Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

THB question as to the period that shall in future elapse before a Master Mason is eligible for the Eoyal Arch may be said to have been finally settled at the Quarterly Convocation on Wednesday , when the

members of Grand Chapter confirmed the minvites of the last meeting , and in doing so settled the period as four weeks , in place of the twelve months which had previously been the rule . It will be remembered that

at the last meeting of Grand Chapter a proposition was brought forward with the object of making this alteration , and was carried by a substantial majority , but there were many who even then doubted the expediency of

the course , and expressed themselves as assured that with longer notice the Companions of the country would not show themselves in favour of a change , or at least not such a radical change as that suggested . Since then

the question has been freely discussed and opinions canvassed , with the result , as we said last week , that a formal notice was submitted to nullify that part of the minutes which referred to this alteration , the counter

proposition being that three months be substituted for the one month agreed to at the last meeting . After a long discussion , however , the minutes were agreed to , and as a consequence the period of probation has now been reduced from twelve months to one month .

The motion for the non-confirmation of the minute stood in tho name of Comp . J . E . Le Feuvre , who , in submitting the matter to Grand Chapter , referred to the past history of the Degree , and argued there was not

any tangible reason for altering an arrangement that had worked well for upwards of eighty years . He touched upon a point mentioned by us in a recent issue by saying he suspected the present was the first step

towards the abolition , or rather absorption by the Craft of the Eoyal Arch Degree . This remark was received with marks of dissent , but we fail to see any reason why the Eoyal Arch should continue to be a body so distinct

from the Craft as it has hitherto been , when the first principles of Freemasonry lay it down that the Eoyal Arch is a part of the third degree . Comp . Le Feuvre concluded by moving the motion of which he had given

notice , and which had for its object the altering of the probationary period to three months . Comp . J . 'S . Cumberland opposed , and urged the retention of the arrangement carried at last Grand Chapter , making the

limit one month . Comp . Mclntyre North , however , seconded the amendment in a forcible speech . The success of the Freemasonry of to-day , he said , was

without a parallel , but its future would greatly depend on the wisdom of those who held the helm in this flood time of prosperity .

Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Acting Grand Z .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

explained a point of order in regard to the proposition of Comp . Le Feuvre , who , he said , must first move the non-confirmation of the minutes ; if that was carried he would be able to move his other proposal , that the

period be altered to three months . Comp . Beach said he considered twelve months too long , but felt Grand Chapter had gone to the other extreme in making it one

month ; he favoured the three months limit . Ultimately the matter was put to the vote , when the minutes were confirmed by 83 to 65 .

Having now decided on this sweeping change we hope the members of the Eoyal Arch Degree will use every effort in their power to ensure that ultimate benefit shall be the result . We see no reason why the change

should not prove beneficial , but we are still of opinion that having gone so far Grand Chapter might rationally have gone a step further , and allowed each and every Lodge in the country to confer the Arch Degree if they

so desired . Probably it will come to that in the end , but not just at present , and in the meantime we shall witness more ups and downs , with their consequent complications , all of which might be prevented by more

vigorous action at the present time . As we said when the matter was previously before the Companions , Grand Chapter has really attacked the foundations of the Eoyal Arch—whether the patching up process will

have the effect of strengthening the edifice or otherwise time alone can prove . It is quite impossible to prophesy on such a point , but we can and most heartily do wish that the change now agreed upon may prove of ultimate advantage .

We are pleased to see that the spirit of reform that has been started in connection with the Eoyal Arch does not seem likely to stop at this period of probation question . Later on at Wednesday ' s meeting the subject

of finance received attention , on a proposition to increase the salaries of the officials , or , rather , to increase the amount paid by Grand Chapter towards those salaries . It was then pointed out that with an income of £ 3 , 200 ,

office expenses stood at £ 2 , 100 , and it was naturally urged that Grand Chapter did not make the best use of its money . We can but regret any appearance of dissantion in connection with the Craft or Eoyal Arch , but

as there are very few who can argue that the latter is a prosperous body in this country ( compared with Craft Masonry let us say , for sake of argument ) , there will probably be few who will regret the prospect of energetic

action in the hope of ultimate reform . If reforms are to be carried out it is next to impossible to bring them about without strong arguments and occasional hard

words , but they must not be neglected on that account . There is ample room for improvement , and we believe there is a plentiful supply of men desirous and willing to assist in the work , although they well know that the