Royal Arch.

Hay , seconded by Comp . McGowan , "that the decision of the Committee be affirmed ; " and it Avas moved by Comp . AVm Bamsay , seconded by Comp . Cannon , " that the matter be continued till next Quarterly Communication , and that , in the meantime , Comp . AValker Arnott be requested to give a report as to the statements in the petition , and what he ivould recommend to be done in the circumstances . " Comp . Hay having withdraAvnhis amendment in favour of Comp . Ramsay's , that

amendment was put to the meeting against Comp . D . Campbell's motion , and declared carried by a large majority , the proposer and seconder only voting for the motion , and the Grand Scribe E . declining to vote .

Thwarted in their endeavours to have the petition for disjunction quashed , a plan was concocted by certain parties in Prov . Grand Chapter , whereby the petitioning Chapter might be tripped up and rendered powerless in their opposition to Glasgo iv rule . The sympathies of another Ayr Chapter , No . 18 , which were known to be fai-ourable to the position taken up by Comp . Donald Cambell , were now openly and actively operated upon;—and a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter

summoned to meet at Glasgow , on the 28 th . of March . At that meeting , it was determined to seize the books of the young and independent Chapter which bad dared to petition to be relieved from Glasgow domination , and the Prov . Grand Scribe E . was accordingly next day despatched to Ayr , armed ivith the written authority of the Provincial Grand Superindcnt ( Dr . Arnott ) , to obtain possession of the minute and cash book of Ayr KilivinningNo . 80 . The temporary absence from Ayr of

, Comp . Major Thornton seemed to favour the designs of Provincial Grand Chapter upon the petitioning Chapter , and the firm footing they had among their supporters in No . 18 , encondecree them in their reckless course . The hearer of Dr . Arnofcfc ' s bull having reached Ayr and fraternized for a brief period ivith certain of those AVIIO , judging from their actions , Avished to

encompass the destruction or effect tbe disgrace of their next neighbours , accompanied by the doorkeeper of No . IS , set out upon the honourable business for the execution of ivhich he had been commisioned . Having introduced themselves to Comp . George Good , the 2 nd Principal of No . SO , Provincial Grand Scribe E , presented his order to get immediate possession of thafc Chapter ' s books . Afc first , Companion Good refused thus summarily to give up the the books , and in this be was firmly

supported by the Treasurer of the Chapter ( Comp . John Park ) and its First Sojourner ( Comp . AVilliam Young ) , who quite accidently happened to be present during the interview . Seeing the hesitation of Comp . Good to comply with his demand , Provincial Grand Scribe E . stated that the refusal to deliver up the books demanded would certainly be followed by suspension of the party refusing . Under pressure of this threat and not willing to run the risk of having his Chapter brought into

trouble , Comp . Good relinquished possession of the books , ivhich were then carried off by Prov . G . Scribe E . The nen-s of Ai-hat had befallen Chapter No . 80 , spread like wildfire over the town amid the exhultation of the Prov . Grand Chapter supporters in No . 18 , who thought they saw in this act the downfall of their rivals .

Irritated at the indignity ivhich had thus been offered to ' their Chapter , the members of No . 80 held a special meeting on the evening of the 31 st March , and having heard from the lips of their 2 nd Principal , a full statement of what had transpired , they unanimously resolved to present a petition and complaint to the Supreme Grand Chapter , against the illegal sei / . ure of their books , which had been effected by tho party acting under the express instructions of the Prov . Grand Supt ., Dr . AValker Arnott .

Thepetition-and complaint adopted hy Chapter No . SO , contained the following paragraph : — "That the petitioners learn from cap . 10 , section 4 , of Supreme Grand Chapter Laivs , that a Prov . Grand Supt . is empoivered to visit subordinate chapters , to inquire into irregularities , & c . ; and sec . 12 of same chapter , shows that a Prov . Grand Supt . is also empowered , in case of Masonic complaint or irregularity , respecting chapters or companions in their districtto summon the office-bearers & cto

, , , appear before them , and to produce the charter and books , & c . ; but your petitioners have yet to learn that the Supreme Grand LaAvs sanction or authorize the seizure of the books of any subordinate chapter in the manner complained against . " The petition and complaint ivere presented on the 1 st of April , and on the 7 th April , the Supreme Grand Committee having met , and carefully considered it , as also letters from Major Thornton ,

Royal Arch.

