transpired, and as the official Proceedings will be in possession of all the Chapters in a very short time, I do not deem it advisable to give you what at best could only be a hasty and imperfect summary of the business transacted.

I will only say that I came home more than ever convinced of the utility and necessity of the General Grand Chapter, and only regretting that it is not clothed with such power as would enable it to take its proper place as the authorized exponent and supreme authority, not only in respect to the Ritual, but on all questions of Royal Arch law and practice in the United States.

I will also express the hope that its Triennial Convocation will not again be called so near the date of the meeting of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States; for, in my judgment, sufficient time was not allowed the General Grand Chapter at its last meeting on that account to enable it to transact its business with due deliberation and dignity.

COMPLIMENTARY.

He pays the following well deserved tribute to Companion Fox:

Especially do I wish to acknowledge the unending series of benefits and kindnesses, in advice and assistance, continually rendered me by our R. E. Grand Secretary, so many and so long continued that I long ago gave up all hope of returning or repaying them in any way, except by deep appreciation and a grateful heart.

CLOSING.

He closes as follows:

It has been my privilege to attend the Annual Convocations for twenty consecutive years, and during fifteen of those years I have held some official position-four years by appointment and eleven consecutive years by your suffrages.

During all those years I have endeavored to do my duty in the positions to which you have called me, faithfully and to the best of my ability; and I assure you that in such future years as may be spared to me, I shall regard it as my highest duty and pleasure to render to my successors, to whom shall be confided the charge of our common interests, that same ready assistance and obedience which I have so freely received at your hands.

And when, in the providence of God, the Convocation shall come in which my name shall be written among those who will be with you no more forever, I ask only that you will remember that I loved the Royal Craft, and that to me the advancement and prosperity of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of New York was a "great and glorious work," in which I was always ready to "help, aid and assist."

HISTORICAL.

The committee appointed to prepare a history of the Grand Chapter presented the following report; the resolution was not agreed to, and the committee was continued with power to resume its work :

Your Committee on the History of Royal Arch Masonry in this State, continued at the last session of this Grand Body, after the passage of a resolution that this Grand Chapter take such steps as may be necessary to obtain and place in the hands of your committee all books, papers, etc.," respectfully report that they have used every available means at their command to obtain the documents necessary, on which to raise the superstructure of a true and faithful record of the early history of Royal Arch Masonry in this State, but their efforts have been fruitless, and although four years have elapsed since the first appointment of this committee, they have been unable to obtain a single one of those papers which are so essentially necessary to the purpose. It is, therefore, with much regret they offer the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Special Committee on the History of Royal Arch Masonry in this State, being unable to obtain the documents and records, the property of this Grand Chapter, necessary for the purpose for which it was appointed, be, and is hereby discharged from further consideration of the subject.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

Companion Darius A. Ogden presents the Report on Correspondence, carefully extracting from the proceedings reviewed all matters of interest, and commenting freely. None are passed by unnoticed, and when he differs it is in such a fraternal spirit that one is almost forced to believe himself wrong.

In opening he says:

The Eighty-Sixth Annual Convocation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of New York met in Albany on the 6th day of

February, 1883. It was a very pleasant and interesting meeting. All the Grand Officers, many of the Past Grand Officers, and the representatives of one hundred and eighty-seven subordinate Chapters were in attendance the representatives of over fifteen thousand of the brightest and best men in the State. No element of discord disturbed the harmony of the proceedings, although the debates were earnest and the discussions involving fundamental principles were animated, yet courtesy and good feeling was manifest throughout. There was independence of thought, freedom of expression, eloquence in language and marked differences of opinion without offensive asperity or unbecoming criticism. As the meeting and the greetings were cordial, so the parting was in love, and with increased respect and confidence. The meeting had been both pleasant and profitable, and truly, in the language of the Psalmist, it could be said, "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

The year had been one of quiet and prosperity, and at the close the intelligence came, through the Grand Secretary, that for the first time in some years there was a net increase in the membership. True, the number was small, nevertheless it was an increase, and the Royal Craft was one hundred stronger; the tide has turned, and may we not hope and expect that it will increase and grow stronger as time flows on?

