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"Every circumstance combined to render this occasion uncommonly interesting, and to make an impression on the public mind highly favourable to the institution. The Rev. Clergy in the vicinity attended by invitation, and assisted in the solemnities; at the conclusion of which, the fraternity partook of Masonic dinners, prepared in a superior style. Owing to the great number of brethren assembled at Hallowell, a large booth was constructed of evergreen, placed in an airy situation, and tastefully decorated; where the following toasts, previously prepared, were drank, accompanied by appropriate music from the band

1. The general grand chapter of the United States.-United States'

march.

2. The grand chapter under whose May auspices we are constituted, her wisdom and zeal be perpetuated through all time, and "her children of the latest posterity rise up and call her blessed."-Massachusetts' march.

3. The grand lodge of MaineThough yet in its cradle, may it, like the infant Hercules, strangle the serpent of discord, and pursue its victorious career, till every monster of vice shall be exterminated from our land.Maine march.

4. The grand master and governor of Maine. His path of duty, as a ray of light; neither intrigue nor faction can divert him from his course.Governor King's march.

4. The Craft-Sacred is the pledge, sacred be its redemption.-Song in the Stranger.

5. Masonry-A beam from the fountain of light: may its rays extend till the whole world shall see its whole character.-Free Mason's march.

7. The key stone of the royal Masonic arch.-It sustains an edifice more beautiful than the temple of Solomon, and more durable than the pyramids of Egypt.-Royal arch Mason's march,

8. The memory of our grand master-WASHINGTON.-Dirge.

9. The memory of our grand mas❤ ter Solomon-Those who have beheld his wisdom by the light of Masonry, may exclaim with the Queen of the South, "the half had not been told me."-O how shall I in language weak.

The recent consecration of the grand lodge, and of three royal arch chapters in Maine, within so short a period, is a circumstance unequalled in Masonic history, and must be flattering to those who take a deep interest in the prosperity of the art. And in concluding these remarks, we cannot refrain from noticing the very impressive charges delivered to the several chapters by the M. E. D. grand high priest, who presided in a manner that gave universal satisfaction."

FROM OHIO.

A letter from the honourable Caleb Atwater, of Circleville, Ohio, to the editor of the Masonic Register, states, that no doubt can be entertained that the people who erected the ancient works in that part of America, were MASONS, from the discovery of many mounds in the earth, containing em blems of the order, and other valuable curiosities. He has generously promised us a particular communication upon the subject, accompanied by elegant drawings, which he says, "will Occupy many pages of the Register." He states, that "the ancient people were from India, and that their lodges were either on the highest hills, or in the lowest vales, and always near running water." Through the favour of this gentleman, we hope to be enabled to enrich some of the future numbers of the Register, with much important information, not only interesting to our Masonic brethren, but to the public generally.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, the father of his country, we hail as an illustrious leader of Masonry. He was not a nominal member, but a faithful bro

ther, and a constant practiser of the duties involved in that connection. He was a zealous promoter of the interest of the fraternity, always accepted with pride and gratitude of its honours, which he reflected upon it with increased lustre. He sanctioned our meetings by his presence; partook the rites and discharged the duties of the craft through a long course of constant attendance. When military and political life was over with him; when he was satiated with honour, and glory palled upon his taste, still did he cherish a fond affection for our mysteries and as punctually as he attended public worship in the church, would he attend private worship in the lodge. RICHARDS.

Masonic science has the best tendency: it not only measures the earth and seas, but ascertains the magnitudes and stations of the stars; it scrutinizes the hidden mysteries of philosophical disquisition; it teaches us that God made the heaven and the earth; also, that whatever is done therein, he is the mighty doer thereof. And when we cannot, by human wisdom, discover the cause of the adhesion of matter, or how the earth is carried through its evolutions, and poised in a true equilibrium by its specific gravity; it teaches us that the allotment of man which

some (falsely called) philosophers, have styled an eternal sleep, will, when we have passed the gloomy passage, open to our view, all that source of instruction, of which human wisdom can give us but a very faint glimmering. VANDERBILT.

