attend the meetings of the Grand Chapter (when duly summoned by the Grand Secretary) either in person, or by

'proxy.

Sec. 10. For the preservation of secresy 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 iu 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.

Sec. 11. All Lodges of Mark Master Masons are bound to observe the two preceding articles, as far as they can be ap plied to the government of a Lodge.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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

r Deputy Grand High Priest,* with his Officers, meet in a convenient room, near to 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 honour 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 indue and ancient form."

The Grand High Priest then directs the Grand Secretary to read the Warrant, which being done, he asks the Mem'bers 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 you 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 Masous; and to do and perform all such things as there

*Or the presiding officer for the time being.

S

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. belonging 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 Masters' degree. The deputy Grand High Priest then presents the first Officer of the new Chapter to the Grand High Priest, saying, "Most Excellent Grand High Priest,

nomi

I present you my worthy Companion........ nated in the warrant, to be installed High Priest of this new Chapter; I find him to be skilful in the Royal Art, and attentive to the moral precepts of our forefathers, and have therefore no doubt but he will discharge the duties of his office with fidelity."

The Grand High Priest then addresses him as follows: "Most Excellent Companion,

I feel much satisfaction in performing my duty on the present occasion, by installing you into the Office of High Priest of this new Chapter. It is an Office highly honourable to all those who diligently perform the important duties annexed to it; your reputed Masonic knowledge, however, 'precludes the necessity of a particular enumeration of those duties; I shall therefore only observe, that by a frequent recurrence to the Constitution, and general regulatious, and a constant practice of the several sublime lectures and charges, you will be best able to fulfil them; and I am confident that the companions who are chosen to preside with you, will give strength to your endeavours, and support your exertions.—I shall now propose certain questions to you, relative to the duties of your Office, and to which I must request your nequivocal answer,

1. Do you solemnly promise that you will redouble your endeavours, to correct the vices, purify the morals, and promote the happiness, of those of your Brethren who have attained this sublime degree.

2. That you will never suffer your Chapter to be opened, unless there be present nine regular Royal Arch Masons.

3. That you will never suffer either more or less than three Brethren to be exalted in your Chapter at one and the same time.

4. That you will not exalt any one to this degree, who has not shown a charitable and humane disposition; or who has not made a considerable proficiency in the foregoing degrees.

5. That you will promote the general good of our order, and on all proper occasions be ready to give and receive instructions, and particularly from the General and State Grand Officers.

6. That to the utmost of your power you will preserve the solemnities of our ceremonies, and behave, in open Chapter, with the most profound respect and reverence, as an exam. ple to your Companions.

7. That you will not acknowledge or have intercourse with any Chapter that does not work under a constitutional warrant or dispensation.

8. That you will not admit any visitor into your Chapter who has not been exalted in a Chapter legally constituted, without his being first formally healed.

9. That you will observe and support such by laws as may be made by your Chapter, in conformity to the General Grand Royal Arch Constitution, and the general regulations of the Grand Chapter.

10. That you will pay due respect aud obedience to the instructions of the General and State Grand Officers, parti, cularly relating to the several Lectures and Charges, and will resign the Chair to them, severally, when they may visit your Chapter.

11. That you will support and observe the General Grand Royal Arch Constitution, and the general regulations of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter under whose authority you act.

Do you submit to all these things, and do you promise to observe and practise them faithfully?

These questions being answered in the affirmative, the companions all kneel in due form, and the Grand High Priest or Grand Chaplain repeats the following, or some other suitable prayer.

"Most Holy and Glorious Lord God, the Great High Priest of heaven and earth.

"We approach thee with reverence, and implore thy blessing on the Companion appointed to preside over this new assembly, and now prostrate before thee; fill his heart with thy fear, that his tongue and actions may pronounce thy glory. Make him stedfast in thy service; grant him firmness of mind; animate his heart, and strengthen his endcavours may he teach thy judgments and thy laws; and may the incense he shall put before thee, upon thine altar, prove an acceptable sacrifice unto thee. Bless him, O Lord, and bless the work of his hands.-Accept us in merey; hear thou from Heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive our transgres

sions.

"Glory be to God the Father; as it was in the beginning, &c." Response. "So mote it be."

All the Companions, except High Priests and Past High Priests, are then desired to withdraw, while the new High Priest is solemnly bound to the performance of his duties; and after the performance of other necessary ceremonies, not proper to be written, they are permitted to return.

The Grand High Priest then addresses the new High Priest as follows:

"Most Excellent Companion!

"In consequence of your cheerful acquiescence with the charges and regulations just recited, I now declare you duly installed and anointed High Priest of this new Chapter ; not