panions in a number of cities have thought themselves able to launch out with new Chapters, and wherever I thought them not unwisely sanguine, I have permitted them to make the trial. Thus far none of them have shown the confidence misplaced, and it is presumed they will each apply for a charter at this Convocation. PHYSICAL QUALIFICATION. On the subject of physical qualification, and the position of General Grand Chapter thereupon, he says: I have been asked to define to this Grand Chapter my opinion upon the resolution relating to one-armed Masons. At the late triennial session of the General Grand Chapter of the United States, General Grand High Priest Chapman advocated great liberality in passing upon applications for advancement from maimed Master Masons, and his views were unanimously endorsed by the General Grand Chapter. It has been thought wise by this Grand Chapter to erect a permanent bar to the advancement of a Mason with one arm. The loss of a leg or a hand or a foot appears not to have been considered. The resolution, if considered as establishing a rule for the government of constituent Chapters in their relations with maimed applicants, fails to answer the purpose, as it relates to but one of the many maims which the human frame may suffer. The Chapter may reject the applicant who has lost an arm, and accept his brother with one leg, and do it on the ground that the Grand Chapter has specified what constitutes a maim sufficient for rejection, and said nothing against applicants with but one leg. It would be a nice matter to specify literally all that should constitute a maim to advancement; and then, again, that which should by all means be a bar to initiation need not necessarily prevent advancement. The Mason that is every way qualified except by an unfortunate physical casualty is entitled to some consideration. The man that is uninitiated is not. Royal Arch Masonry can no more be injured by receiving such a man, possibly an ornament to the Lodge and to society, than it can be if a Companion suffers a like misfortune after receiving the degrees. In short, I conceive of no arbitrary, inflexible rule that should apply, but that it would be a sufficient protection, and more uniformly satis factory, if the Grand High Priest had these questions at his own disposal. GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER. Of the session of General Grand Chapter, Companion Woodbury says: The principal event in Royal Arch Masonry in our jurisdiction during the year was the twenty-fifth Triennial Convocation of the General Grand Chapter of the United States, which convened at Denver on the 13th of August. The work of the committee having in charge the reception and comfort of the members, and courtesies to them, in the name of this Grand Chapter, will be reported to you in detail during the day. It will not be inappropriate for me to say, what the committee have not touched upon, that there was an universal expression of pleasure and gratification from representatives from all parts of the country at the manner of their reception and the courtesies we endeavored to show them. The elegance of the rooms prepared by the fraternity in Denver received a liberal share of praise, and the expres sion was frequently heard that they were the finest Masonic quarters they had ever seen. The procession to the reception hall was a very handsome affair, and received much praise from the public. It was hoped that more of the members of the Grand Chapter would have been present throughout the week, but such as could attend gave material assistance in the arduous duties imposed upon the committee. Letters of thanks were sent to all associations contributing to making the exercises so much of a success. Notwithstanding the heavy drafts made upon our Grand Chapter treasury, it yet remains in excellent condition. The General Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the United States also met in Denver at the time of the Convocation of the General Grand Chapter, and the committee provided it with quarters for its Triennial. I think it can safely be said that none of the distinguished representatives to these National Masonic organizations regretted the decision at Detroit three years ago by which Denver was selected for 1883. The General Grand Chapter unanimously adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, That the hearty thanks of this General Grand Chapter are hereby tendered to the Grand Chapter of Colorado and to the Masonic fraternity of Denver for their unremitting and most successful efforts to contribute to the pleasure and promote the comfort of the members of the General Grand Chapter during their sojourn in the most interesting city of Denver." CLOSING. In closing his annual address he refers to the death of Companion W. A. Hardenbrook, chairman of the Correspondence Committee, and says: Companions, I have nothing further to present besides to announce to you the death of the chairman of our Committee on Foreign Corre spondence, Companion W. A. Hardenbrook, who died on Saturday last at his residence in Denver. Companion Hardenbrook had suffered greatly through a lingering illness, and, I presume, had been unable to prepare a report. I am not personally acquainted with his Masonic history. It was also thought for many weeks that we were to lose our Grand Sentinel, Companion Linton, but, to the surprise of all, he finally recovered sufficiently