SECT. 8, The grand chapters severally shall have power to require from the several chapters and lodges under their respective jurisdictions, such reasonable proportion of sums, received by them for the exaltation or advancement of candidates, and such certain annual sums from their respective members, as by their ordinances or regulations shall hereafter be appointed: all which said sums or dues shall be made good, and paid annually, by the said chapters and lodges respectively, into the grand treasury of the grand chapter, under which they hold their authority, on or before the first day of the respective annual meetings of the said grand chapters.

SECT. 9. No warrant for the institution of a new chapter of royal arch masons shall be granted, except upon the petition of nine regular royal arch masons; which petition shall be accompanied with a certificate from the chapter nearest to the place where the new chapter is intended to be opened, vouching for the moral character and masonic abilities of the petitioners, and recommending to the grand chapter, under whose authority they act, to grant their prayer. And no warrant for the institution of a lodge of the pemark master masons shall be granted, except upon tition of at least five regular mark master masons, accompanied by vouchers from the nearest lodge of that degree, similar to those required upon the institution of a chapter.

SECT. 10. The grand secretaries of the state grand chapters, shall severally make an annual communication to each other, and also to the general grand secretary, containing a list of grand officers, and all such other matters as may be deemed necessary for the mutual information of the said grand chapters. And the said grand secretaries shall also regularly transmit to the general grand secretary a copy of all their by-laws and regulations.

SECT. 11. Whenever there shall have been three, or more royal arch chapters instituted in any state, by virtue of authority derived from this constitution, a grand chapter may be formed in such state, (with the approbation of one or more of the general grand officers) by the high priests, kings and scribes of the said chapters, who shall be authorized to elect the grand officers. Provided always, that no new state grand chapter shall be formed until after the expiration of one year from the establishment of the junior chapter in such state.

SECT. 12. The several grand and deputy grand high priests, kings and scribes, for the time being, of the seve

ral state grand chapters, are bound to the performance of the same duties, and are invested with the same pow. ers and prerogatives, throughout their respective jurisdictions, as are prescribed to the general grand officers, in the 4th section, 1st article of this constitution.

SECT. 13. The jurisdiction of the several state grand chapters shall not extend beyond the limits of the state in which they shall respectively be holden.

ARTICLE III.

OF THE SUBORDINATE CHAPTERS AND LODGES.

SECT. 1. All legally constituted assemblies of royal arch masons are called CHAPTERS; as regular bodies of mark masters, past masters and most excellent masters, are called LODGES. Every chapter ought to assemble for work, at least once in every three months; and must consist of an high priest, king, scribe, captain of the host, principal sojourner, royal arch captain, three grand masters, secretary, treasurer, and as many members as may be found convenient for working to advantage.

SECT. 2. Every chapter of royal arch masons, and lodge of mark master masons, throughout this jurisdiction, shall have a warrant of constitution from the grand chap ter of the state in which they may respectively be holden, or a warrant from one of the general grand officers. And no chapter or lodge shall be deemed legal without such warrant, and masonic communication, (either public or private) is hereby interdicted and forbidden, between any chapter or lodge under this jurisdiction, or any member of either of them, and any chapter, lodge or assembly, that may be so illegally formed, opened or holden, without such warrant, or any or either of their members, or any person exalted or advanced in such illegal chapter or lodge. But nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any chapter or lodge which was established before the adoption of the grand royal arch constitution, at Hartford, on the 27th day of January, A. D. 1798.

SECT. 3. Whenever a warrant is issued for instituting a chapter of royal arch masons, with a power in said warrant to open and hold a lodge of most excellent past and mark master masons, the high priest, king and scribe, for the time being, of such chapter, shall be the master and war. dens in said lodge, according to seniority.

SECT 4. All applications for the exaltation or advancement of candidates, in any chapter or lodge under this jurisdiction shall lie over, at least one meeting, for the consideration of the members.

SECT. 5. No mason shall be a member of two separate and distinct bodies, of the same denomination, at one and the same time.

SECT. 6. No chapter shall be removed, without the knowledge of the high priest, nor any motion made for that purpose in his absence; but if the high priest be present, and a motion is made and seconded for removing the chapter, to some more convenient place, within the limits prescribed in their warrant, the high priest shall forthwith cause notifications to be issued, to all the members, informing them of the motion for removal, and of the time and place when the question is to be determined; which notice shall be issued at least ten days previous to the appointed meeting. But if the high priest, after motion duly made and seconded as aforesaid, should refuse or neglect to cause the notices to be issued as aforesaid, the officer next in rank, who may be present at the next regular meeting following, upon motion made and seconded for that purpose, may in like manner issue the said notices.

SECT. 7. All mark master masons' lodges shall be regulated, in cases of removal, by the same rules as are prescribed in the foregoing section for the removal of chapters.

SECT. 8. The high priest, and other officers, of every chapter, and the officers of every lodge of mark master masons, shall be chosen annually, by ballot.

SECT. 9. The high priest of every chapter, has it in special charge, as appertaining to his office, duty and dignity, to see that the by-laws of his chapter, as well as the general grand royal arch constitution, and the general regulations of the grand chapter, be duly observed; that all the other officers of his chapter, perform the duties of their respective offices faithfully, and are examples of diligence and industry to their companions; that true and exact records be kept of all the proceedings of the chapter by the secretary; that the treasurer keep and render exact and just accounts of all the monies belonging to the chapter; that regular returns be made by the secretary, annually, to the grand chapter of all admissions of candidates or members; and that the annual dues to the grand chapter be regularly and punctually paid. He has the special care and charge of the warrant of his chapter. He has the right and authority

of calling his chapter at pleasure, upon any emergency or occurrence which in his judgment may require their meeting, and he is to fill the chair when present. It is likewise his duty, together with his king and scribe, to attend the meetings of the grand chapter when duly summoned by the grand secretary, either in person or by proxy.

SECT. 10. For the preservation of secrecy and good harmony, and in order that due decorum may be observed while the chapter is engaged in business, a worthy royal arch mason is to be appointed from time to time, for tyling the chapter. His duty is fixed by custom, and known in all regular chapters. He may be elected annually, but is to continue in office only during good behaviour, and is to be paid for his services.

SECT. 11. All lodges of mark master masons are bound to observe the two preceeding articles, as far as they can be applied to the government of a lodge.

SECT. 12. No chapter shall confer the degrees of mark master mason, past master, most excellent master, and royal arch mason, upon any brother, for a less sum than twenty dollars-And no lodge of mark master masons, shall advance a brother to that degree for a less sum than four dollars.

SECT. 13. When either of the officers or members of the general grand chapter, or of any of the state grand chapters, cannot personally attend their respective meetings, they shall severally have the authority to constitute a proxy, which proxy shall have the same right to a seat and vote as his constituent.

ARTICLE IV.

OF CONSTITUTING NEW CHAPTERS.

SECT. 1. When a warrant of constitution is granted, by either of the general grand officers, or either of the state grand chapters, for constituting a new chapter of royal arch masons, the grand officers respectively, shall appoint a day and hour for constituting the same, and installing the new officers. On the day and hour appointed, the grand or deputy grand high priest, (or the presiding officer for the time being) with his officers, meet in a convenient room, near the place where the new chapter is to be constituted. The officers of the new chapter are to be examined by the deputy grand high priest, or some companion appointed for that

purpose; after they are approved, they are to return to the hall, and prepare for the reception of the grand chapter. When notice is given by the grand marshal, that they are prepared, the grand chapter walks in procession to the hall, when the officers appointed for the new chapter, resign their seats to the grand officers, and take their several stations on the left; the necessary cautions are then given from the chair, and the ceremony commences by performing an anthem or ode, adapted to the occasion. The officers and members of the new chapter then form in front of the grand high priest.

The deputy grand high priest, then informs the grand high priest, that "A number of companions duly instructed in the sublime mysteries, being desirous of promoting the honor of the art, have applied to the grand chapter for a warrant to constitute a new chapter of royal arch masons, which having obtained, they are now assembled for the purpose of being constituted, and having their officers installed in due and ancient form."

The grand high priest then directs the grand secretary to read the warrant, which being done, he asks the members of the new chapter if they still approve of the officers nominated therein; this being signified accordingly, the grand high priest rises and says,

"By virtue of the high powers in me vested, I do form you, my worthy companions, into a regular chapter of royal arch masons; from henceforth ye are authorised and empowered to open and hold a lodge of mark masters, past masters, and most excellent masters, and a chapter of royal arch masons; and to do and perform all such things as there. unto may appertain; conforming in all your doings to the general grand royal arch constitution, and the general regulations of the state grand chapter; and may the God of your fathers be with you, guide and direct you, in all your doings."

Grand Honours.

The Furniture, Jewels, Implements, Utensils, &c. belong ing to the chapter (having previously been placed in due form, covered in the centre) are then uncovered, and the new chapter is dedicated, in ancient manner and form, as is well described in the most excellent master's decree. The

*See an appropriate ode, page 254.