GERMAN MASONIC PRECEPT. Detest avarice and ostentation. Do not look for the reward of virtue in the plaudits of the multitude, but in the innermost recesses of thy own heart; and if thou canst not make as many happy as thou desirest, reflect on the sacred tie of benevolence, which unites us, and exert thyself to the utmost in promoting our labour of love.

GENERAL CONSTITUTION. It being our wish to render this work worthy a preservation in the archives of Masonry, as a general deposit of knowledge, and table of reference, in all matters of importance to the fraternity, and considering it a matter of great moment, that each individual should possess a thorough knowledge of the rules and laws to which he owes allegiance, to whatever institution he may belong, we here insert, at full length, the constitution of the general grand royal arch chapter of the United States; to be followed, in succeeding numbers, by the laws, rules, and regulations, of the various other Masonic degrees. We are not unaware, that a number of our Masonic brethren already possess these documents, but when we consider, that a great majority are without them, they will readily observe the utility of recording them in the Masonic Register.

THE GENERAL GRAND ROYAL ARCH CONSTITUTION, FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ARTICLE I.

Of the General Grand Chapter.

SECT. 1. There shall be a General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the United States of America, which shall be holden as is hereinafter directed, and shall consist of a general grand high priest, deputy general grand high priest, general grand king, general grand scribe, secretary, treasurer, chaplain, and marshal; and likewise of the several grand and deputy grand high priests, kings, and scribes, for the time being, of the several state grand chapters, under the jurisdiction of this general grand chapter; and of the past general grand high priests, deputy general grand high priests, kings, and scribes of the said general grand chapter; and the aforesaid officers, or their proxies, shall be the only members and voters in said general grand chapter. And no per

son shall be constituted a proxy, unless he be a present or past officer of this, or a state grand chapter.

SECT. 2. The general grand chapter shall meet septennially, on the second Thursday in September, for the choice of officers, and other business : dating from the second Thursday in September, A. D. 1805, at such place as may, from time to time, be appoint

ed.

SECT. 3. A special meeting of the general grand chapter shall be called whenever the general grand high priest, deputy general grand high priest, general grand king, and general grand scribe, or any two of them, may deem it necessary; and also whenever it may be required by a majority of the grand chapters of the states aforesaid, provided such requisition be made known in writing, by the said grand chapters respectively, to the general grand high priest, deputy general grand high priest, king or scribe. And it shall be the duty of the said general officers, and they are each of them severally authorized, empowered, and directed, upon receiving official notice of such requisition from a majority of the grand chapters aforesaid, to appoint a time and place of meeting, and notify each of the state grand chapters thereof accordingly.

SECT. 4. It shall be incumbent on the general grand high priest, deputy general grand high priest, general grand king, and general grand scribe, everally, to improve and perfect themselves in the sublime arts, and work of mark masters, past masters, most excellent masters, and royarch Masons; to make themselves masters of the several Masonic lecres and ancient charges; to consult with each other, and with the grand and deputy grand high priests, kings, and scribes of the several states aforeaid, for the purpose of adopting meaes suitable and proper for diffusing knowledge of the said lectures, and harges, and an uniform mode of king, in the several chapters and

B

lodges throughout this jurisdiction; and the better to effect this laudable purpose, the aforesaid general grand officers are severally hereby authori zed, and empowered, to visit and preside in any and every chapter of royal arch Masons, and lodge of most excellent, past, or mark master Masons, throughout the said states, and to give such instructions and directions as the good of the fraternity may require; always adhering to the ancient landmarks of the order.

SECT. 5. In all cases of the absence of any officer from any body of Masons, instituted or holden by virtue of this constitution, the officer next in rank shall succeed his superior; unless, through courtesy, said officer should decline in favour of a past superior officer present. And in case of the absence of all the officers from any legal meeting of either of the bodies aforesaid, the members present, according to seniority and abilities, shall fill the several offices.

SECT. 6. In every chapter or lodge of Masons, instituted or holden by virtue of this constitution, all questions (except upon the admission of members or candidates) shall be determined by a majority of votes; the presiding officer for the time being, being entitled to vote, if a member; and in case the votes should at any time be equally divided, the presiding officer as aforesaid, shall give the casting vote.

SECT. 7. The general grand royal arch chapter, shall be competent (on concurrence of two-thirds of its members present) at any time hereafter, to revise, amend, and alter this constitution.

