Royal Arch.

mittee at last Grand Chapter , and the Committee had come to the conclusion that there was reason advanced to justify the removal . He therefore moved that the petition be dismissed . Comp . EVANS said that the chapter had been granted for the convenience of the High Cross Lodge , meeting at Tottemham , ancl as such he thought it ought not to be removed . He

seconded the motion . Comp . NT - * , Scribe E . of the High Cross Chapter , said that the M . E . Z . of the chapter was lying dangerously ill , and it was only last Friday that he became acquainted with tho position in which they stood , and therefore it was that the chapter " was not represented before the Committee to support the prayer of the

petition . Tbe former proprietor of the house where the chapter met had taken away the furniture , and the companions had refurnished it at great expense ; but they had no hopes of making the chapter prosperous at Tottenham . All they asked for now was time to enable the chapter to appear before the Committee , when they believed that they could show good cause for its

removal . Comp . BHCKFELDT stated that at the time of the granting of the charter there were only three petitioners connected with the lodge , one of whom was the landlord of the house , and another a companion who had since resigned . ' ¦ ' ¦ Comp . M'INTVBE said there must be a mistake as regarded

the signatures to the petition for the charter being only three , as without nine it would not have been granted ; neither could it have been granted without a vote of the lodge recommending it . He always understood the Royal Arch to be the crown of the building , the completion of the Master Masons degree , — the finding of the real for the substituted secrets . As such the lodge had a right to its chapter , ancl if the latter were removed to any distance a great injustice might be done , as whilst a

chapter remained attached to a lodge , however far apart they might be , the members of the lodge were precluded from applying for another charter . As to the objection of want of notice , that could not stand as the lodge was represented at the last Grand Chapter when the matter was referred back to the Committee , and they all ought to know that the Committee met a fortnight before the Grand Chapter .

Tbe G . SCRIBE explained that , though not clirectad to do so , he had written to the First Principal of the chapter , explaining that the matter would come under the consideration of the Committee at its last meeting ; but it a 2 ipeared that , owing to the illness of the First Principal , the letter had not been delivered to him .

Comp . BLiCKrEEDT explained that what he meant to say that of the companions signing the petition for the chapter only three were members of the High Cross Lodge , though the lodge did sanction the application . The resolution was then put ancl carried , thereby negativing the proposed removal .

Comp . JENNINGS next called attention to the second paragraph of the report -. — "Your Committee have had their attention drawn to the position of several companions now applying for their Grand Chapter Certificates ; they liaving been exalted on Sundays prior to the 4 th day of November , 1863 , when the Grand Chapter pronounced its decision that the meeting of a Royal

Arch Chapter on a Sunday was illegal . Your Committee , believing as they do that the chapters referred to were , at the time , acting under a misapprehension and not in conscious violation of the laws , have felt considerable difficulty in meeting the inconvenience which has arisen ; but with the impression on their minds which they have just suggested , they incline to recommend to Grand Chapter , under the very peculiar and exceptional circumstances of these particular companions , to allow

certificates to issue to them in the usual manner . "—The Committee , he said , had felt some difficulty on the subject , but under all the circumstances were of opinion that the certificates should he issued , ancl he begged to move that they should be . Comp . EVANS seconded the motion . Comp . STEBBINS- said that there was nothing in the " Book

of Constitutions" forbidding the holding of chapters on a Sunday , and therefore the proposed issue of certificates was an act of justice , not grace . He did not say it was not wrong to hold them on that day , and they did not clo such things in his part of the country , but if anybody was to blame it was Grand Chapter in not rendering its laws clear and intelligible .

( Laughter . ) The resolution was adopted . Comp . JENNINGS then called attention to the appeal of Comp . Moss Israel , of the Zetland Chapter of Australia ( No . 390 ) , Sydney , New South AVales . Comp . Israel , who having been suspended from Craft Masonry by the Provincial Grand

Master of the District , who is also Grand Superintendent , was , in pursuance of Article 10 , vjage 5 , of the Regulations , declared disqualified from exercising any functions as a Royal Arch Mason while such suspension was in force . The G . REGISFEAB said , that however defective the rules and regulations might be in other respects , and he did not deny

they were so ( hear , hear ) , they were certainly explicit in this—viz ., that under Article 10 , page 5 , a brother suspended from his Masonic functions in Craft Masonry , was , on the fact being reported to Grand Chapter or other competent authority , thereby suspended from his position in Arch Masonry . Comp . JENNINGS said the position of Comp . Moss was thishe maintained that under the common law , he must be held as

guiltless of any charge against him until his appeal was heard . Now , Bro . Moss , had an appeal to Grand Lodge against the decision of the Provincial Grand Master ; but in Masonry , the suspension took place from the moment of its being decreed , and the appeal could only restore him to his position . In the meanwhile , however , it appeared that a very curious circumstance took place after Comp . Moss was suspended ; a ballot

took place for Principal Z . of his Chapter , and though the Companions were warned that under the circumstances he was not eligible , he obtained a majority of votes . These votes the Principal Z . very properly treated as null and void , and declared the next Companion on tha list , Comp . Bradford , as elected ; ancl they ought , at least , to determine in what position that

Companion would be , should Comp . Moss he restored to his privileges . A lengthened discussion ensued , in which it was explained that it was clear that Comp . Moss could not be legally elected whilst under suspension , and that should that suspension he hereafter proved to be illegal and set aside , however deeply

they might sympathise with Comp . Moss in his misfortunes , they could not set aside the election of Comp . Bradford . "Ultimately , it was resolved , on the motion of Comp . STEBBING-, seconded by Comp . AVEBB , that the suspension having taken place in accordance with the Royal Arch regulations , the Grand Chapter had no power to interfere until the appeal to

Grand Lodge was disposed of ; ancl that , under the circumstances , the election of Comp . Bradford as Z . was not illegal ancl could not be set aside as prayed by Comp . Moss . The following warrants for new chapters were then agreed to be issued : —To Companions Edward Gardner Willoughby as Z ., Henry Bulley as H ., Thomas Plait as J ., and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Zetland Lodge ( No . 537 ) , Birkenhead , to be caUed the "Zion Chapter , " and to meet at the