An Ancient Charge.

cemented in one body , Let us support and recommend this great and laudable virtue by examples , worthy the imitation of mankind . This is the most effectual method we can pursue to silence the the ill-natured suggestions of the proud , the wicked , and the vain part of our species , who , though they are by no means proper

to be members of our well governed community , yet must by this means be induced ( as it were forcibly ) to own , and secretly , the benign influence of that love and unity , which naturally produce peace and harmony amongst brethren . I must also beg leave to recommend a proper regard to be paid to the laws , constitutions , and orders of our most ancient and honourable

Fraternity , and due deference and respect to the particular officers thereof in their respective places , whose business it is to carry them into execution ; and I hope the only contention among you will be a laudable emulation in cultivating the Royal Art , and striving to

excel each other in everything which is great and good . Let us convince the unbelieving multitudes that no pride , sordid or lucrative views cm ever prevail upon us to admit into the number of those who are are acquainted with the knowledge of our Mysteries , the unworthy , the

profane , or contentious part of mankind ; but that we will stand fast in that liberty with which God hath blessed us , and join with one heart , and one voice , in excluding such wolves from our peaceable fold . In a word , let all of us endeavour , in our respective stations , so to regulate our whole

conduct , as not to give just occasion of offence in anything . Let us be submissive to superiors , courteous and affable to equals , kind and condescending to inferiors ; and let our whole deportment testify for us that we have formed our lives upon the perfect model of God ' s revealed

will , exhibited to us in the Holy Bible ; that this Book is the basis of all our Craft , and that it is by this piece of Divine furniture , so essential to our society , we are taught wisdom , to contrive in all our doings , such means as may conduce I * His honour , and the salvation of our immortal

souls , strength to support us in all difficulties and distresses , and beauty to polish the rough unhewn block of the mere natural man , and bring it into the likeness of our Maker . Let us run with patience the race that is set before us , with an unwearied perseverance in well-doing , put to

shame the ignorance and malice of the foolish , and the wise and great will think it no disparagement lobe influenced by our example , when we shall let our light shine before men , that they , bv seeing our good works , may be also induced to glorify the Supreme and Almighty Architect of

the Universe . Let us approve ourselves faithful stewards of those things committed to our charge , that whensoever it shall please our great Creator to demand of us an account of those talents , which He , in His infinite wisdom , has thought fit to bestow upon us , we may be found ready to

render it up with joy , may have our loins girded up , and our lights burning , and we ourselves be as men waiting for the Kingdom of God , and on that morning , when the Sun of Righteousness shall arise , with healing in His wings , we may be allotted to a house not made with hands , in the

happy region of eternal day , may hear his welcome salutation of the Redeemer in the presence of men and angels , well done , thou good and faithful servant , thou hast been faithful in a few things , I will make thee a ruler over many things , enter into the joy of thy Lord ,

() happy day ! when the faithful shall outlive the world , and all its fading glories , shall see the sun , moon , and stars obliterated from the concave of Heaven , and Himself employed , swallowed up in the never fading glories of boundless eternity :

these ardent wishes for your welfare , both here and hereafter , flow from the honest heart , zealous in the cause of Masonry ; and that every attempt for completing this great work may meet with proper encouragement , is the sincere wish and unfeigned desire of Your true and faithful brother . Is Air . HE Mi .

"Ait-, llil-llll ' , ill HIV .,, 1 . . ii . ini ill'ii ¦ < r t inn : 1 T . i 1 . 1 'ili" tlMH * ^ , . nr •. •. ! n , ii I ... unl l-. i . l iv . I . IP . -. ! ., I ... is-ii ; .-., ; , | , ii „|„ ,.. l In ; i i . i .-n . l •••m l .-IIV- . ¦ :, 1 )' . ¦ I ' . iiu Kill ,-, - I ,, r il , ; i , „| li ,.- hl-l l ... ' . ' tl .- I il-. ' . l ¦ . I n ' : n .- in ,- HI ;; . .. 11 . 1 | .-DILI . ; . !> . ; U ' I . - | . I .. II vvi ... ' i . M . in-. lit . ur , J ul" i-, I .-.. 1—1 ' " r . in l . / ., 'i _ ; .: di ,. i , l .,.. i . l .. i ; , W . C . "

Grand Chapter Of Canada

GRAND CHAPTER OF CANADA

The Fifteenth Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada was opened at the Masonic Hall , Toronto , on Wednesday , the 14 th August , at noon , present , M . E . Comp . Capt . Thompson Wilson , as Grand Z . ; R . E . Comp . S . B . Harmanas Grand H ; R . C . Comp . W . B . Simpson , as Grand J . ; and about 80 officers and members . The Grand

Scribe K . having read the rules and regulations for the government of the Grand Chapter during business , and the usual motion accepting the minutes of last convocation as read , having been

adopted , R . E . Comp . Harman , on behalf of the M . E . the Grand Z ., read the following address . To the Most Excellent The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada , Greeting .

Companions , —I greatly regret that I am prevented being with you at this the fifteenth Annual Convocation of Grand Chapter . For some weeks past I have not been in my accustomed good health , and I am advised not to risk the probable excitement , consequent upon

attending , at this warm period of the year , more than one Masonic assemblage to take place at Toronto , and the re-union with old friends , companions , and brethren after a year ' s separation from each other , and I confess freely that my heart warms

at such meetings , and drives away thoughts of consequences ! Although absent in body I shall be with you in spirit , and no member of our order more sincerely wishes continued and increasing prosperity to Grand Chapter than I do and will .

