CHAPTER III.

ON (he rirfltn day of January, 1799, the grand
^chapter of the northern states met, by adjourn*
ment, at Providence, in the State of Rhode-Island,
Bad revised their constitution*
. The second sectiom of the first article of the
CoDstkution as revised, directed that the General
Grand Chapter should convene septenniaHy for the
choice of officers and other business. A naeeting
was accordingly holden at the city t)f Middletown,
(CottB.) commencing •on the 9th day of Januarys
A. D, 1800. h

19S FREEMAwSON'd M0NIT01l•^

PRESENT,

Representatives from the respective Grand Chap^
t«r5 of the States of Rhode-island^ Connecticut^
New- York, and Vermont.

A communication was presented by Companioa
Ozias Fuller, from Rutland, in the State of Ver*
mont, signed '^ NichoUs Goddard, Grand Secreta-
ry," informing this General Grand Chapter of the
formation of a Grand Royal Arch Chapter in the
said State, and subjoining a copy of their regula-
tions, and also a certificate of the appointment of
the said Ozias Fuller as Proxy of the Grand High
Priest of the said Grand Chapter.

A communication was also received from the
Secretary of the Grand Chapter of the State of
New- York, containing the report of a committee
appointed by the said Grand Chapter upon the
subject of the formation of a Grand Chapter m the
State of Vermont.

The two communications beforementioned hav-
ing been read and considered, it was resolved.
That this General Grand Chapter deem it advisa*
ble, under a consideration of all the circumstances
attending the formation of a Grand Royal Arch
Chanter in the State of Vermont, to admit, and
tliey do hereby admit, the said Grand Chapter of
Vermont, into a Union witl'^' us, imder the General
Grand Royal Arch Constitutiout

miEMASoiTs Moxrroit. IdS

A tommunication was received from the Gene-
Tal Grand King, and the General Grand Scribe,
•stating, that by virtue of amthorfty derived from a
special decree of several of the State Grand Chap-
"ters, they bad conjointly issued a wanant for in-
stituting a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the
town of Beaufort, in the State of South-Carolina,
«by the name of *^ Unity Chapter ;'* and also ano-
ther warrant for instituting a Chapter of Royal
-Arch Masons, in the City of Savannah, in the
State of Georgia, by the name of ^^ Georgia Chajh

rter,^

Whereupon it was resolved. That this General

•Grand Chapter do approve of the proceedings of

the General Grand King, and the General Grand

•^Scribe, relative to the formation oi Unity Chapter,

in Beaufort, and Georgia Chapter, in Savannah ;

'and that their respective warrants be confirmed,

and made permanent, by either of the aforenamed

^General Grand Officers.

In order to prevent the printing or circulation
of incorrect or mutilated copies of the Constitution,
it was resolved. That the -copy right of the game '
-be vested in the General Grand King, until the
further orders of the General Grand Chapter.

A committee was appointed, consisting of the
General Grand Kiqg, and the General Grand Sec-
retary, to transcribe, and procure to be printed, a

R

304 FREfiMASON^S MONITOR.

suitable number of copies of tbe Constitution^ and
transmit them to tbe several States.

Resolved, That the next Septennial meeting of
the General Grand Chapter,' be faolden in the City
of New-York, on the second ThuFsday in Septem-
ber, A. D. 1812.

The Greneral Grand Chapter proceeded to t
"choice of officers^ agreeably to the Constitutioii^
^hen the companions, whose names follow, were
elected to the offices annealed to their respective
names, viz«
M.K Benjamin Hurd, jun. Esq. of Charlestown,

(Mass.) General Grand High Priest.
M.E. Thomas S. Webb, iS«i. of Providence (R.L)

General Grand King.
M.E. Ezra Ames, of Albany (N. Y.) General

Grand Scribe.
E. Otis Ammidon, of Providence (R.I.) General

Grand Secretary.
E. James Harrison^ of Boston (Mass.) General

Grand Treasurer.
p. and Rev^ Jonathan Nye^ of St. Albans (Ver-
mont) General Grand Chaplain.
E, Joseph Huntingdon^ of Norwich (Codxl) Gent-

ral Grand Marshal.

