CHAPTER ir.

Powers vested in the General Grand Officers.

AGREEABLY to the General Grand Royal
Arch Constitutioji, Grand Royal Arch Chapters
were established in the several Northern States,
where there were royal arch chapters existing ;
and in every instance the private chapters have
united with, and acknowledged the authority of
the said grand chapters*

The long-desired and necessary authority for
correcting abuses, and regulating the concerns of
royal arch masonry, in the northern states, being
thus happily established, the sublime degrees soon
became flourishing and reitpectable. Royal arch
masons in the southern states (where there were
no grand chapters) observed with pleasure and
satisfaction the establishment of grand Chapters ia
the northern states, under the authority of a genet
ral constitution, and became desht>us of uniting
with them, under the same authority. Appllca*
tions were accordingly made for the privilege o£
opening new chapters in the southern states ; but
there bemg no provision made in ^e constitution
for extending its authority beyond the limits first
contemplated, the state grand chapters took the
subject into consideration, and the following pro*
eeedings were bad thereon :

nUC£MASON*S MomroR* 187

GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF TH£ STATE

OF RHODE-ISLAND.

Providence, Jcmuary 4, 1804.
• UPON motion made and seconded, the following re solU'
tioDS, together with the preamble, pasted unanimously, viz.

Whereas an application has been made to thi& Grand
Chapter for the institution of a Royal Arch Chapter in one
•f the Southern States ; and whei'eas the 13th section, 2nd
trticle of the Gi*and Royal Arch Constitution provides that
the jurisdiction ef the several State Grand Chapters shall
fiot extend beyond the limits of the state in which they shair
frapectively be holden : therefore,

Hesolved, that in the opinion of this grand chapt^, n« state
grand chapter is competent to grant warrants for the insti-
tution of chapters or lodges beyond the jurisdiction of the
state wherein the same is holden, excepting the instances
provided for by the 9th section of the second article of the
constitution.

And whereas it appears to thiff grand chapter an object of
freat importance that the benefits of the grand royal arch
constitution should be extended throughout the United
States so soon as the same can be regularly effected, there*
fore,

Retolvedy that this grand chapter do invest, and they do*
hereby invest, the grand high priest, king and scribe of the
general grand chapter, or any two of v them conjointly, witb
fiill power and authority to grant and issue letters of dispen-
sation for the institution of lodges of maik masters, past
masters, most excellent mastei's, and chapters of royal arch
masons, within any state in which there is not a grand royal*
arch chapter established ; upon the same principles and con-
ditions as the grand and deputy grand 4iigh priests of the
state grand chapters are authorised to grant letters of dis-
pensation for the like purposes in their respective states :
Provided, that the fees required by the constitution on suchr

Its IRSIMASON'S MraOXCM^

tecasums shaU be paidioto the baada of tbe trtamrar of ifte
geueral grand chapter.

Remhedf tbat tbe ipraad aecretary communicate a copy of
tbo fouKfoiog reaolutionfl, aad also- a copy of tbe anaeiBed eiiw
cular letter, to the aeireral grand chapters in tbe MorlftMn*
itateti and solicit theiv concanenee thereim.

' (CIRCULAR.)

<< Tq tkM Mott JExceiiaU Grqnd Officers and Companwnt qf U«
Grand Ro^l Arch Chafterqftbe State t^f

** Excellent CaxPAVioHS,

ic XH£ subject of the annexed resokLtiono, which pie*
sented itself far the eonsidemtion of this grand chapter at
their meeting of tbe present dabs, is viewed by us as iny^lr:
wg consequences of seciqua ■Ngnitode, and snob as- w« wfi^
prebend ai*e intimately connected with the tranquillity, if
not tbe existence, of that union, which at present so bappilf
subsists between tbe several grand royal asch chapters- of the
Korthern States of Amerieai

'^ At tbe period when th<8 general giwid chapter was first
instituted^ and the coasiitution which unitefr and governs
ns was forsMi and> ratified, it vaa tnppnsed to be isapmcti-'
cable to extend its influence throughout the United States ;;
its provisiotts vera ikiret&nt confined to the six northern-
states only : but snbaeqveat experience has taught us thnIS
lis extension is not only practicable^ but desirable.

