Grand Chapter.

He begged to move that the recommendation be adopted . Bro . Joseph Smith seconded the motion , which was put ancl carried .

Comp . Scott drew attention to the next paragraph of the Report which bore upon this question . The Committee also recommend that the

Royal Arch Regulations be altered by the addition of a rule or rules prohibiting District Grand Superintendents from giving such powers and granting such dispensations , and thereby avoid error , ancl prevent misconception in future .

He thought it necessary that there should be no more mistakes upon this subject ; and that the District Grand Superintendents , if they were not now aware of what their powers were for

granting dispensations , should be prohibited by the regulations of Grand Chapter from carrying out such supposed grants . Therefore he would move in terms of the recommendation contained in the report .

Comp . J ohn Savage seconded the motion . It was prudent to make some alteration , in order that the District Grand Superintendents might see that they exceeded their powers if they followed the course of the Superintendents mentioned in

the Report . It was with great regret he had heard , that in two cases since August last they had had intelligence of the powers conferred on District Grand Superintendents having been exceeded . They had exercised a power which

they did not possess ; but he was of opinion , as Comp . Scott and the rest of the Committee were , that the brethren who bad been exalted should not suffer for the wrongful acts of the Superintendents . He thought it vvas a proper

thing to do—that certificates of exaltation should be granted to those Companions ; but it should be made to be clearly understood by the District Grand Superintendents what their powers were . Comp . T . Fenn asked in what language the

proposed alteration was to be made . If the Committee recommended that there should be an alteration in the rules , it seemed to him proper that the precise wording of the alteration should be placed before the Companions . The

alteration ought to have been put in the recommendation , unless it was to be followed by something of the kind , ancl hc did not see how this could be done at the present Grand Chapter . Comp . Scott did not propose that the

alteration should be made at this Grand Chapter . The Committee only sought thc affirmance of a principle , and in that affirmance they would act and submit to Grand Chapter at next meeting a regulation meeting the case .

Comp . Fenn thought that was all very right , but still it was not in accordance with the principle observed in Grand Lodge , where , when any resolution was proposed for the alteration of the Constitutions it was proposed definitely

in so many words . The same ought to be done in Grand Chapter . Comp . Dr . J . Daniel Moore supposed that a notice of motion to that effect would be given at this meeting to be made at the next .

Comp . Scott replied , that it was a recommendation ofthe Committee that an alteration should be made , and if the Grand Chapter agreed in the recommendation , the Committee would

bring the alteration forward at next Grand Chapter . It did not seem to him that the Committee need have taken the trouble to bring the alteration forward in terms until their recommendation was approved of .

Comp . T . Fenn did not see why the Committee should have taken the trouble to bring the present recommendation forward , as it vvas of no use practically till the alteration of the laws was made .

Comp . Scott said , it was of use , because the Committee could proceed to the considerations of the proposed new rule if the recommendation was sanctioned .

The Acting G . Z . apprehended that nothing could be done until the Grand Chapter confirmed the alteration which the Committee proposed to make in the regulations . Comp . Scott reminded the Companions that if the Committee had brought forward a form of

Grand Chapter.

regulation they would have laid themselves open to the imputation of taking upon themselves a power which they had not .

Thc G . S . E . said , the intention of the Committee was merely to seek the affirmance of a principle , and they would propose something at next Grand Chapter for its adoption .

Comp . John Savage could see it very clearly in that light . If this motion were carried , it would not of necessity follow that the laws of Grand Chapter would be altered . The recommendation must be followed by something more ;

and if they affirmed the principle that night , they were told that on the next occasion a form of words would bc brought in carrying out that principle . If the Grand Chapter said to-night ,

" We do not approve of this at all , " then the Committee would not bring in any form of words to alter the regulation ; but if Grand Chapter approved of the recommendation , then the Committee would lav a regulation before next

meeting , Comp . T . Fenn could not see what was the use of the recommendation at all , as it was not a regulation and would bind no one to a course of conduct .

Comp . C . A . Murton said , it would have been advisable to settle the matter at once ; but they would now have to wait three months before the Committee could bring up the alteration , and it seemed a great loss of time .

Comp . Joseph Smith thought it ought to be a recommendation to can' ) ' the rule out . He presumed it vvas intended to take the opinion of Grand Chapter and leave it to the Committee to settle the detail : but if the proposed

alteration were brought up al next meeting , there was no necessity for Grand Chapter to pass it . They were just in that awkward fix . Comp . Joshua Nunn said , that the Committee were powerless to make the alteration which

they saw was needed . All the Comps . could see that an alteration was necessary , and the Committee felt that Grand Chapter would be of tliat opinion : consequently they laid the

circumstances of the case before Grand Chapter , and in order lo prevent the irregularities complained of occurring again , they proposed lhat an alteration should be made in the laws .