The General Graijd Chapter then resolved itself
into a Committee of the whole upon the General

Grand Royal Aroh Constitution^ when sundry alte-
rations and amendments were proposed^ and con*
sideredj and afterwards ratified and confirmed^
faj Ihe Generri Grand Chapter ; which Constitii-
tionj as ratified and confirmed^ is in the words fol*
lowing^; viz*

TESl

SBNBRAL GBAN© ROYAL^ ARCH
eONSTITUTLONy he.

ARTICLE I.

Sec. 1. THBB.E shall be a General- Grand Cliaptcr oft
Boya) Arcli Masons, for t&e tJYuted States of America ;
vhich sUallbe Uolden.as is llereiaafler directed, aodshaUcon-^
Kct of a General Grand High Priest, General G)rand Kin^,.
General Grand Sbribe, Secretaiy, IVeasurer, Chaplain, and
iHEarshal. and likewise of the serei-al Grand, and Deputy
6cand Hi^ Priests, Kings and Scribes fbr the time being*^
tfthetevecal Grand Chapters hereinafter enumeratedy and
of the Past General Grand High Priests, Kings and Scribes
^ the «aid General Grand Chapter -^ and the said enumci-ated
OfHcers^ or their Proxies, shall be the only membera and ro-
ters in the said General Grand Koya^ Arch Chapter.

Sec. 2. The General Grand Chapter shall meet Septenni-
%lly,on the second Thursday in September, fbr the choice of
•fficersj and other business j dating from the second Thiixs*.

190 FKSEMASON'S MONITOR.

day in Sepiember,, A. D. 1805, at such place as may, from)
time to time, be appointed.

Sec. 3. A special meeting of the General Grand Chapter
«hall be oalled whenever the General Grand High Priest,
Cseoecal Grand King, and General Grand Scribe, or any tvo-
«f them, may deem it necessary ; and also whenever it may
be required by a majority of the Grand Chapters of the States
aforesaidj^ provided such reqvisition be made known in writ^
ing, by the said Grand Chapters respectively, to the, General
Grand High Priest, King or Sci>ibe— And it shall be th*
duty of the said General OfiBcers, and they are each of them
fieverally authorised, empowered and directed, upon receivings
official notice of such requisition from a majority of tho
Grand Chapters aforesaid,, to appoint a time and place of
meeting, and notify each of the said Grand Chapters thereof
accordingly.

Sec. 4. It shall be incumbent on the General Grand Higk
Priest, General Grand King, and General Grand Scribe^
SLvei^lly, to improve and perfect themselves in the sublime
Ai'tB, and work of Mark Afastcrs, Past Masters, Most £xcel-
kut Masters, and Royal Arch Masons j — ^to make themselve*.
Masters of the several Masonic Lectures and Ancient Cbargr
rs j^to consult with each other,, and with the Grand and
Deputy. Grand High Piicsts, Kings and Scribes of the several
States -aforesaid, for the purpose of adopting, measures suita*
ble and proper for difiusingaki^owledge of the said Lecture«L
and Charges, and an uniform mode.of toorArtn^, 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 empower-
ed to visit and preside in any and every. Chapter of Royal
Arch Masons, and Lodge of Most Excelleut, Psust, or Mark
Master Masons, throughout the said States, and to give such
insitructions and directions as the good of the Fraternity may
require) always adhering to the ancient landmarks. of th^
•rder.

Sec. 5. la all cases of tlie absence of aiiy OiBcer from any
body of Masons, instituted or holden by vintne of this Con-
stitution, the officer next in rank shall succeed his superior ;
unless through coui'tesy said officer should decline in fuvonc
•fa past superior Officer present.— And in case of the ab-
sence of all the Officers from any legal meeting of either of
the bodies aforesaid, the memhers- pre^eut, according to
gtaiority aoi abiiitief j il^U till Ibe several Ql^ecw.
' Sec. 6. lu eveiry Chapter ov. Lodge ol Hasotis, instituted
•r holden by Tivtac of thi» CousUtutiony all questions (ox.
cept ttpoa-the.afdmusioii of members or candidates) shall be
dbrtemMned by a Majority of votes ^ the presiding officer for
Ike tnike being, .beings eQtitkd to vote,- if a Member ; and iu
caae the votes should at any time be equally divided, the pre-
siding Officer a» aforesaid eiuaXl give the casting vote.