to depart for California, from whence he recently returned much improved. Individually and collectively, we are indebted to the Supreme Ruler for many blessings during the past year. The true Mason has not awaited our Annual Convocation without thanking the Great Giver, and trying to live in grateful acknowledg ment of those blessings. If any Companion imagines that an annual prayer is a sufficient acknowledgment of indebtedness to the Divine Ruler, let him ponder a moment, and he will realize how thin one little prayer is when spread over three hundred and sixty-five days. If our temporal blessings were according to the frequency of our thankful acknowledgments I fear some of us would be in rags to-day, and our names dropped from the roll because lacking the means with which to pay our dues. Of all men, Masons can the least afford to fail in practising what they teach. Companions, for the courtesies extended to me during the past two years I thank you all. During the past summer there has been some labor required of the Grand High Priest which, I am glad to say, enabled me to give something in return for the honors conferred. I trust your ninth annual will be pleasant to you and profitable to the Order. Let your legislation be deliberate in all things. and you will bequeath no errors to be corrected by those who succeed you. IMPORTANT RULINGS. The following resolutions were adopted : Resolved, Taat it is the sense of this Grand Chapter that it is not lawful to confer the Chapter Degrees upon a one-armed Mason. Resolved, That Royal Arch Masons, to be in good standing in this Grand Jurisdiction, must be, and continue to be, in good standing as Master Masons, and the Subordinate Chapters of this jurisdiction will govern themselves accordingly. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. Owing to the sickness and death of Companion Hardenbrook, the duty of preparing the Report on Correspondence devolved upon Companion Ernest Le Neve Foster, and for a novice his work is good and true, and worthy the awards of a faithful craftsman. CLOSING. We give his closing remarks in full : And now, Companions, my labors are over, my work accomplished, and for the first time I bring it up for inspection, trusting that it will be found good, true and square, such as will pass the overseer's square, and be stone fit for the builder's use. This report was to have been prepared by Companion William A. Hardenbrook, but, unfortunately, his health was such that it precluded his giving his attention to it, and at a late day the duty devolved upon I regret it much, as Companion Hardenbrook's better knowledge of the points in controversy would have made his report of so much greater value and interest to the craft in general than mine can be. me. Just as I am about to finish this report I have learned that Companion William A. Hardenbrook has passed the veils and gone to that land from whose bourne no traveler returns. He died at his residence in Denver, September 15th, after an illness of several months. Having much other business to attend to, I have not been able to as carefully review the proceedings received as I desired, and I have thought it best, rather, to give the views of other writers pro and con on the various subjects alluded to than to express my own imperfect ones, leaving it for time and future occasion to develop these into something worthy of being written. M. E. Edward B. Newnam, Boulder, elected Grand High Priest. R. E. Ed. C. Parmelee, Georgetown, re-elected Grand Secretary. CONNECTICUT-1884. The Eighty-sixth Annual Convocation of this Grand Chapter was held in the city of Hartford, May 13, A. D. 1884, A. I. 2414. M. E. John S. Castle, Grand High Priest. Thirty-eight subordinate Chapters represented. Three Past Grand High Priests present. ANNUAL ADDRESS. Grand High Priest Castle thus opens his address: Companions of the Grand Chapter, another year has drawn to a close, and we find ourselves assembled, this beautiful spring morning, a season when nature is adorning herself in robes of blue, purple, scarlet and white, and birds warble their songs of praise and thanksgiving for its advent. This is a fitting time for us to look over the past, and in place of faulty weeds, plant seeds of virtue, that they being watered by the spring rains of resolution, and nurtured by the summer sun of stability, we shall be prepared for the harvest of time and gathered as good wheat into the garner of rest. And now, Companions, I bid you welcome to this, the eighty-sixth anniversary of this Grand Chapter. We have extended the hand of fraternal greeting to many a familiar face, and especially do we extend a hearty welcome to all new members who have the honor of being representatives to this Grand Body. We have assembled with our Grand Chaplain and invoked the blessing of Almighty God, and that he would vouchsafe to us that spirit of affection and brotherly love which is essential to our welfare and prosperity. By His wisdom may we be directed in all our deliberations, so that in the future, as in the past, this great moral institution may stand as a stepping-stone to that higher and only institution through whose gates alone we can gain that rest prepared for all who faithfully perform their task. Let us not forget to thank our Supreme High Priest, that through His mercy we have been permitted to assemble here with unbroken ranks. We have left the busy scenes of life to devote a few |