suitable number of copies of the Constitution, and transmit them to the several States.

Resolved, That the next Septennial meeting of the General Grand Chapter, be holden in the City of New-York, on the second Thursday in September, A. D. 1812.

The General Grand Chapter proceeded to a choice of officers, agreeably to the Constitution, when the companions, whose names follow, were elected to the offices annexed to their respective viz.

names,

M.E. BENJAMIN HURD, jun. Esq. of Charlestown, (Mass.) GENERAL GRAND HIGH PRIEST.

M.E. THOMAS S. WEBB, Esq. of Providence (R.I.) GENERAL GRAND KING.

M.E. EZRA AMES, of Albany (N. Y.) GENERAL GRAND SCRIBE.

E. Otis Ammidon, of Providence (R.I.) General Grand Secretary.

E. James Harrison, of Boston (Mass.) General Grand Treasurer.

E. and Rev. Jonathan Nye, of St. Albans (Vermont) General Grand Chaplain.

E. Joseph Huntingdon, of Norwich (Conn.) General Grand Marshal.

The General Grand Chapter then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole upon the General

Grand Royal Arch Constitution, when sundry alte rations and amendments were proposed, and considered, and afterwards ratified and confirmed, by the General Grand Chapter; which Constitution, as ratified and confirmed, is in the words following, viz.

THE

GENERAL GRAND ROYAL ARCH

CONSTITUTION, &c.

ARTICLE I.

OF THE GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER.

Sec. 1. THERE shall be a General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, for the United States of America; which shall be holden as is hereinafter directed, and shall consist of a General Grand High Priest, General Grand King, General Grand Scribe, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, and Marshal, and likewise of the several Grand, and Deputy Grand High Priests, Kings and Scribes for the time being, of the several Grand Chapters hereinafter enumerated, and of the Past General Grand High Priests, Kings and Scribes of the said General Grand Chapter; and the said enumerated Officers, or their Proxies, shall be the only members and voters in the said General Grand Royal Arch Chapter.

Sec. 2. The General Grand Chapter shall meet Septennially, on the second Thursday in September, for the choice of efficers, and other business; dating from the second Thurs

day in September, A. D. 1805, at such place as may, from time to time, be appointed.

Sec. 3. A special meeting of the General Grand Chapter shall be called whenever the General Grand High Priest, General Grand King, and General Grand Scribe, or any two of them, may deem it necessary; and also whenever it may be required by a majority of the Grand Chapters of the States aforesaid, provided such requisition be made known in writing, by the said Grand Chapters respectively, to the General Grand High Priest, King or Scribe.-And it shall be the duty of the said General Officers, and they are each of them severally authorised, empowered and directed, upon receiving official notice of such requisition from a majority of the Grand Chapters aforesaid, to appoint a time and place of meeting, and notify each of the said Grand Chapters thereof accordingly.

Sec. 4. It shall be incumbent on the General Grand High Priest, General Grand King, and General Grand Scribe, severally, to improve and perfect themselves in the sublime Arts, and work of Mark Masters, Past Masters, Most Excellent Masters, and Royal Arch Masons ;-to make themselves. Masters of the several Masonic Lectures and Ancient Charges; to consult with each other, and with the Grand and Deputy Grand High Priests, Kings and Scribes of the several States aforesaid, for the purpose of adopting measures suita ble and proper for diffusing a knowledge of the said Lectures. and Charges, and an uniform mode of working, in the several Chapters and Lodges throughout this jurisdiction; and the better to effect this laudable purpose, the aforesaid General Grand Officers are severally hereby authorised and empowered to visit and preside in any and every Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and Lodge of Most Excellent, Past, or Mark Master Masons, throughout the said States, and to give such instructions and directions as the good of the Fraternity may require; always adhering to the ancient landmarks of the order.

Sec. 5. In all cases of the absence of any Officer from any body of Masons, instituted or holden by virtue of this Con stitution, the officer next in rank shall succeed his superior; unless through courtesy said officer should decline in favour of a past superior Officer present.-And in case of the absence of all the Officers from any legal meeting of either of the bodies aforesaid, the members present, according to seniority and abilities, shall fill the several Offices.

Sec. 6. In every Chapter or, Lodge of Masons, instituted or holden by virtue of this Constitution, all questions (except upon the admission of members or candidates) shall be determined by a majority of votes; the presiding officer for the time being, being entitled to vote, if a Member; and inease the votes should at any time be equally divided, the pre siding Officer as aforesaid shall give the casting vote.

Sec. 7. The General Grand Royal Arch Chapter shall be competeut (on concurrence of two thirds of its Members present) at any time hereafter, to revise, amend and alter this Constitution.

Sec. 8. In case any casualty should at any time hereafter prevent the septennial election of Officers, the several General Grand Officers shall sustain their respective offices un, til successors are duly elected and qualified.

Sec. 9. The General Grand High Priest, General Grand King, and General Grand Scribe, shall severally have power and authority to institute new Royal Arch Chapters, and. Lodges of the subordinate degrees, in any State in which there is not a Grand Chapter regularly established. But nonew Chapter shall be instituted in any State wherein there is a Chapter or Chapters holden under the authority of this Constitution, without a recommendation from the Chapter nearest the residence of the petitioners.-The Fees for instituting a new Royal Arch Chapter, with the subordinate degrees, shall be ninety dollars; and for a new Mark Masters" Lodge, twenty dollars; exclusive of such compensation to

the Grand Secretary, as the Grand Officers aforesaid may deem reasonable.

ARTICLE II..

OF THE STATE GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS.

Sec. 1. The STATE GRAND CHAPTERS shall severally consist of a Grand High Priest, Deputy Grand High Priest; Grand King, Grand Scribe, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasur er, Grand Chaplain, and Grand Marshal, and likewise of the High Priests, Kings and Scribes, for the time being, of the several Chapters over which they shall respectively preside, and of the Past Grand and Deputy Grand High Priests; Kings and Scribes of the said Grand Chapters; and the said enumerated Officers (or their proxies) shall be the only mem bers and voters in the said Grand Chapters respectively.

Sec. 2. The State Grand Chapters shall severally be holden at least once in every year, at such times and places as they shall respectively direct; and the Grand or Deputy Grand High Priests respectively, for the time being, may at any time call a special meeting, to be holden at such place as they shall severally think proper to appoint.

Sec. 3. The Officers of the State Grand Chapters shall be chosen annually, by ballot, at such time and place as the said Grand Chapters shall respectively direct.

Sec. 4. The several State Grand Chapters (subject to the provisions of this Constitution) shall have the sole government and superintendence of the several Royal Arch Chapters, and Lodges of Most Excellent, Past and Mark Master Masons within their respective jurisdictions; to assign their limits, and settle controvesies that may happen between them; and shall have power, under their respective seals, and the sign manual of their respective Grand or Deputy Grand High Priests, Kings and Scribes (or their legal proxies) attested by their respective Secretaries, to constitute new Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, and Lodges of Most Ex