Chapter in the United States. Ac-

tuated by similar motives, Oct. 24, 1797, a convention of delegates from several chapters in the northern States, met at Boston to deliberate upon the propriety of forming a Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the States of New Hamp- shire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, and New York. The convention having taken the subject into consideration came to a determination to forward to each of the chapters within the States before mentioned an address, expressive of their opinions. This address was issued, and the con- vention adjourned to meet again at Hartford, Conn., January 24, 1798. Agreeably to the recommendation of the convention of October, and, as requested by the circular, issued by that body, delegates assembled at the city of Boston, Jan. 24,. 1798, from the following chapters, viz: St. Andrew's Chapter, Boston, Mas- sachusetts, instituted 1769; King Cyrus Chapter, Newburyport.Mass., instituted 1790; Providence Chap- ter Providence, R. L, instituted
1793 ; Solomon Chapter, Derby, Conn., instituted 1794; Franklin Chapter, Norwich, Conn. , instituted 1796; Franklin Chapter, New Haven, Conn., instituted 1796 ; Hudson Chapter, Hudson, N. Y., instituted 1796 ; Temple Chapter, Albany, N. Y. ; Horeb Chapter, Whitestown, N. Y. The convention, after due deliberation, adopted the following resolution: ''Resolved, That the delegates who compose this con- vention, being invested with ample powers, will establish a Grand Royal Arch Chapter, for the Statea of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ver- mont, and New York, to be deno- minated the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the northern States of America." A constitution was then adopted for the government of Royal Arch Masonry. In 1806 the title of the body was changed to "The General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the United States." From this period this grand body has prospered, and its influence spread throughout the whole coun- try. Nearly every Grand Chapter in the United States acknowledges its jurisdiction and authority.
GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF
THE UNITED STATES. The conven- tion for organizing the Grand En- campment of the United States was held June 20-1, 1816, in the city ot New York, consisting of delegates from the following Encampments, viz : Boston, at Boston, Mass. ; St. John's at Providence, R. I. ; Tem- ple, at Albany, X. Y. ; Montgomery, at Stillwater, N. Y., St. Paul's, at Newburyport, Mass. ; Newport, R. I., and Darius Council, at Portland, Maine — when a constitution was adopted and officers chosen. The Hon.DeWitt Clinton, then Governor of New York, was elected the first Grand Master.
Of the early or first introduction of the Masonic Knighthood into this country but little of its true history is known. That it existed previous to 1790 in Pennsylvania is fully authenticated. Tradition affirms that the orders were conferred in some of the army lodges of the revolutionary war.
CYCLOPEDIA OF FREEMASONRY.
A.
AARON. The brother of Moses, who accompanied and assisted him in the great work of emancipating the Jews from Egyptian bondage. He was the first High-Priest of the Hebrew Church, and the dignity of the priesthood was made hereditary in his family. He died on Mount Hor, at the age of 123, and was buried so privately that his sepul- cher still continues to be unknown. His son Eleazar suc- ceeded him in the office of High-Priest.
ABACISCUS. In ancient architecture, the checkered or square divisions of the Mosaic pavement. The material of which the ground-floor of King Solomon's Temple was sup- posed to have been made.
ABACUS. 1. An instrument to facilitate computations in arithmetic; 2. In architecture, a table consti- tuting the upper or crowning member of a column and its capital; 3. A game among the Romans; so called from its being played on a board, somewhat in the manner of chess; 4. A tray or flat board, perforated with holes for carrying cups, glasses, etc.; 5. In the Templar system of Masonic Knight- hood it is the name of the Grand Master's staff of office.
"In his hand he bore that singular Abacus." — IVANHOE.
The upper part of the staff is gilt, usually of metal, with a Templar's cross, enameled red, and edged with gold, within a circle; upon the center of the cross a black shield, bear- ing a silver square. On the circle is the motto of the Order — " IN HOC SIGNO VIXCES." Among the early Templars this staff bore a mystic and significant symbolism, and ^ns held in high veneration by the members of tlut Order
70
ABB.
ABBREVIATIONS, MASONIC. The form to which a word, title, or phrase is reduced by contraction and omission. The Mas. )ns of Europe are much more addicted to the tise of this method of contracting Masonic writing than American Masons. The abbreviations among our foreign brethren are usually distinguished by the use of three periods, placed in the form of a triangle — thus.', or thusv — as the writer may prefer. This peculiar form of contraction was first intro- duced by the Grand Orient of France, in 1774. The follow- ing list embraces all the abbreviations commonly made use of by the Fraternity at the present day. When an abbre- viation stands for a foreign word or phrase, of which the English explanation is a translation, such word or phrase is given in italics:
A. C M., or A. Y. M. Ancient Craft 01 Ancient York Masonry.
A. • and A. • . S. • . R. • . Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite.
A D. (Anno Domini. ) Year of our L.ord. The date used in common with all Masonic dates.
A i)EP. (Anno Deposittonis. ) Year of the Deposit. The date used in Cryptic Masonry.
A. G. M. Acting Grand Master.
A. H. (Anno Hebraico.) Hebrew year. The date used in the Ancient and Accepted rite. The Hebrew year begins in September, which is the first of Tisri. To find this date add 3760 to the present year -thus 3760 + 1866=5626. After September 15 add one year more. *
A. INV. (Anno Inventionis. ) Year of the Discovery. Used by Roy.il Arch Masons. To find this date add 530 to the present year — thus 530 + 1866=2396.
A. L. ( Anno Lucis. ) Year of Light, or year of the Creation. The com- mon or ordinary date of Masonry, and, like the vulgar era, may bte used in all Masonic documents. It is particularly appropriate to Ancient Craft Masonry. To find this date add 4000 to the present year— thus, 4000 + 1866=5866.
*Tlie Jewish people usually employ id the era of the Seleucid;e until the niter-nth iciitury, when a new mode of computing v as adopted by them. They date from the creation, which they consider to have been 8760 yearn and three months be/ore the poinmeiiceiuent of the vulgar era.
A. •. L. •. G. •. D. -. G. •. A. •. D. •. L'U. •.
f Fr. A la Oloire du Grand Archi- tede de I' Univers. ) To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Uni- verse, Usually found on French Masonic documents.
A. L'OK. •. fFr. A I 'Orient.) At the East; the location of the Lodge.
A. M. (Anno Mundi.) Year of the World. Used with the preceding (A. H.) in documents of the An- cient and Accepted rite.
A. O. (Anno Ordinis.) Year of the Order. The date used in the Or- ders of Masonic Knighthood. To find this date subtract 1118 from the present year — thus 1118— 1866=748.
A. -. U. •- T. •. O. -. S. •. A. -. G. •. (Ad uni- versiterrarum orbis summi Architeo- ti Gloriam. ) To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe. The caption for documents of the Ancient and Accepted rite.
B. L. R, T. Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
B. • . B. • . Burning Bush. Used on documents of the Ancient and Accepted rite.
BR. or BRO. Brother. (Ger. Bruder or Briider.) (Fr. Frtre.)