past superior officer present.-And in case of the absence of all the officers from any legal meeting of either of the bodies aforesaid, the members present, according to seniority and abilities, shall fill the several offices. SECT. 6. In every chapter or lodge of masons, instituted or holden by virtue of this constitution, all questions, (except upon the admission of members or candidates) shall be determined by a majority of votes; the presiding officer for the time being, being entitled to vote, if a member; and in case the votes should at any time be equally divided, the presiding officer as aforesaid shall give the casting vote. SECT. 7. The general grand royal arch chapter shall be competent (on concurrence of two thirds of its members present) at any time hereafter, to revise, amend and als ter this constitution. V |