V The first question thnt naturally arises on this subject
in^celatiTe to the nsanner in which this extension cnn be e^
fieoted consistently with the constitnlion. By tbe I9th aea-
^on 2nd article of tbe eonstitution, the several state grand
chapters are prohibited the pririlege of instituting chi p te r sy.
4ie. in any of tbe soutiMm or middle states ; and it foHowr
of course that if a chapter should be granted contrary to thn
prorisiona of the constitution within any of the laid states>.
i|4s of iMImtlAKly nnU M T«id»

VRIEMASON^S MONITOR^ IS^'

^ This grand chapter therefore proposes that competent
authority to grant warrants for the institution of chapters
and lodges within any state in which there is no grand chap-
ter established, should be vested by the several state grand
. chapters in the general grand high priest, general grand king
and general grand scribe, or any two of them conjointly ;
the monies arising therefrom, and also the annual dues from
jaid chapters and lodges so instituted, to be paid into the
-gcueral grand fund for the purpose of assisting in defraying
the expenses of the general grand chapter at their septennial
.saeeting.

'* Upon comparing the plan here proposed with any other
that has occurred to us, it appears to possess the fewest ob-
jections, and the greatest advantages. In forming this
•pinion, we are led to consider that the several state grand
chapters possess equal rights and privileges, and it follows
that if either of them has authority to grant warrants be-
y4Wld the jurisdiction assigned them by the constitution, they
each and all possess the same authority *, and in the exercise
•f this authority they may often be led unintentionally ts
interfere with each other's interests, and thereby mar that
nmon which it ought to be our care to cultivate and in^
proveiy and thus there may be as mauy chapters instituted in
any one of the southern states as thei*e are gi*and chapter*
in the northern states, each holding under a different autho*
rity, and all at variance with each other.

** This is one of the consequences that may be expected ts
arise from the exercise of this authority by the state grand
chapters ^ because, if a petition be presented to any one of
the grand chapters for a. warrant, they will only expect a re-*
commendation from another chapter under their own juris-
diction ; and although there may be many (and perhaps too
many) chapters already established in the vicinity of the
place where the new one is intended to be opened, yet being
muder a different jurisdiction, a recommendation cannot lie

too KtsBMASOH's ucHxnxau

•xpccted or required firom them ; and tkus may cbaptera Im
imtituted, in this mode, in direct bostilit]^ to the best iiiti*'
tests of the iostitntioa.

** If the nnioa of tbeseters) ffmtid chapters under oae jg^
veml head, and under one co nstitution, be coasiderad an ob»
jtttt of iipportance to our feneral iuterests, by eetablishiBi^
and cultivating one iKiifbrm and consistent manner of worii-
ing in the snblime degrees throughout the United States, tt
is then of importance thai this union should be s^engtlM**
ad and improved by all possible means ; and it iscottse^aent*
ly essential, that the septennial meeting of the general grand
chapter should be regularly, fblly and respectably attended.

** If the jurisdiction of the constitution should be exlesi-
•d throughout the Unitod States, at the next general l aa d
tag, it may become necessary to appoint a plaoe for f«i4wa
meetings further soothwai^ ; aiid as the necessary expemsea
vill consequently be increased) it may be then thouglit pro-
per to derise some mode tbr the aceumulation of a general
fund, that shall be adequate to this useful and important
purpose.

" If the proposition now made should be adopted, the pe-
auniary benefits arising from the institution of new chufpterr
will be experienced equally by all the grand chapters in the
confederatiou ; and, judging by the wise and libci*al |»o)icy
which has hitherto marked the proceedings of your most ex-
cellent grand chapter, we presume that no pecuniary €on-~
sideration will operate to prerent your concurrence with ua
ia the annexed resolutions.

^ By order of the M. E. Grand Chjlpteil

" Grand Secretary:*

A majority of the grand chapters ackoowledg*
ing the jurisdiction of the constitution, having
agreed to the beforehiwitioned decree, proposed by
the grand chapter of Rhode-Island^ the general

grand oflBcers became invested with the power
mud authority therein expressed*

On the first day of December, 1804, the gene-
ral grand officers granted a letter oi dispensation
for Joianing and holding a chapter of royal arch
masons, in the city of Savannah, in the state of
Gtorgia, by the name of Georgia Chapter ;
.md^on the first day (^ March, 1805, they grant-
*(tA ft flatter of dispensation for forming and open*
iBg a new royal arch chapter in the town of
Beaufort^ in the stated South Caroiina, by t\m
of Unitx Chapter.