With this brief preliminary I can but repeat here , what I told you last year , that Royal Arch affairs have afforded so little material to which to call your attention , on account of the general harmony that has reigned , that any address cannot be of lengthy dimensions .

I have granted dispensations for the following new Chapters during the past year , and which I recommend ( hand Chapter to confirm b y Warrant , viz ;—St . J ohn ' s , at Cobourg , Ontario ; Elora , at Elora , Ontario ; Saugeen . at Walkerton , Ontario •St . Charles , at Montreal , Quebec ; Prince Rupert , at Wintiipcg . Matiitoba ; Bruce , at Petrolin , Ontario .

I hope these new Subordinates will prove worthy of your trust . But as to this , and all other information referring to local matters , the Reports of the several Grand Superintendents of

Districts will be your sure guide , and as regards the financial affairs of Grand Chapter , which are satisfactory , your own excellent officers , Grand Treasurer and Grand Scribe , are your standard and reliable references . The disbursements

authorised by Grand Chapter have all been defrayed , upon the requisite vouchers . And here it will not be out of place to state that your Grand Treasurer R . E . Companion Noel having left to become a resident of Manitoba , delivered over his books and papers , and 1 appointed

R . E . Companion J . W . Murton , of Hamilton . to be Acting Grand Treasurer until this Convocation , who has very kindly and willingly performed the duties , and I have much pleasure in thus making known to Grand Chapter the assistance that Companion Murton has hereby rendered .

"R . E . Companion Noel I nominate Grand Superintendent of Manitoba , as a slight token of recognition and appreciation of his services to Grand Chapter . "Notices of motion were given last year , —

1 ' irst , For holding the Annual Convocation permanently at Toronto , —and Second , For the recognition by Grand Chapter of certain Rites and Degrees not at present included in the Constitution ; and these , if not allowed 10 fall through , will need your consideration .

"Ihe Grand Scribe E . has received copies of the Proceedings of various Grand Chapters , with all which Bodies the Grand Chapter of Canada is in very friendly relationship . A Report will be presented by the Committee on Foreign

Correspondence , which will doubtless prove interesting , for these proceedings are full of valuable information , contain many statistics , and also numerous decisions . in every way inviting notice , for our Companions of the I r nited States are by no means niggardly in dispensing light and

Grand Chapter Of Canada

knowledge , on the contrary , they appear to delight in so doing . The Representative system is evidently gaining ground and popularity . During the past year 1 have been advised of the appointment of R . E Companion Henry Robertson as Representative

of the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia near this Chapter , and I am led to believe that he has likewise been so nominated by the Grand . Chapter of the State of New York . R . E . Companion Robert Ramsay is nominated Representa - tive of the Grand Chapter of Illinois near this Grand Chapter . I have , on good

recommendation , appointed as Representative of the Grand Chapter of Canada , R . E . Companion John Edwin Mason , near the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia , and R . E . Companion James H . Miles near the Grand Chapter of Illinois , all which are of course subject to your approval .

I received a communication , through R . E . Companion Co ' onel McLeod Moore , from a body styling itself "The Grand Royal Ark Lodge of England , " seeking recognition and an exchange of representatives with us . Although aware of the existence of this bod y in England , I failed to understand its connection with Royal

Arch Masonry , and therefore contented myself with promising to submit the matter to Grand Chapter at this Convocation , leaving Companion Moore to proceed with it or not , as he might think proper . I may here remark , the " Grand Royal Ark Lodge of Canada , " has since been organized .

"The Grand Mark Lodgc ' of England , " which was recognized by Grand Chapter in 1870 , also sought an interchange of Representatives . I requested the Grand Scribe E . to write and state that any Representative must necessaril y be a Principal or Past Principal of a Chapter , and

could of course act only upon matters relating to the Mark degree . The subject is attended with some little difficulty , because here the Mark is quite subordinate to the Royal Arch , and it should have the careful consideration of Grand Chanter .

Since this application was received , I understand that the Grand Mark Lodge of England is trying to assume some control over the Mark Degree here , by granting or proposing to grant warrants for conferring the same . I requested the Grand Scribe E ., through whom the

information reached me , to write to England to the effect that the Mark Master , Past Master and Most Excellent Master Degrees , commonl y styled Intermediate , in Quebec and Ontario , belong to the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Canada

exclusively j that any Mark warrant issued from and by England could not be recognized , and ought to be withdrawn and cancelled ; and that any other course could not fail to seriously imperil the friendly relations now existing between the two bodies .

A warrant is said to have been asked for by the St . Paul ' s Royal Arch Chapter , Montreal , on the registry of England , and one of those Chapters still working in Canada , but retaining its allegiance to the Grand Chapter of England by sufferance and good faith on the part of the Grand

Chapter of Canada . The transaction has anything but a pleasant look , and betrays a seeming want of courtesy towards us , which may not , however be intended . I know of nothing to prevent St . Paul ' s Chapter applying to this Grand

Chapter for all requisite authority to the Intermediate Degrees , which are not recognized by the Grand Chapter of England as necessary to be eonferrcdjpreparatory to a candidate ' s exaltation to the Royal Arch . It is verv advisable for Grand

Chapter to place on record an opinion on this entire , subject , so that its propriety or otherwise may not be left to linger in uncertainty . There is a subject to which I feel it to be my duty , as well as my happiness , to invite your special attention . I mean the merciful restoration

to health and the British Empire of our Most Illustrious Brother and Companion His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and the joy and glad relief thereby afforded to our good and gracious Queen , the amiable and latel y sorrowing Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family , in whose natural anxiety the whole nation has borne its loyal share . We