Principal Z . of No . SO Chapter , and Dr . Arnott , Prov . Grand Supt ., of the western district , susfclined the relevancy of the principal articles of the said petition and complaint , and called up Dr . Arnott to lodge answers thereto ; in ivhich answers the learned Doctor claimed for himself and the Provincial Grand Chapter , "the same poivers Avithin the province , that the Supreme Chapter has over Scotland generally , " and that these powers gave the Prov . Grand Supt . "free right to call for the

Treasurer's and minute books of any chapter , ivhenever he pleases , so that he may see that the laivs of the Supreme Chapter are obeyed , and that Avithout inferring any charge of irregularity against the chapter . " Dr . Arnott further stated that it Avas necessary that he should obtain possession of the books of No . SO in the ivay he did , in order to his reporting on the petition for disjunction ivhich had been remitted to him by the Supreme Committee . On the 28 th April Grand Committee met

and haidng- resumed consideration ofthe said petition and complaint , Avith answer th ereto by Dr . Arnott , found that the seizure of the books of Ayr Kilivinning Chapter ( No . 80 ) in the Avay admitted by the Prov . Grand Supt . Avas a proceeding uncalled for in the circumstances , and unauthorized by the lan-s of the Supreme Grand Chapter . To this finding Dr . Arnott objected and appealed to the Supreme Chapter , asking that body to reverse Grand Committee's decisionand to consider whether

, Companions D . Murray Lyon and George Good " ought not to be deprived of Royal Arch privileges" for having dared to sign a " minute" adopted by Chapter No . 80 in support of the position they had assumed , and in defence of themselves from certain imputations contained in a communication addressed by Dr . Arnott to Supreme Chanter .

On Friday , the 23 rd of May , after a sederunt of about five hours , on tbe motion of Companion Mann , seconded by companion Hay , the Supreme Chapter unanimonsly confirmed Grand Committee ' s decision , and dismissed the appeal of Dr . Arnott ; and having heard Dr . Arnott , and also D . Murray Lyon on the Doctor ' s proposal to suspend Companions Good and Lyon , on the motion of Companion Sir Arthur Halkett , Bart , seconded by Companion Mannthe Supreme Grand Chapter unanimously found the

, proposal to suspend the 2 nd and 3 rd principals of Ayr Kilwinning Chapter ( No . SO ) to be incompetent . AVhereupon , in consequence of these decisions Dr . Arnott resigned the office of Prov . Grand Supt . of the Western District , and withdrew from the meeting .

A vote of thanks having been accorded to Comp . Lord James Murray for his conduct in the Chair , the meeting broke up , Feiv have done more for Royal Arch Masonry in Scotland than Dr . Arnott has accomplished ; aud it is to be regretted that in the evening of his Masonic career he should have permitted himself to be used as the scape-goat ofthe real instigators and promoters of the late attack upon the liberties of subordinate chapters .

Mark Has0nry.

MARK HAS 0 NRY .

MALLET AND CHISEL LODGE ( No . 5 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at Bro . Harriss' , Three Tuns , Bow , on Wednesday , May 28 th , Bro . Harris W . M . Present : Bros . Pickering , Hayworth , Barrett , Trebeck , Promtia , Thompson , Sleeman , AA eissenbnrger , Turner , Hon . Sec . Alsitors : Bros . Binckes , G . Sec . ; Goring and Cottebrune . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bros . Charles Soiithall and John Deportu ivere balloted for as candidates for advancement , and

duly elected . The before-mentioned brethren being present were advanced , the ceremony being worked by Bros . Binckes , G . Sec , Goring and Cottebrune , assisted by the W . M . and the officers of the lodge . It Avas proposed by Bro . Thompson , and seconded hy Bro . Trebeck , that Bro . Binckes be admitted an honorary member of this lodge ; carried unanimously . It Avas proposed by Bro . Turner , and seconded by Bro . Thompson , that the lodge furniture be insured for £ 25 It Avas proposed by BroTrebeck ,

. . and seconded by Bro . HayAvorth , that Bro . George Dyer be admitted a candidate for advancement at the next lodge meeting . The dues having been received , and the Avages paid , the lodge ivas closed in ancient form . There was no banquet , and the lodge then separated . The lodge will re-assemble on the fourth AA'ednesday in July .