The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland.—No. V .

Avhich may be called , as matters must then be brought forward , involving the future prosperity of Eoyal Arch Masonry in Scotland . "I do not intend to enter upon the particulars , further than to say , that in consequence of my doing AA'hafc I considered my duty to the Supreme Chapter , an

irregular petition and complaint Avas presented , nominally to the Supreme Chapter , bufc partially sustained and decided on , by the Supreme Committee . By this decision , not only in my estimation has a groat insult been offered to me , but an attempt made to deprive Provincial Grand Superintendents and Provincial Grand Chapters of the onlpoAver they have of seeing that tho chapters under

y them obey the laAvs , unless afc a great expense and inconvenience , Avhich Avould virtually prevent such investigations at a distance . "Whether a meeting will be called immediately , or delayed till the 18 th of June , I do nofc knoiv ; the sooner the matter is brought to a close , one way or other , the better for my healthAvhich has nofc been good for six

, or seven months , has suffered severely since these attacks were made upon me . "Ihave no means of knoAving if all the present chapters will remain as hitherto , or if some of them Avill be driven either to resign their charters or erect themselves into a neiv Supreme Chapter , if the present Supreme Chapter does not oA'erfcurn the proceedings of the

Supreme Committee ; -but for myself , I have determined fco resign my office not only of Grand Superintendent of the West of Scotland , but that of Past Grand Z ., and to renounce all connection with the present Supreme Chapter of Scotland , and every chapter Avhich continues to hold under it , unless on the following conditions : —¦ " 1 . That the minutes of the Supreme . Committee

connected with the proceedings relatii'e fco the petition and complaint of D . Murray Lyon and George Good , both of Chapter So . 80 , be expunged . " 2 . That those ivho attended thc meetings at which such proceedings took place , including Grand Scribe E ., shall pay to mo £ 15 , as the loss I have sustained by their interfering in tho matter , and that the said members of the Committee shall be relieved from their duties

until such sum is paid . " 3 . That Provincial Grand Superintendents and Provincial Grand Chapters be declared to have full powers by the present laAvs to send for , or call up , the books of any chapter in their district Avhenever they choose , and to suspend those AA'ho have fche books in their possession , and refuses to obey .

" Thafc no petition or complaint shall be hereafter received against a Piwincial Grand Superintendent individually , or against a Provincial Grand Chapter as a body , unless for a manifest violation of a clearly expressed laiv , or for being actuated by a private animus injuriandi , in the decision of a case before him or them , in either case involving expulsion or suspensionand

, that when such a petition and complaint is presented , it shall only be taken up at a meeting of the Supremo Chapter itself , to be called within ten days , the petitioners being bound to pay all expenses connected wifch such special meeting , if a decision be given adverse to them .

" 5 . That David Murray Lyon and George Good , of Chapter ISTo . 80 , be suspended from Eoyal Arch privileges for tAvelve months , and be declared thenceforth incapable of being again elected office-bearers of any Eoyal Arch Chapter in Scotland , on account of insubordination and insolence towards their superior officer , as contained in a * minute' made by them , of date 21 st April , 1862 , and transmitted bthem to him

y . " 6 . That the minute book of the Chapter No . 80 , ' shall be called for and examined by one or more Eoyal Arch companions , unconnected with fche AA csfc of Scotland , or Supreme Committee , and to be nominated by the Supreme Chapter , Avith instructions to expunge all minutes having reference either to the petition and complaint , or to the

' minute ' of 21 sfc April , 1862 , or that a minute shall be inserted by said companion or companions , containing the first , fifth , and such portion of the sixth condition as may show that such minute Avas by orders of the Supreme Chapter . " What I ask in articles 3 rd and 4 th is Avhat has been

always hitherto been understood to be common law , applicable alike to all inferior judicatories , Sheriffs , and Sheriff Courts , Justice ot Peace Courts , Presbyteries and Synods , and Masonic Courts , unless specially and expressly forbidden by laAV . " On the 19 th of April , I offered to the Supreme Committee and Grand Scribe E . to let matters dropproi'ided

, , they paid me £ 10 for my expenses and loss of time up to that date , —re-considered and rejected the petition and complaint as informal , and expunged all proceedings from these minutes . They did nofc do so , and the consequence is , that their conduct has instigated D . M . Lyon and Geo . Good , of the Chapter . No . 80 , to insult me in a Avay that ca * . i admit IIOAV of no compromise .

" ' I have studiously refrained from entering upon the case itself to you . I havo restricted myself chiefly to what I demand for the future protection of all Provincial Grand Superintendents and Provincial Grand Chapters . I have MAY served the Supreme Chapter wifch fidelity for many years , and spent much time and money in its' sen-ice , more perhaps than any other individual

presently belonging to it , and I defy any one to point out any law that I ever hrohe , while , on the contrary , I have done ray utmost to enforce the laws . If I be at lasfc forced to AvithdraAV my name from its roll , the cause must be made knoivn to other Supreme Chapters . "Yours fraternally , " G . A . AVAiKEii AEsroii . " Lord James Murray , Grand Z ., Eastwood , Dunkeld .

" It must be obvious that this was a very improper letter for Dr . Walker Arnott to address to the head of the Order , and the threats and demands contained in it are unjustifiable , but matters did not rest here , for Dr . Walker Arnott , in virtue of the powers conferred upon him by

cap . viii ., sec . 2 , of the laws , ordered a meeting of the Supreme Chapter to be called . This order is dated the 17 th May , and the Grand Scribe E being bound to call the meeting within ten clays , did so upon Friday , the 23 rd May . Dr . Walker Arnott ' s letter is in the following . * terms : —

" 2 , Victoria-terrace , DoAvnahill , " GlasgoAV , May 17 , 1862 . "Sir , —By virtue of the power conferred upon the First Grand Pasfc Principal by cap . viii . sec . 2 , of the laAvs , I hereby request you to call a Meeting of the Supreme Chapter , in terms of the same law . " 1 . To consider Avhether , when a remit is made by

the _ Supreme Chapter to a Companion to report on any subject , he is prevented from taking such steps as ought to be taken by the Supreme Chapter itself , to procure the information ho may deem necessary . " 2 . To consider the petition for disjunction of Ayrshire from the Province of the AVest of Scotland , and the report thereon bCompanion Walker Arnotta

y ; petition from Chapter Ho . 18 of Ayr against such disjunction ; reports by tho Grand Superintendent of the West of' Scotland on the books of the Chapter No . 80 of Ayr bearing upon the petition for the disjunction ; a petition and complaint by certain members of Chapter Ho . 30 against the Provincial Grand Chapter of the AVest of Scotlandand all connected there

, proceedings - AA'it ' ii adopted by the Sopreme Committee . 3 . To determine Avhat are the povrers of a Provincial Grand Superintendent and Provincial Grand Chapter as to calling for and examining the minute and cash books