Extracts From The Minutes Of The Royal Arch Chapter Of Concord Attached To The Anchor And Hope Lodge, No, 37, Bolton.

which the Chapter was revived , it is stated : " At six o ' clock p . m . opened a General Encampment in due form . The following Brethren were initiated to the hig her order . Here follow the names of five Brethrenthree of whom it is stated " had

, been previously initiated under the H . R . A . of the Earl of Antrim . " Another meeting Avas held 22 nd May , 1801 , when three other Brethren " were exalted and properly instructed in the higher order of Masonry . "

The next meeting recorded is " Sunday , May 5 th , 1805 , " when , after giving the names of seven " Companions " present , it was " Resolved that every candidate shall pay half a guinea as approbation money , whicli shall be returned if he be rejected ,

but if he is accepted he shall pay the further sum of half a guinea ancl five shillings for registering fees . " At an "Emergency " held 9 th May , 1805 , " Companion Eggleston was unanimously elected first PrincipalCompanion Howarth

, second Principl ., Companion Hodson third Principal , Companion Williams Principal Scribe , Companion Ed . Horrocks first sourjourner , Companion Ed . Roth well , 2 nd sourjourner , Companion Thornley , Geoiwte . r . "

It is also stated " The Regular Meetings Avill in future be held at the Legs of Man . " The next meeting is headed " Chapter of Concord revived Sepr . 6 th , 1807 , " at which officers were appointed , and it was

agreed that a Chapter shall be regularly held on the first Sunday in every September , December , March ancl June . " At this meeting also " A Lecture Avas given by Companion Broadley of Chapter of MispethLeigh . "

, The meetings of the Chapter appear to have been continued Avith some degree of regularity from this time until 27 th Feb y , 1831 , there being nothing in the Minutes ( which during this period are very brief ) Avorthy of note save the ordinary

routine of exaltations to the degree ancl elections and installation of Principals and other officers . The next entry ( the closing one in the first Minute Book ) is as follows : "January 22 ncl , 1832 . At a Ark , Mark , Link and Wrestle meeting held this

clay at Lodge 51 , the undermentioned Brethren were initiated . " Then follow the names of seven Brethren , three being members of Lodge 51 ( IIOAV 37 , Bolton ) , two of Lodge 242 ( now 146 , Bolton ) , ancl two of Lodge 675 ( now 350 ,

Stoneclough . ) " Closed the Lodge in due form and solemn prayer at 7 o ' clock . Visitors and members of the Order previous to the aforesaid engagement , " ( Here follow the names of nine Brethrenwith the numbers

, of the Craft Lodges to which they belonged . ) The second Minute Book extends from May , 1833 , to May , 1852 , ancl the entries therein are much more elaborate than those

at the close of the first Minute Book . The first entry ( under date 26 th May , 1833 ) is as follows : " The Royal Arch Encampment of Superexcellent Masons , under sanction of Warrant No . 45 Chapter of Concord , assembled

this clay , but in consequence of the very slender attendance could not open , therefore agreed to transact what little there were to do without , and it was unanimously agreed by the Companionspvcsent ( foiirinnumber ) that in consequence of the fund belonging

this Order being mixed up with the Craft fund and no account having been kept of it , that the same remain there as a present from the members of this Order , and the money which is in Comp . Matthew Wolstenholme ' s hands be considered the only stock which is to commence with , viz . :

£ i 0 0 . " "It was also unanimously agreed that when the fund amounts to Five Pounds , each Royal Arch Mason receive Avhen sick ( if payable ) 2 / pr . week for as many weeks as he may be sick . " ( In the cash account of the Chapter

appear several items of payments to " sick " members , but no such payments appear after May , 1841 . ) The next meeting , held 25 th Augt ., 1833 , Avas more numerously attended , for on the Minutes appear the names of 50

Companions as present , being the largest number recorded as present at a meeting of the Chapter . Only 14 , hoAveA'er , of these Companions are entered as being members of this Chapter , the remainder being visitors . In the Minutes of . this meetinff it is