M. £. Thomas Smith W£6B was chosen

Chairman.

Comp. William Woart, Scribe.

The convention, having taken the matter into
tonskieratipnj, came to a determination to forward

1B4 VRKSMASOirS MONITOA.

to each of the chapters withia the six states before^
mentioned a circular letter, expressive of their
opinions on the subject, which letter was ixk tht
words following, viz.

(CIRCULAR.)
-*< Companions,

*< FROM time iiumemoriaI> we find that Grand Lodges ol
Free and Accepted Masons, have been established, wherever
Masonry has flourished j for the purpose of granting war-
rants for instituting private Lodges, as well as for establish-
ing certain general rules and regulations for the goyernment
of the same.

^' It is an opinion generaUy received, and we think well
authenticated, that no Grand Lodge of Master Masons can
claim or exercise authority over any Convention or Chapter
of Roffal Arch Masons', nor can any Chapter, although of
standing immemorial, exercise the authority of a Grand
Chapter : We therefore think it highly expedient, for tht
regular goverument of all Chapters within the said States,
who exercise the rights and privileges of Royal Arch Masons \
and to prevent ir^gularities in the propagation and use of
those rights and privileges, that there should be a Grand
Chapter of lloyal Arch Masons established within the said
States : And whereas this Convention has received offi<4al
information from our Companions at Philadelphia, that the
several Chapters within their vicinity, have recently assem-
bled and established a Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Ma-
sons for their government; In conformity to their exam*
pie, we think it our duty to recommend to the several Cbap«
ters within the said States of New-Hampshire, Marsacbii-
sctts, 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 fiequent intercourse between their several princt-

maasMAsojirs MONircm. 185

fmX tbwns and cities, as well ay tbe similarity of habits, maa^
ners and customs, as citizens and as Masous, which prevail
thFoughottt the said States, induce us to be lieve that a uaion of
all the Chapters therein in one Grand Chapter ^ will have the
■MWt useful, lasting and happy eftects im the uniform distri-
button Jind propagation of the sublime degrees of Maaoary.
They therefore take the liberty of recommending to the con-
•idei*ation of your Most Excellent Chapter, the propriety oi
appointing one or more delegate or delegates, to represent
yrar Chapter, at a meeting of the several Chapters befora
ttentioiied, to be holden at the City of Hartford, in theStal^
•f Connecticut, on the fourth Wednesday of January next em-
•aing ; investing them with full power and authority, in con-
sanction with the other delegates, to form and open a Grand
Cii^ter qf Royal Arch Masons^ and to establish a Constitntion
&c the government and regulation of all the Chapters that-
tow are, or may hereafter be, erected within the said States.***

In conaequence of this dddress, the several
chapters within the States therein enumerated
(mth the exception of two or three chapters only)
appointed delegates, who assemb^ at Hartford,
an the fourth Wednesday in Januar}', 1798, and
after several days deliberation upon the subject,
they formed and adopted a constitution for th«
governaoent of the royal arch chapters, and lodgea
•f mark masters, past masters and most excellent
aasters, throughout the said states ; and having
elected and installed their grand officers, \\m
grand chapter became completely orgajaized.

il86 P&EEMASON'd MONITOR*