We send, then, at this auspicious time, to the Grand Chapters throughout the General Grand Jurisdiction our brotherly greeting, with the hope that they, too, have been blessed in yet greater measure with increase and prosperity.

We turn now to those with whom this Grand Chapter holds fraternal relations, and, following the order of the alphabet, we commence the review of the Proceedings.

CONCLUSION.

Michigan receives friendly notice, for which we return thanks, and give his concluding remarks in full:

With the review of the General Grand Chapter we close the labors of the year. We have given much study, careful thought and hard work to the duty. We trust it will prove interesting and satisfactory to the Companions. We have been kindly treated by our compeers of the Reportorial staff, and feel honored by the association. With cordial good wishes, and fraternal regard for each and for all, and with a warm, heart-felt desire for the welfare of the Masonic family, and particularly

for the Royal Craft everywhere, we close this report. The year has evidently been one of prosperity; may the coming one be yet more abundant in well-doing.

M. E. James E. Morrison, New York, elected Grand High Priest.

R. E. Christopher G. Fox, Buffalo, re-elected Grand Secretary.

NORTH CAROLINA-1884.

The Thirty-sixth Annual Convocation of this Grand Chapter was held at the city of Elizabeth, May 28-29, A. D. 1884, A. I. 2414.

M. E. Eugene Grissom, Grand High Priest.

R. E. Donald W. Bain, Grand Secretary.

Nine subordinate Chapters represented. One Past Grand High Priest present.

GRAND HIGH PRIEST'S ADDRESS.

In opening his annual address Companion Grissom says:

You are convened to-day in response to the notice of the Deputy Grand High Priest, issued during my absence from this State, and the formal edict from myself subsequently, on my return. It was foreseen that several events would prevent the attendance of some of the Grand Officers and the representatives of a number of the Chapters at the time prescribed for the Annual Convocation, to wit: the third Tuesday in May. It was apprehended that a quorum would not be present, and the action was taken in respect to the wishes of Companions in various sections of the State, and in conformity to the provisions of Section 1, Article IV of the Constitution of the Grand Chapter. Heartily approv ing the action of the Deputy Grand High Priest, my edict was intended to remove any question as to the constitutional mode of meeting the emergency referred to. You are met for the purpose of transacting such business as might have been done had the Grand Chapter convened in regular Convocation at the time prescribed in the Constitution.

I would that I could congratulate you on the advancement of this branch of the Order throughout the jurisdiction. It is true, some

Chapters have made progress, while others have been less fortunate. It was my purpose, when I accepted the high honor which you conferred upon me one year ago, to inaugurate a system of official visitation, and, if possible, by that means quicken the energies of our less active Chapters, revive dormant Chapters, and elevate Royal Arch Masonry to the high position which it is within the power of the Companions of this Grand Chapter to attain, and to which they should aspire. While I have not done as much in this direction as was my purpose and desire, yet, under the circumstances, I have done what I could, if not what I should.

But few questions have been presented relating to jurisprudence for my decision, and none that require your consideration.

MERGER OF DEGREES.

On the consolidation of the Chapter and Council degrees, the Grand High Priest says:

The action of the Grand Chapter at its last Annual Convocation in incorporating the Council degrees into the Chapter work, has been tested by a year's experience, and it is for you to say whether the results of that action demand further consideration. I cannot say that the consolidation of the two rites has proven as satisfactory, or accomplished the ends sought, as the most ardent advocates of the scheme had hoped. But few of the Chapters have practicalley adopted the modified work rendered necessary by the plan of consolidation. If the union is preserved, measure ought to be taken to have the work taught and generally practiced. If, on the other hand, there is friction in the Chapters growing out of this union, I recommend to your respectful consideration any question that may arise looking to an adjustment of differences, with a view to that harmony without which our progress will be retarded. My information is that, in some Chapters, the modified work has been practiced; and even in communities where no Councils of Royal and Select Masters formerly existed, these degrees have been conferred on members of Chapters, in conformity to the arrangement entered into last year. In other Chapters there are some faithful Companions who have labored long and energetically in the interest of Royal Arch Masonry, whose views, though not in accord with the exist ing arrangement, are entitled to respect and consideration.

And the committee to whom the subject-matter was referred reported as follows: