Royal Arch.

The Companions then saluted the Grand II . in the usual form . The Grand II . thanked the Companions for the honour , and regretted that some portions of the beautiful ceremonies were necessarily omitted , and that so much of their time had been occupied in consequence of his not having been previously installed . What he had heard of the ceremonies had made a

deep impression upon him ; he regretted being compelled to retire early , and asked their indulgence in allowing the E . Comp ., who had previously occupied the chair of First Principal Chair , to resume that position and complete the formal business before the Grand Chapter . He again thanked them and promised a faithful attendance upon the new duties imposed

upon him . Before leaA-iug , he would , on behalf of the Grand Z ., appoint and invest the Grand Officers for the ensuing yean which wero as follows : Lord Lindsay Scribe N . Col . WhitweVl , M . P . ( Kendal ) ... Grand P . Sojourner . Rev . Walter F . Short Assist . Grand Sojourner . John Brownrigg ... Assist . Grand Sojourner . Samuel Tomkins Grand Treasurer .

jE . J . M'lntyve ... ... ... Grand Registrar . John Hervey Grand Scribe E . J . M . Wike Grand Sword-Beater . Raynham W . Stewart Grand Sword Bearer . Joseph Smith ... Grand Dir . of Cers . C . B . Payne Grand Janitor . Comp . Lord Lindsay was then introduced , and he also not

having passed the Principal's Chairs iu a chapter , was received hi Grand Chapter on his appointment , and installed . The several officers having been placed in their respective positions , the actiug Grand Z . then , on the retirement of the Earl of Carnarvon , called upon the Acting Scribe E . to read the regulations for tho government of Supreme Grand Chapter

during the time of public business . The report of the Committee of General Purposes having been presented and circulated was taken as read . The Committee of General Purposes reported that they have examined the accounts from the 18 th January , 1871 , to the 18 th April , 1871 , both inclusive , which they find to be as folfows :

To Balance 18 th January £ 343 9 7 To Subsequent Receipts 315 1 8 £ 658 11 3

By Disbursements during the Quarter £ 241 IS 8 By Balance 416 12 7 £ 65 S 11 3 ¦ which balance is in the hands of Messrs . Willis , Percival , and

Co ., Bankers of the Grand Treasurer . The Committee also reported that they have again considered the question on which they reported to the last Grand Chapter , which was referred back to them for further consideration , and report , viz : — " As to the eligibility of a companion who had sen-ed as a Principal of a Chapter acting under a foreign

Constitution to be a Principal of an English Chapter , he not liaving served the office of Worshipful Master in an English Lodge . " The Committee have not been able to alter the view they took of the question , and they therefore respectfully adhere to their report of the 18 th January , 1871 . The Committee refer Graud Chapter to the fact , that the Laws hav

been frequently relaxed in favour of Companions in the Colonies ' but declined to offer any opinion as to the expediency of making any alteration on this question . Upon the motion by the President of the Board of General Purposes , that the first paragraph be received and adopted : a discussion arose in consequeuce of an objection made by Comp John Symonds ; who took exception to tho words : as to the

eligibility of a Companion who had served as a Principal of a Chapter acting under a foreign Constitution to be a Principal of an English Chapter , he having served the office of Worshipful Master in an English Lodge . " That , he said , did not express what had been discussed at the previous Convocation of Grand Chapter . The discussion

assumed a most irregular character . The question involved , was he said , not correctly described in the words of the report . The question was not whether a Principal of a Chapter under a foreign Constitution could till the Prin cipal chair of an English Chapter , but whether a Companion who had served the office of W . Master , in a , lodge of another

jurisdiction , was qualified to fill the chair of a Principal in a chapter under the English Constitution , although he may have been exalted in a chapter under the English Constitution ; ( See p . 06 present volume ) , Several Companions called attention to the fact that there

was nothing for the Grand Chapter to confirm , as the Committee had not altered the view they had taken of the question . The Acting G . Z ., the Acting G . H ., and other Companions who understood the position of Royal Arch Masonry in the Colonies , and the difficulty attending compliance with the law in consequence of the absence of Companions duly qualified as at present required , also advocated such a change as would

render compliance with the law possible . Amendments were moved , notices of motion given , and , finally , it was determined that the subject should he brought before the Committee just appointed ; and a decision arrived at on an early occasion . The petition for warrants for new chapters , as follows , bein <*

reported as regular , were , on the motion of the President of the Committee , accordingly granted . 1 st . From Comps . James Mackay Cunningham , as Z . ; T Lane , as H . ; Walter KirUand , as J . ; and seven others , for a Chapter to be attached to the Hartington Lodge , 916 , Eastbourne , to be called " Hartington Chapter , " and to meet at the

Sussex Hotel , Eastbourne , Sussex . 2 nd . From Comps . Alfred John . Hancocks , as Z .,- Jamos Fitzgerald , as II . ; AVilliam Lea Fawcett , as J . ; and six others , for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Hope and Charity , 377 , Kidderminster , to be called " The Chapter of Hope and Charitv , " aud to meet at the Lion Hotel , Kidderminster ,

Worcestershire . 3 rd . From Comps . Charles Henry Rogers-Harrison , as Z . ; William B . Humbly , as II . ; George Schiick , as J . ; aud six others , for a Chapter to he attached to St . Mark's Lodge , 857 , Brixton , to he called "The St . Mark ' s Chapter , " and to meet at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel , Shepherd ' s Lane , Brixton , Surrey .

4 th . From Comps . Thomas John Barnes , as Z . John Gecves Stevens , as H . ; George Morris Elliot Snow , as J . ; and six others , for a Chapter to be attached to the Doric Lodge , 933 , London , to be called " Doric Chapter , " and to meet at Andtrton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , in the City of London . 5 th . From Comps . Joseph Smith , as Z . ; John Albert Famfield , as II . ; Rev . Joseph Marvchurch Vaughan , as J . ; and six