Sec. 7. Tiie General Graad Royal Arch Chapter shall be

eoitopetent (on concurrence of two thirJs of its Members prc-

■ent) at any tiaie hereafter,, to revise,, amend and alter this

€onBtitntion.

- Sec. 8. Iu Case any casualty should at any time hcrcaflir

prevent the septenaial clcctiQu of Officers^ the several Gene-

ral Grand'Officers -shall sustain their Lct^pective offices un*

M fucceiBors are duly elected and qnaliiied.

• ^S^. 9. The C^eral Grand High Priest, General Grand

King, andCvenenil Graad Scribe, shall severally have power

and authority tft> iq^ftitnte new ^oyal Arch Chapters^ and.

I«odgfl8 of the subordinate degrees, in any State in which

there as npt a Grand Chapter regularly established. But uo

hew C^UKpter shall he instituted in any State wherein there is<

a Chaf^ter- or Chapters holden under the authority of tliis

CEouBtitntiou, witho^ ajxcoawucadatiou from the Chapter

Deacestthe residence of the petitioaers.-^-The Fees for insti-

4uting a new Royal Arch Chapter, Mrith the Fnbordinate de-

Ijreea, shall be niaety dollars ; and for a new Mark Masters*

Ladge, tventy doUars ; exclusive of such coaipensationr tcK

U 2

lOa FREKMASOM'S MOKITORV

the Grand Secretary, as the Grand Oifioen. aforesaid m»ff
deem reasonable.

ARTICLE IL

•r THZ STATE GRAKD ROYAL ARCH CGTAPT^RS.

Sec. 1. The State Grand Chapters shall severally
consist of% Grand. High Priest, Deputy. Grand High Priestf
Grand King^ Grand Scribe, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasur-
er, Grand Chaplain, and Grand Marshal, and likewise of tho
High Priests, Rings-and Scribes, for the tine being, of the
several Chapters over which they shall respectively preside,
and of the Past Grand and> Deputy Grand High Priests^
Kings and Scribes of the said Grand Chapters ; and the said
enumerated Officers (or their proxies) shall be the only mem^
bers and votersin the said Grand Chapters respectively.

Sec. 3. The State Grand Chapters shall severally be holdea
at least once in every year, at. such times and places a9
they shall respectively direct ; and the Grand or Deputy
Grand High Priests respectively, for the time being, may at
any time call a special meeting, to be holdeu at such place
as- they shall severally think proper toappoint.-

Sec, 3. The Officers of the State Grand Chapters shall be
chosen annually, by ballot, at sach time and place as- the.:
said Grand Chapters shall respectively direct. -

Sec, 4. The several State Grande Chapters (subject to the
provisions of this Constitution) shall have the sole govern-
ment and superintendence of the several Royal Arch Chap
ters, and Lodge»of Most Excellent, Past and Mark Master*
]if asons within their respective jurisdictions-; to>assign their
limits, and settle controvesies that may happen betweea
them ;— and shall have power,, under their respective sealr,
and the sign manual of their respective Grand or Deputy
Grand High Priests, Kings and Scribes (or their legal pro^
ks) attested by their respective Secretaries, to constitute neis
Cbapten gf fioy«l Arck. Mas^ns^ and Lodges of Most £x«

tdlnit, Pasty and Mark Master Masons, within their respec*
five jurisdictions.