Comp . Raynham W . Stewart would move as an amendment , " that there be no special resolution taken upon this subject , but that the report be adopted . " AVhen they had adopted the report it would go uii lo the Committee , and they

would bring in what the } ' proposed . Comp . Joseph Smith would move that it be referred back to the Committee to carry it out . Com ]) . Joshua Nunn , as the matier had gone so far . would move an amendment . Grand

Chapter must either carry the resolution or drop it altogether . It appeared to him that they must carry the resolution . It did not alter the law : it did not compromise any member of Grand Chapter at all . It was only to ask of

Grand Chapter their opinion or the views they entertained with respect to the acts ami deeds of District Grand Superintendents ; and he thought , if they took that view , they were acting very wisely and justly . If , afterwards they were

called upon to alter the law , they would all look on the matter as they had looked upon it , and would assist the General Committee to check what they found were improprieties .

Comp . H . Browse thought the Grand Chaptei should adopt the report and request the Committee to carry it out . Comp . Joshua Nunn would agree to that .

Comp . Browse then moved , " That the report be adopted and the Committee be requested to carry il out . " Comp . Raynham W . Steward seconded the motion , which was then put and carried

unanimously . On the motion of Comp . Scott , seconded by Comp . Browse , the following item in the Committee's Report was carried : —

The Committee have also received a Petition from the Principals and other Members of the St . John ' s Chapter , meeting at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon Street , which is at present

Grand Chapter.

attached to the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 167 , meeting at the Flolly Bush Tavern , Hampstead , praying that the Chapter may be detached from the aforesaid Lodge , No . roA and be

henceforth attached to the Old Union Lodge , No . 4 6 , London , and be called "The Old Union Chapter , " and to meet at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon Street , in the City of London .

Both Lodges having g iven their consent , the Committee recommend that the prayer of the Petition be granted .

Comp . Browse , in accordance with his notico of motion , moved : — " That the sum of ; £ 1 , 50 a Stock be taken from the invested funds of Grand Chapter , and bc divided in equal parti between the three Masonic Charities ; "' / . soo tc

the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , ^ 500 to the Girls' School , and . £ 500 to the Boys ' . ^ 2 , 400 stock now stood to the credit of Grand Chapter , besides- ^ £ 300 in hand . He could not but believe that this was thc best use that could be made of the funds of Grand

Chapter . The money was subscribed for charitable purposes , and he was sure they would be doing what was right to the Masonic Charities if they distributed it amongst them . Two out of the three charities were in a flourishing condition and did not need money ; but . Masons were anxious to extend the benefits of their

charities , and were desirous that no applicant for admission to them should be refused . Unfortunately they were obliged at present to refuse a good many . Out of 20 applicants for relief at the Bcnevoler . t Institution they could

only relieve 15 : out of 30 at the Girls' School they could only admit 20 , and out of 70 at the Boys' School they could only admit 12 . He could not help thinking that the best use they could make of the money , was to render all the

assistance in their power to those who were dependent upon them for help and support . Comp . James Brett seconded the motion . Comp . Savage , not wishing to perform so unpleasant a task as opposing a work of charity ,

nevertheless wished Grand Chapter to consider a little before they voted so large a sum as Jf , 1 , 500 -two-thirds of their funds . They vvere largely in debt for the building in which they were assembled , anil he had a motion on the

paper ior applying J , 1 , 000 towards tne reduction of that debt . He did not desire to move this as an amendment to •Comp . Browse ' s motion , but he would call the attention of Grand Chapter to the ( act that a few years ago

a similar sum was voted to the charities . He would merely call attention to the fact that it was getting rid of their funds , and if carried it was as well they should remember they ought to be just before they were generous . He did

not rise tor the purpose of moving an amendment , because be felt the great propriety of supporting , to the utmost of their power , their charities , but he hoped if it was carried they would for some time allow the funds of Grand

Chapter to he fallow . Comp . Joseph Smith thought the , £ 1500 should be divided into four equal parts , giving a separate fourth-part to the two divisions of the Benevolent Institution , the old men ancl the old

women . Comp . Browse replied , that thc Benevolent Institution had such large funds , that they really granted all the petitions that came before them , lie was greatly pleased at the support of Comp . Savage , ancl he felt sure the (' omps . would carry the motion .

Comp . Scott thought that if the Benevolent Institution was so well off , it did not want assistance . The Girls' School was in ihe same position . But the Boys' School vvas not ; it wanted money ; and he should nun e as an be

amendment that ^ 500 given lo the Boy ' s School only . Comp . Raynham W . Stewart said , that this Grand Chapter gave very large subscriptions to

the old men and women , and ten guineas to the Boys' and ten guineas to the Girls' Schools . He thought if ^ 500 were given to the Boys , and another ^ £ 500 were divided between the other Institutions , il would meet the necessities of the case .