greater or less time of our Grand Chapter during its existence of almost a century, and how freely they have all given of their time and talent, to bring it to its present proud position.

When the mighty struggle which gave our country birth and endowed us with the liberty we to day enjoy had barely closed, and at the very time when our ancestors were engaged in the work of designing and putting into operation the system of free government which is now our delight and the admiration of the world, even then they found time, out of their great love for our institution, to organize our Grand Chapter and in each year to meet to protect its interests and promote its prosperity, when such gathering involved a sacrifice of personal interests of which we, in these times, can have but a faint idea; and so down through all the succeeding years, whether in prosperity or adversity, in good or in evil report, strong hands encouraged by willing hearts have always been found to carry forward and upward the banner of "Holiness to the Lord" and to make the growth and standing of this Grand Chapter worthy of the great commonwealth in which its jurisdiction lies.

On the condition of the Craft during the past year, he

says:

The year has been quiet and uneventful, but our Chapters have generally done more work than last year, and are looking forward to still greater improvement in the year now opening before us.

No difficulty between Chapters in any part of our jurisdiction has been brought to my notice, and harmony prevails, with the exception of a slight ripple on the surface to which your attention will be called presently.

He refers in feeling words to the death of Companion R. T. Bower, and of him says:

While it would seem like a work of supererogation to even add a single word to the beautiful tribute paid to the virtues and memory of our departed chief officer by the Deputy General Grand High Priest, yet, I cannot refrain from a slight expression of my own feelings on this sorrowful occasion, especially as I know that they are not mine alone but those of all my associates in the Grand Council, and the Past Grand Officers who had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with M. E. Companion Bower.

It was my good fortune to meet Companion Bower at Cincinnati, in 1874, while on my way to the session of the General Grand Chapter, with other companions, who were on the same pilgrimage. We were companions together on the way to Nashville, and at that time such an impression was made upon my mind by his dignified presence,

his polished manners and his intelligence, that when he was elected General Grand King, I felt as deeply gratified at his elevation as if he had been some old and tried friend.

At the Convocations of the General Grand Chapter since that time in the station of Deputy General Grand High Priest, and finally, when the Royal Craft had conferred upon him their highest honor and placed him in the position which he occupied at the time of his death, I found him always the same, dignified without being haughty, courteous and suave to all, deeply religious but not puritanical, doing the right as he saw it without fear, but always respectful to others and tolerant of their opinions.

As M. E. Companion Chapman says: as men count age he had many years of usefulness before him," and yet, although he was not an old man, as men count years, yet those who knew him can but feel that his was a life which realized to the fullest extent the truth of that line of the poet which says:

That life is long which answers life's great end."

The Grand High Priest reported the following decisions made by him during the year:

That where a companion who has been suspended for non-payment of dues wishes to be restored, if there is no provision on the subject in the By-Laws of the Chapter, dues can properly be demanded only to the date of such suspension.

That the degree of Past Master must be conferred upon all candidates under the forms and authority of the Chapter, whether such candidates are or are not Masters or Past Masters of Lodges.

That a Chapter cannot be called from labor to refreshment from one Convocation to another, but must be regularly opened and closed at each Convocation.

That a Chapter cannot receive and act upon the petition of a companion for affiliation while he is a member of another Chapter, but that his dimit must accompany the petition for affiliation

That where the High Pricst of a Chapter is present in a Lodge at the time of the suspension of a brother, who is also a member of the Chapter, such personal knowledge is sufficient to authorize and require him to exclude such companion from all Chapter privileges; and that a Convocation of a Chapter at which only nine were present, one of whom was a companion so known to be suspended in the Lodge, would be irregular and its proceedings void.

That when a companion of this jurisdiction has been unaffiliated by his Lodge for the non-payment of dues, his membership in the Chapter is not thereby affected until such time as proof of the fact shall be made in the manner prescribed by General Regulation, No. 1; that is,

until the certificate of the Lodge, authenticated by its seal and the signature of its secretary shall be filed with the secretary of the Chapter. That it is proper for a Chapter to furnish to the recorder of a Commandery of Knights Templar a certificate of the suspension of companions (who are also members of said Commandery) for non-payment of dues, it being only an extension to the Commandery of the courtesy extended to and accepted by us from the Lodge.

That a companion who has taken a dimit and is not a member of any Chapter, cannot be appointed as Tiler of a Chapter.

That when a companion, who has been suspended for non-payment of dues, tenders the amount due and asks for a dimit, he is by such tender restored to membership and is entitled to a dimit unless charges are preferred.

That where a Chapter has expelled an unaffiliated companion from all the rights and privileges of Royal Arch Masonry for unmasonic conduct, they have power by a regular course of procedure to restore such companion to his former status.

