lodges, etc., are amenable to the pains and penalties of the act of Victoria II., cap. 10, against secret societies. We refrain from commenting upon this subject for the same reasons given under our review of Quebec. The matter has been referred to a special committee, who will report to our Grand Chapter, and we have no desire to anticipate its action in the matter. The death of Assistant Grand Secretary, Bro. D. M. Dewar, was announced. M. W. Bro. Lord Henniker, London, Grand Master. Reports for 1884 from Indiana, Iowa and Ohio have been received since our copy was sent to the printer, and are given a place in this review, at the rear of the column, thus making our report more full and complete up to date. INDIANA-1884. The Thirty-ninth Annual Convocation of this Grand Chapter was held at the city of Indianapolis, commencing October 22, A. D. 1884, A. I. 2414. M. E. Robert Van Valzah, Grand High Priest. R. E. John M. Bramwell, Grand Secretary. Eighty subordinate Chapters represented. Eleven Past Grand High Priests present. ADDRESS OF GRAND HIGH PRIEST. The Grand High Priest in his opening address thus speaks to the Companions: Companions, companionship indicates, "the common pursuit of one object, the common endurance of suffering, or the common enjoyment of happiness." So we, as Companions, having one object in view—the development of true companionship, benevolence and practical good ness--are assembled in this the thirty-ninth Convocation of this Grand Chapter. There must be some incentive, more than ordinary, in these meetings, that enables men to turn aside from their usual vocations to join in the common sentiment of doing good, enlarging our charities, deepening and broadening our sympathies. Let us thank that name, "a being without the beginning of days or the ending of years," for the return of these occasions that keep us near the heart of humanity. We live through admiration, hope and love. We should feel, and ought to comprehend and hold in reverence, the symbols that have been consecrated to holiest aims, and study how best to adapt them to good and glorious purposes. Let us look upon these time-consecrated symbols with feelings of awe, and never permit the principles they inculcate to be infringed upon. We should hate the destructive, and revere the ardent and faithful student of our ancient mysteries, because the association connected with them forms a part of liberal education, which excites the admiration and enthusiasm of Masonry's votaries. We that are on the inside should follow the example of the child that has sprung on, a little way ahead of its playmates, and caught a glimpse through an opening portal of some varied Eden within, all gay with flowers, and musical with birds, and after one rapturous survey runs back and catches its companions by the hand and hurries them forward to share the new-found pleasure, the unexplored region of delight. The profound depths of Masonry have not all been explored, the grand heights have not all been reached; there are many treasures which, if discovered and brought to light, would be of greater value to the Craft. But who shall lead in the work? You are the leaders, others must follow. All cannot be leaders, all are not qualified to lead, but all may receive instruction. HISTORICAL. He devotes much space in giving a full history of his Grand Chapter since its organization, which must prove both interesting and instructive to the Royal Craft of Indiana. DECISIONS. The decisions made during the year were mostly of local application, and were approved by the Committee on Jurisprudence. PERPETUAL JURISDICTION. The following, of general interest, in the shape of a decision, is given in full: The Grand High Priest of the State of Illinois says that his attention was called to the following case, and not being familiar with the laws in Indiana governing the qualifications of petitioners, he asks the question, "Does your form of petition require the petitioner to answer whether he has petitioned any other Chapter, as it is required in this Grand Jurisdiction?" He further states that a Master Mason, a resident of Peoria, Illinois, petitioned Peoria Chapter, No. 7, and was elected. A special meeting was called to confer the Mark Master degree upon him, but he failed to appear. Three years later he moved to Joliet, Illinois. Joliet Chapter now asks permission of Peoria Chapter to receive and act upon his petition. Peoria Chapter refuses. Shortly after this refusal he moved to Evansville, Indiana, and, say two years later, petitioned and received the degrees in Evansville, without the knowledge or consent of Peoria Chapter, and by so doing violated the Grand Jurisdiction of the State of Illinois. I was asked to examine into the facts and the law governing cases such as cited, and which I have done, and find that our form of petition does not require the question, “Have you ever petitioned any other Chapter for the degrees?" As to the law, Rule 68 reads: No petition for the degrees can be received from one who is not at the time a Master Mason, and regularly affiliated as a member in full standing in a Lodge of Master Masons, nor from one who may have been rejected by another Chapter, without the consent of such Chapter, until at least one year after such rejection. Rule 69. Chapters are strictly prohibited from receiving petitions for the degrees from sojourners, but must, in all cases, require a perma nent residence of at least six months from all such petitioners. 