Sec: 5. The Grand and Deputy Grand High Priests, sevc-
vally, shall have the power and authority, whenever the]^
shall deem it expedient (during the recess of the Grand
Chapter of which they are Officers) to grant Letters of Dis<
pensation,- under their respective hands^ and private seals, \%
a competent number of petitioners- (possessing the qualifica-*
tions required by the 9th Section of the 2d Article) empow*^
tring them to open a Chapter of Royal Arch Masops, and'.
Lodge of Most Excellent,. Past and Mark Master Masons^,
for a certain specified term, of time ; provided, that.the'said>
temii of time shall not extend beyond .the next meeting of the
Grand Chapter of the State in which, such Dispensation
ihall be granted- ; and provided further, that the same fees
as axe required by this Constitution for Warrants^ shall be
&rst deposited in the hands of the Grand Treasurer.— -And
in all cases of such- Dispensation, the Grand or Deputy
Grand High Priests respectively^ who may grant the same».
•haU make report thereof, at the next stated meeting of the
Grand Chaptor of. their respective jurisdictions, when tha
said Grand Chapters, respectively, may either continue on
recal . the said Dispensations^ or may. grant the petitionera
a warrant of Constitution : — And in ease such warrant shall
be gpranted, the fees first deposited, shall be credited in pay <
Hient for the same.^ but if a warrant should not be granted,
nor the Dispensation continued,, the said fees shall be re-
inndedtothe petitiojierS| excepting only such .part tiiereof
as shall have been actually expended bf meana-of their ap-»
plication.. /

£fep. 6. The teveral State G^'aad Chapters shalk possesa^
authority, upon the institution ef new Royal Arch Chapi-
ters, or Lodges of Mark Masters, within their respective
jnrisdietions, to require the payment of such fees as thejt.
may .deem, expedient and proper 3 which said fees shall. b»-

too MESMASO^'S MONZTORr

adrancnl antl paid iuto the Treaitury before a warraut or
charter shall be issucfl.

Str. 7. No warrant sbati Im* p^nutvi&j for instituting LAdfr-*-
n of Most £xcullent or Past Maritvcg^ indepcaikiit of it
Chapt«r of Royal Arch M-aioiifi

Sfc. 8. Thie Grand Chapt^h's teveratty^ shdil hare power to-
veqnire fro« tki^ aerent Chapters and T^ges under their
vevpectin: jnrisdictioniff; Biivh rcamnblc proportion of innus^.
nH'^rived bf them- for the exaltatioii or adraaeemenit of cmm-
didatifi) and sucb certain anvnal aumsfroin their respective
memboni, au by tlteir ordinances or regutatioiM shall hercat-
tor ite apitoiated-*, alt which-said gmiaa or dues sliall be inaile
prood, and paid aimnally, by the- said Chapters find lxid|pef>
vesptTtively, into the Grand Treasury of the Grand Chapter
nndrr which they hold their anthority, o«i or before the first
day of the respective annual Hieetin^ of the aaid Grand*
Chaptcra.

Sh:. p. N«r warrant for the matitntton of'a new Chapter of
Royal /trch Mason* shall be groatcd^ eaiLcept upon the peti-
tion of nine reg^iilar Royal Arrh Masons-; which petition
•hall be aocompaiiied by a certificate- froni' the Chapter
nearest to the place where the new Chapter is intended to be
•pcned, votYchini^ for the niorul characters) and masonic abi-
iitira, of the pethionera, and vecominendinf^ to the Grand
Chaptoi' under- whoae anthority they act, to grant their
prayer. Xnd no- warrant for the institution of a Lod^ of
Mark Master Moaons^ shall l>e grante<l, except Ofton the pe-
tition of*(at leant) Hw regular MUrk Master Maaons, accom-»
panied by ▼onchcra- from* the nearest IjOdfj^e of that degree, .
yimilar to thn<<p required upon thc.institution of a Chapter.

Sfc. 10« The Grand Secretaries of tlie Stale Grand Chap-
ten s]ia& severally make an annual commnnication to eadi'.
•ther, and also to the General Grand SecMtary, containing,
a liat of Grand OiKrers, and all such- other mutters -as may.
be deemed neressary for tlie mutual information of the said .
Grand Chapters. And the said Grand Secretaries shall ate

FAEEMASON^S MONITOR^ 2Qrl

•cftilaily transmit to tbe General Grand Secretary a copy of
all their by laws and regulations.

Sec. 11. Whenever there shall have beea three, or more^
Hoyal Arch Chapters, instituted in any State, by virtue of
authority derived from tbist Constitution, a Grand Chapter
may be formed in such State (with the approbation of one
•r more of the General Grand Officers) by the High Priests,.
Kings and Scribes of the said Chapters, who shall be autho-^
xised to elect the Grand Officers. Provided always, that na
sew State Grand Chapter shall be formed until after the ex-
piration of one year from the establishment of the junior