Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SUPREAIE GRAND CHAPTER . The following is the report of the Committee of General Purposes to be presented to Grand Chapter on AVednesday next : — To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Boyal Arch Masons of England .

The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 18 th October , 1864 , to the 17 th January , 1865 , both inclusive , whieh they find to be as follows : — Balance ISth October ., £ 313 6 10 Subsequent receipts 201 5 0

514 11 10 Dishursements during the quarter iB 196 6 8 Balance 318 5 2 514 11 10

which balance is in the hands of Messrs . AVillis , Percival , and Co ., bankers of the Grand Treasurer . The Committee beg also to report that pursuant to the directions of Grand Chapter , at the quarterly convocation held in November last , they investigated the complaint of the AVellington Chapter ( No . 784 ) , Deal , against Comp . Stephen AA'ilson ,

jun ., in the presence of that companion and four other members of the chapter . After hearing the complainants and defendant , and perusing several letters that passed between them , your Committee found that although Comp . Wilson was appointed by the Supreme Grand Chapter to be the First Principal of the chapter , yet

that he attended once only during his year of office , when he was installed , and on three occasions deputed a qualified companion to act for him ; yet , as he left the chapter at eight of the annual meetings without any head , and thus prevented the ordinary business being transacted , and seeing that the tone of his correspondence with the chapter was not Masonic , and

calculated to destroy that peace and harmony which ought to prevail , they are of opinion that his conduct is deserving of censure , but they cannot recommend that he be deprived of his position as a Past Z . of the chapter , as prayed for by the

complainants . Your Committee have also to report that in accordance with the authority given them , they have removed the suspension of the High Cross Chapter ( No . 754 ) , Tottenham—that chapter having expressed regret for its past misconduct , and promised forthwith to remove from London to Tottenham , ancl for the future strictly to obey the rules and orders of the Supreme

Grand Chapter . The attention of your Committee has been called to the law passed at the last Grand Chapter , giving to the Second and Third Principals of chapters in the colonies , similar powers to those conferred on Grand Superintendents with respect to hearing and deciding on Masonic complaints , thus virtually establishing

three Masonic chiefs in each district . Your Comaiittee believe this law was inadvertently passed in consequence of the unavoidable absence of the President , ancl they therefore recommend that it be rescinded , and that the following law , which they believe will meet all the objections that havo been raised on the ground of the vast extent of some districts in the

colonies , be enacted , namely : — "In colonies and foreign parts , a Grand Superintendent may depute the Second or Third Principal of the Provincial Grand Chapter to visit chapters within the district to inquire into and investigate any case of irregularity . That the companion so

deputed shall report to the Grand Superintendent , with whom alone shall rest the power to determine any complaint or irregularity , either of a chapter or an individual Royal ArchAIason , and to adjudicate on the case . " Your Committee recommend that the foregoing words be introduced iu Article 3 , page 12 , of the regulations , in place of the words proposed to be rescinded .

Your Committee regret to have to call attention of the Grand Chapter to an irregularity , which they believe to have been iniftlverteutly committed by the petitioners for a chapter at Otago , New Zealand . At the quarterly communication holden on the 4 th November , 1863 , the Grand Chapter granted a charter to be held in connection with the Lodge of Otago

( No . 844 ) . The promoters of the chapter , upon receipt of the charter ( which authorised them to open and hold the same at a future date ) , reported that acting under a dispensation granted by the Grand Superintendent of Victoria , they had for some time been at work as a chapter , and had exalted several companions , whose names they returned for . registration .

Your Committee believe , as before mentioned , that the chapter had acted inadvertently , ancl without any intention to transgress the laws , and they therefore recommended that Grand Chapter should pass a resolution sanctioning the proceedings that took place when the companions were acting under the said dispensation , ancl should also authorise Grand Chapter

certificates to be issued to those companions who have been exalted . Your Committee have directed a communication to be addressed to the Grand Superintendent of Victoria , pointing out to him that he has no jurisdiction beyond his own district , and further , that he has no power to grant a dispensation , authorising Royal Arch Masons to meet as a chapter , even within his own province .

The attention of your Committee has been drawn to the chapter on regalia in the Regulations , wherein it is stated at page 26 , " That officers of Provincial Grand Chapters wear collars similar to those worn by the officers of the Supreme Grand Chapter , but such collars are not to exceed two inches in width . Your Committee are of opinion that a Grand Superintendent who takes rank in the Supreme Grand Chapter immediately

after the Grand Principals ought to wear a collar different from the other officers of the Provincial Grand Chapter , and therefore recommend that the paragraph on paraphernalia , page 26 of the Regulations , be altered by introducing at the commencement , the following words , viz .: — "Provincial Grand Superin . tendents wear collars similar to tliose of Officers ofthe Supreme

Grand Chapiter—Other" Aud they also recommend that in the paragraph in the same page commencing " the silk or satin ground of the triangle" be altered , by -inserting in the 5 th line after the word " chapter , " the words " and Grand Superinteii .. dents of Provinces . " The Committee have received a communication or appeal from

Comp . Moss Isrealj of the Zetland Chapter of Australia ( No . 390 ) , Sydney , New South AVales , praying that he may now be installed as First Principal ofthe chapter , the election of officers haviii « - taken place when he was under Alasonic suspension , ancl was thus precluded from being regularly elected to that office . The Committee cannot recommend that the petition be granted .

The Conmittee have receiveci an application from the St . John ' s Chapter ( No . 325 ) , Pendleton , praying for permission to remove to Salford , whither the lodge either has or is about immediately to be removed . The application being in order , your Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted . The Committee have finally to report that they have received the following petitions for now chapters . lstly . From Comps . Joseph Cotterell as Z ., Joseph Devercux