On their reference to the Committee on Jurisprudence the same were approved as per the following report of that committee:

Decision No. 4. "A Chapter cannot receive and act upon the petition of a companion for affiliation while he is a member of another Chapter; but his dimit must accompany the petition for affiliation." Although this opinion in the judgment of the committee is entirely correct and in full accord with present usage, yet your committee would recommend a change of practice for the future, and therefore propose a general regulation upon the subject.

Decision No. 8. "A companion who has taken a dimit and is not a member of any Chapter cannot be appointed as Tiler of a Chapter." This we find to be correct and in perfect accordance with section 23 of the Constitution, which, however, requires that the Tiler should be a member of the Chapter for which he is to act. But your committee recognizing the fact that it is often very desirable that a companion should be appointed to the office of Tiler, who is a member of another Chapter, deem it best that express authority for such appointment should be given, and for that reason have seen fit to prepare and present a General Regulation upon the subject which is hereto subjoined.

And to which, in addition, were added the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the following be adopted as section 4 of the Generl Regulations, viz:

A petition for affiliation may be received and acted upon by a sub

ordinate Chapter, while the petitioner is still a member of another Chapter, but the change of membership shall not be complete until the petitioner's dimit shall be presented to the Chapter so petitioned and the petitioner shall have signed its By-Laws.

Resolved, That the following be adopted as section 5 of the General Regulations, viz:

A subordinate Chapter may employ as acting Tiler, any affiliated Royal Arch Mason in good standing.

Of the loyalty of his jurisdiction to the General Grand Chapter, Companion Pollard says:

The unswerving loyalty of the Grand Chapter of New York to the General Grand Chapter has been known and unquestioned in past years, and I trust will so continue in the future, ever paying to that body the respect and obedience due to our official superior, which can always be done without in any way infringing our rights and privileges or derogating from our dignity, as the sovereign authority within our own jurisdiction.

If the General Grand Chapter had never accomplished any other good than the bringing together every three years, of the officers of the Grand Chapters of the sevaral States in social communion, its existence would be amply justified; but when its long and interesting record of good and true work for the Royal Craft is considered, from its first meeting in 1798 down to our own day, never attempting to tear down existing Grand Chapters, but year after year building up new ones and clothing them with sovereignty, to enable them to carry forward to complete success the work so well begun by the parent body, and at every Triennial Convocation drawing more closely together the several State Grand Chapters with the bonds of love and harmony, it seems very strange to me that any voice should ever be lifted to question its value or dispute its authority.

It is really rich and refreshing to hear such praises awarded that body. We can only say, perhaps yes, perhaps no.

Of Companion Grand Secretary Fox, he thus speaks:

I also desire to express my personal acknowledgments to R. E. Christopher G. Fox, Grand Secretary, for the numerous favors received at his hands during my official term; and if I have imposed upon him by too frequent requests for his advice or assistance, I can only offer in extenuation that he is himself partly to blame; by being so competent and so willing to lend a helping hand whenever called upon.

M.E. Alfred F. Chapman, acting General Grand High Priest of the United States, was announced in waiting for the purpose

of visiting the Grand Chapter. A proper committee was appointed to wait upon and introduce the distinguished companion, when he was welcomed by the Grand High Priest and received with the honors due his exalted station.

The following "pretty thing" speaks for itself, and shows that the labors of Companion Woodruff did not go unrewarded:

Your committee to which was assigned the agreeable duty of selecting and presenting to M. E. Wm. T. Woodruff, junior P. G. H. P., a suitable testimonial as an expression of the sentiment entertained by the Grand Chapter regarding his valuable services as its presiding and executive officer for two years, respectfully report that such a tesimonial was selected by the committee, and that at a regular Convocation of Manhattan Chapter, No. 184, M. E. James E. Morrison, Deputy Grand High Priest, in behalf of the committee, and in the name of the Grand Chapter, presented Companion Woodruff a chronometer watch, appropriately inscribed, to which was added a chain and charm, contributed by members of Manhattan Chapter.

And behold, Darius made proclamation; or let us say Darius A., whose Sir name is Ogden, appears in his usual place as the writer on correspondence. None more able, none more fraternal and kind. We give his introduction in full:

The time has come for another review of the proceeedings of the Grand Chapters with which the M. E. Grand Chapter, of the State of New York holds fraternal relations, and to all such, we send the greeting of Masoric regard and companionship, and our congratulations that the Royal Craft here, and so far as tidings come to us, is prosperous everywhere. A calm and thoughtful consideration of the subject leaves no doubt that the world is better because of "Free Masonry;" no doubt it girdeth up the loins of many for noble and worthy deeds; no doubt it smooths to many the rough paths of this world, and makes less wearisome the journey from the "cradle to the grave;" no doubt it has soothed many an aching and wounded heart, and opened to many the fountains of friendship and kindly fellowship; no doubt it has laid its restraining hand on and in the hour of strong temptation held back many from wrong doing, turned them from the error of their ways and led them silently and gently back to a better life. And thus this great, world-wide institution commends itself to our confidence and regard and thus for long years it has, in all lands, pursued the even tenor of