ALABAMA.

The Fifty-third Annual Convocation of this Grand Chapter was held at Masonic Temple, City of Montgomery, December 2, A. D. 1879, A. I. 2409.

M. E. Comp. JAMES HERVEY JOINER, Grand High Priest, presiding,

Four Past Grand High Priests and Representatives of twentyeight Subordinate Chapters present.

ADDRESS OF GRAND HIGH PRIEST-OPENING.

Grand High Priest JOINER presents a brief address in opening, which says:

Through the mercy of a kind Providence, we are permitted to assemble in this, the Fifty-third Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Alabama. We meet under more favorable auspices than the previous year. Then our hearts were made sorrowful on account of the effects of a devastating scourge, which brought distress and gloom to all who came within the precincts of its terrible visitation. Under the blessing of our Supreme Grand High Priest, our own, as well as sister jurisdictions, with one exception, have escaped the disaster and desolation which marked the history of that period.

In this jurisdiction general healthfulness has prevailed among the whole people, and an increased prosperity is enjoyed by those engaged in industrial pursuits and enterprises.

It should rejoice the heart of every Companion that we are not called upon to lament the death of either a Past or Present Grand Officer since our last Convocation. Surely this manifestation of His gracious care and protection should stimulate each and all of us to offer the incense of a pure and contrite heart" to the great I Am.

But while we are permitted to be thankful that our jurisdiction has been thus highly favored, it is hoped that the members of this Grand Body will esteem it a melancholy privilege to mingle their sympathies

with those upon whom the heavy hand of affliction has been laid. I deem it proper to call the attention of the Grand Chapter to the sad truth that our sister jurisdiction of New Jersey now mourns the death of one of her most skilled workmen in the quarries.

DECISIONS.

The following Decisions were made by the Grand High Priest, and approved by Grand Chapter:

1st. "Can a minister of the gospel receive the Chapter degrees gratuitously?"

Ans. He cannot. See Art. IV, Sec. 5, of the Constitution of the Grand Chapter.

2d. "Can a Royal Arch Mason visit a Chapter, when the Lodge of which he was a member has been suspended for the non-payment of dues?"

Ans. Any Companion Royal Arch Mason, in good standing in his Chapter, has all the rights and privileges of a Royal Arch Mason, notwithstanding the Lodge of which he was a member may have been suspended for the non-payment of dues, or for any other cause; Provided, He was in good standing in the Lodge at the time of such suspension. 3d. "Can a non-affiliated Master Mason be made a Royal Arch Mason?"

Ans. He cannot. It has long been a settled law in this jurisdiction, that a candidate for the Capitular Degrees must be a member in good standing of a Blue Lodge, to authorize a Royal Arch Chapter to receive his petition, See Art. III. Sec. 6, of the By-Laws of the Grand Chapter.

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CLOSING.

The Grand High Priest thus closes his address :

I am convinced, and doubtless many of the companions are, that the members of the Royal Craft are too frequently called upon to deplore the evils arising from hasty and inconsiderate legislation; and now that we are about to enter upon the discharge of the important and responsible duties of another Convocation, let it be the fixed purpose of every companion, that sufficient time be allowed for due deliberation upon all questions claiming our attention. The prosperity of the Order, as well as the credit of those who compose this grand body demand it. Let all our work be such as will stand the test of the “Chief Overseer's Square," so that no defects be found in our speculative temple-which, for wisdom, strength, and beauty, has elicited

the applause and excited the admiration of the wise and virtuous of every age. Let us endeavor to possess the same spirit which animated those of our ancient worthies who reared this sublime moral structure, and strive to imitate their noble example.

BUSINESS.

P. G. H. P. Comp. JAMES E. CоBв was presented with a beautiful silver tea-service; a resolution was adopted that the warrant of each Chapter should be present in the Chapter Hall at all Convocations, and that any Chapter holden under other circumstances shall be esteemed irregular and its doings void.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

Comp. PALMER J. PILLANS, presents an admirable Report on Correspondence, reviewing in a faultless manner the proceedings of thirty-eight Sister Grand Chapters, Michigan for 1879 among the number. Of our Report he says:

Companion Innes comes forward with the review of the several proceedings received, among which we are pleased to find Alabama. The notice of our jurisdiction is kind, fraternal, and full-indeed the whole report shows industry and a high masonic taste. From all of the proceedings reviewed, he has culled the best things for his companions, and laid them before them in a truly fraternal style. We wish we had the judgment, skill and time to imitate him.