1 further inquired from the High Priest of Evansville Chapter if he had complied with the above rules in receiving this petition. The answer was that the law was fully respected. However, Evansville Chapter would have it known that they knew nothing of a former application to another Chapter in another jurisdiction. You will notice by the rules cited above that our jurisdiction does not hold to the doctrine of perpetual jurisdiction. Therefore, Evansville Chapter, having fully complied with our law governing petitions, could not have violated the Grand Jurisdiction of the State of Illinois. GRAND CHAPTER OF PORTUGAL. On the recognition of the Grand Chapter of Portugal he says: The Grand Chapter of Portugal asked for an exchange of representatives, but as this Grand Jurisdiction has not yet formally recognized the Grand Chapter of Portugal, I thought it best to defer the nomination of a representative. I earnestly recommend that this Grand Chapter formally recognize the Grand Chapter of Portugal, and that a mutual exchange of representatives be consummated. INVASION OF JURISDICTION. He thus refers to the invasion of the Grand Jurisdiction of Quebec : It will scarcely be necessary for me to call the attention of the Grand Chapter of Indiana to the enormity of this invasion of the jurisdiction of a sister Grand Chapter on this continent, nor to the inimical posture of the Grand Mark Lodge of England towards the American system of Capitular Masonry. It not only most seriously threatens us, but it is the entering wedge towards the disrupture of the entire principle of independent Masonic jurisdiction. If such things can be permitted now without prompt and speedy rebuke, untold dangers are before us in the future. I herewith transmit all the papers that have come to my possession relating to this affair, and recommend such action as the emergency so palpably demands. Upon which the special committee to whom the matter was referred reported as follows: The committee on the matter of the difficulty existing between the Grand Chapter of Quebec and the Mark Grand Lodge of England, be lieve that the establishment of Mark Lodges within the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Quebec, by the Mark Grand Lodge of England, is an unwarrantable invasion of the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Quebec, and that the Grand Chapter of Indiana must and will support the Grand Chapter of Quebec in her rightful defense of jurisdiction. SPECIAL REPORT. Companion Wm. Commons submitted the following special report on correspondence, which was adopted: The Committee on Foreign Correspondence begs leave to report that the review of corresponding Grand Chapters has been submitted for our consideration, and we find it a fair, able and comprehensive epitome of Capitular Masonry for the past year, and respectfully recom mend that it be published as an appendix to the proceedings of this Grand Convocation. And especially recommend to the earnest consideration of all Masons, capitular and symbolic, the sentiments expressed in the report concerning the invasion of the territory of the Grand Chapter of Quebec by the Grand Mark Master Masons' Lodge of England, as being the views of an able jurist and in consonance with the established principles of American Masonic jurisprudence; and that this Grand Chapter extend to the Grand Chapter of Quebec its sympathy in the controversy, and that we hereby pledge to her our support. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. Companion Thomas B. Long submits the Report on Correspondence. It is able, fearless, courteous and fraternal; it is indeed a model paper; every subject has notice, and nothing gets the " go by." He is again at the head of the committee, and we congratulate the Craft on that streak of good luck. Michigan for 1884 is reviewed, and for kindly mention of our jurisdiction we return thanks. CLOSING. His concluding remarks have particular reference to the Quebec difficulty, and we give them in full : To recur again to the topic in this review, regarded by the writer as of paramount interest, attention is directed to the fact that the Grand High Priests and correspondents of twenty-three of the Grand Jurisdictions reviewed have called attention to it, and urged its consideration by their respective Grand Chapters; and that resolutions severing all Masonic intercourse with the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales, etc., have been passed by the Grand Chapters of Canada (to take effect January 11); Texas (in force at once) and Vermont (directing the Grand High Priest to issue an edict to that effect). Connecticut and Iowa recognize the exclusive authority of Quebec over the Mark degree in that province; Massachusetts strongly condemns the invasion; Mississippi declares the Mark Lodges established in Quebec by the Grand Mark Lodge as clandestine; New Hampshire regards it as the duty of all Grand Chapters to protest against and vigor |