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

stated that " the Companions assembled at 2 o ' clock p . m . and opened the Craft Lodge on the 1 , 2 & 3 rd degrees of Freemasonry at 3 o ' clock , when three Brethren passed the chair . Closed the Craft Lodge in due form and solemn prayer ; opened the Royal Arch Chapter at & past 4 o ' clockwhen

, the following wore exalted to the degree of Excellent Superexcellent Holy Eoyal Arch Masons . " ( Here follow the names of six Brethren . ) This is the last occasion on which a meeting of the Chapter is termed "

Encampment , " ancl only on this occasion and at the next meeting , held 22 nd Sepr ., 1833 , is it stated that candidates " passed the chair " as a preliminary step to the Royal Arch degree . In the cash account , under date 22 nd

Sepr ., 1833 , appear the following items : " Paid for Vails , £ 0 1 Is . lOd . ; Rods , M 5 s . 6 d . ; Repg . Pistol , £ 0 4 s . 6 d . " 22 nd Feby ., 1835 . — "The candidate proposed at the preceding meeting ( 30 Nov ., 1834 ) not coming forward , threw the proceedings of business void , tho' there were a numerous attendance of visitors

present with those of our own , to the great dissatisfaction of the whole , on account of his non-attendance , having so recently intimated to several of our Companions his decided intention of coming forward . "

Meeting of Emergency , 31 st July , 1835 . ¦ — " A circular haA'ing been received from the Grand Lodge , purporting that in consequence of the irregularity in the mode of working upon the Royal Arch in different parts of the country , they were holding meetings for instructions in order that

there might be one general mode of working throughout , and requested that some Companion or Companions from our Chapter attend for that purpose at the Grand Lodge in London . It Avas therefore unanimously agreed that Companion

Matthew Blunt ( First Principal ) be deputed for that purpose , and a subscription was immediately enter'd into by the Companions and Brethren of this Lodge , and the same was supported by the Companions of Lodge No . 268 Boltonfor which Ave

, , return our kind thanks . " " Companion M . Blunt took the undermentioned sums with him for registration , & c , in the Grand Lodge books . " ( Here

follow tare names of seven Companions , with the amount of fees payable to Grand Chapter on their behalf . ) 30 th Augt ., 1835 . —" There being no business to transact and only a few Comps . were in attendance , consequently the Chapter was not opened . "

The next entry is as follows : " In consequence of receiving a letter ( dated llth Novr . 1835 ) from the Grand Lodge , in which they state our Charter was not renewed at the time of the Union of the two Grand Chapters , thereby not rendering our meetings legal , it was deemed meet that all business relative to this

Order cease until legal authority be granted . " A second letter ( dated 15 th Feby ,, 1836 ) was received from the Grand Secretary ( in reply to one from the First Principal ) , stating that it Avould be necessary before the meetings of the Chapter

could be recognized by the Grand Chapter , for application to be made by Petition , signed by nine registered R . A . Masons , such petition to be recommended by one of the neighbouring Chapters , ancl then forwarded to the Superintendent of the Province for his sanction thereto . At the

same time the old Charter previously granted was to be transmitted to be surrendered to the Grand Master . Upon receipt of this communication a petition was prepared , addressed to H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , M . W . Grand Master ( a copy of the petition appears at length

in the Minute Book ) , praying for a renewal of the Charter and nominating the folioAving Companions as Principals , viz .: Comp . Matthew Blunt , Z . ; Comp . Stephen Blair , H . ; ancl Comp . Josh . Lomax Heap , J . The Chapter to meet at

the Legs of Man Inn , Boltou-le-Moors , on the last Wednesday in every third month . This petition seems to have been signed by sixteen Companions , and in compliance with its prayer a Charter was granted by the Supreme Grand Chapter , dated 3 rd

August , 1836 , but which , it is stated in the Minute Book , " was not received until 6 th March , 1837 . " On 30 th March , 1837 , a " meeting of emergency " was held " under authority of Wan ant No , 44 , " at which the " transactions of the former meetings from May 31 st , 1835 , were read and confirmed . " At