Comp. PILLANS prints our memorial pages dedicated to the companions of Mississippi and Tennessee, and

says:

How nobly! How affectionately! How impressively uttered! A great many years since while musing on the frailty of life, and idling a little time in one of the old cemeteries of our sister city, New Orleans, our attention was attracted by a lofty pile, on which were inscribed, in golden letters, the virtues of some one who had filled some space in the world; and, after leaving this, reflecting on the vanity which follows even to the grave, our eyes fell upon a small slab, before which were a few faded flowers and this inscription, "Poor Caroline-only two and twenty." We were immediately bowed down with sympathy for those left by the lost one, and contrasted this evidence of a broken spirit with that which had prompted the erection of this lofty pile.

Comp. PILLANS has our heart-felt thanks for his kind words of

praise, and we shall ever treasure them up in our hearts and look back upon them with pleasure and pride when old age streaks our hair with gray, bedims the sight of our eyes and furrows our brow with wrinkles of care. God bless you Companion, we can

never erase your kindness from the tablets of our memory.

CLOSING.

We extract the following from Comp. PILLANS closing:

Thus Companions we have performed the duty assigned to us. We hope for your approval.

In reviewing the proceedings we have found harmony and brotherly love-we have noted but little complaint. But every where we have heard the notes of mourning. A large part of our common country was afflicted with a scourge which knew neither age, sex, or condition, and those communities which were free from this fell destroyer sympathised feelingly and actively with those who mourned.

The financial condition of the Grand Chapters is generally good, but we have seen no efforts being begun to make our charity active and boundless by imitating Kentucky and Pennsylvania. And whenever the finances are too low to justify the expense of a report on correspondence with the proceedings, we find large amounts paid out for mileage and per diem. Is it deemed necessary in those jurisdictions to pay in order to get an attendance? Is there not love enough for the interests of the Craft, or zeal enough among the companions to attend to their duties to which they are obligated when being installed?

In the preparation of this report we have copied some things about what are called colored R. A. Masons. We do not know that they are such, nor do we suppose that any companion has any more knowledge on this subject than we, but we thought the companions of this jurisdiction would like to have some information about these claimants. We shall never trouble you more about them.

OFFICERS ELECTED.

M. E. Comp. JAMES HERVEY JOINER, Talladega, re-elected Grand High Priest.

R. E. Comp. DANIEL SAYRE, Montgomery, re-elected Grand Secretary.

ARKANSAS.

The Twenty-eighth Annual Convocation was called to meet in the City of Little Rock, October 7, A. D. 1879, but a requisite number of Subordinates not being present an adjournment was had until November 20, A. D. 1879, A. I. 2409.

M. E. Comp. M. M. MCGUIRE, Grand High Priest, presiding.

ADDRESS OF GRAND HIGH PRIEST.

Grand High Priest MCGUIRE's address is a fine effort and we regret exceedingly its brevity. In opening he says:

Another year, fraught with good and evil, with joys and sorrows, with life and death, has passed since last we met in Annual Convocation. Some of our companions, overcome by the heat and burthen of the day, have dropped by the wayside, some have passed up their work before the Master for final inspection, and for them, let us confidently trust, the wages due for good, true and square work has been awarded. Some who met with us at our last Annual Session are not present at roll-call to-day; others, however, have joined our band to take the places of those who have fallen by the wayside, or lagged in our labors as the day has worn away. We greet our old companions with pleasure. It is a joy to our hearts to clasp their true and tried hands with a full grip, and look into their eyes, sparkling with the light of true and endearing friendship, kindled by the fires of fraternal love, burning with such warmth upon the altar of their hearts; their zeal never flags and their fraternal friendship never wavers-they are always at their post of duty.

To our new companions we extend a cordial greeting-trusting you have taken up the working tools of a craftsman for a purpose-with a will to do. We trust you may prove true and trusty, and never loiter away a moment's time in the great quarries in which you are called to labor, but with zeal and fidelity fill the full measure of your time, and in the end bring up such specimens of your skill as shall stand the test of Him who judges in righteousness and gives to every man according as his work shall be.

DECEASED COMPANIONS.

He refers feelingly to the death of Comp. J. P. McCown,