SECT. 8. In case any casualty should at any time hereafter prevent the septennial election of officers, the several grand officers shall sustain their respective offices until successors are duly elected and qualified.

SECT. 9. The general grand high priest, deputy general grand high priest, general grand king, and gen

eral grand scribe, shall severally have power and authority to institute new royal arch chapters, and lodges of the subordinate degrees, in any state in which there is not a grand chapter regularly established. But no new chapter shall be instituted in any state wherein there is a chapter or chapters holden under the authority of this constitution, without a recommendation from the chapter nearest the residence of the petitioners. The fees for instituting a new royal arch chapter, with the subordinate degrees, shall be ninety dollars; and for a new mark masters' lodge, twenty dollars; exclusive of such compensation to the grand secretary, as the grand officers aforesaid may deem reasonable.

ARTICLE II.

Of the State Grand Royal Arch
Chapters.

SECT. 1. The state grand chapters shall severally consist of a grand high priest, deputy grand high priest, grand king, grand scribe, grand secretary, grand treasurer, grand chaplain, and grand marshal, and likewise of the high priests, kings, and scribes, for the time being, of the several chapters over which they shall respectively preside, and of the past grand and deputy grand high priests, kings, and scribes, of the said grand chapters; and the said enumerated officers (or their proxies) shall be the only members and voters in the said grand chapters respectively.

SECT. 2. The state grand chapters shall severally be holden at least once in every year, at such times and places as they shall respectively direct; and the grand or deputy grand high priests respectively, for the time being, may at any time call a special meeting, to be holden at such place as they shall severally think proper to appoint.

SECT. 3. The officers of the state grand chapters shall be chosen annual

ly by ballot, at such time and place as the said grand chapters shall respectively direct.

SECT. 4. The several state grand chapters (subject to the provisions of this constitution) shall have the sole government and superintendence, of the several royal arch chapters, and lodges of most excellent, past, and mark master Masons within their respective jurisdictions; to assign their limits, and settle controversies that may happen between them; and shall have power, under their respective seals, and the sign manuel of their respective grand or deputy grand high priests, kings, and scribes, (or their legal proxies) attested by their respective secretaries, to constitute new chapters of royal arch Masons, and lodges of most excellent, past, and mark master Masons, within their respective jurisdictions.

SECT. 5. The grand and deputy grand high priests severally, shall have the power and authority, whenever they shall deem it expedient, (during the recess of the grand chapter of which they are officers) to grant letters of dispensation, under their respective hands, and private seals, to a competent number of petitioners (possessing the qualifications required by the 9th section of the second article) empowering them to open a chapter of royal arch Masons, and lodge of most excellent, past, and mark master Masons, for a certain specified term of time: provided, that the said term of time shall not extend beyond the next meeting of the grand chapter of the state in which such dispensation shall be granted; and provided further, that the same fees as are required by this constitution for warrants, shall be first deposited in the hands of the grand treasurer. And in all cases of such dispensations, the grand or deputy grand high priests, respectively, who may grant the same, shall make report thereof, at the next stated meeting of the grand chapter of their respective jurisdictions, when the said

grand chapters respectively, may either continue or recall the said dispensations, or may grant the petitoners a warrant of constitution; and in case such warrant shall be granted, the fees first deposited, shall be credited in payment for the same; but if a warrant should not be granted, nor the dispensation continued, the said fees shall be refunded to the petitioners, excepting only such part thereof as shall have been actually expended by means of their application.

SECT. 6. The several state grand chapters shall possess authority, upon the institution of new royal arch chapters, or lodges of mark masters, with- || in their respective jurisdictions, to require the payment of such fees as they may deem expedient and proper ; which said fees shall be advanced and paid into the treasury before a warrant or charter shall be issued.

SECT. 7. No warrant shall be granted, for instituting lodges of most excellent, or past masters, independent of a chapter of royal arch Masons.

SECT. 8. The grand chapters severally, shall have power to require from the several chapters and lodges under their respective jurisdictions, such reasonable proportion of sums, received by them for the exaltation or advancement of candidates, and such certain annual sums from their respective members, as by their ordinances or regulations shall hereafter be appointed; all which said sums or dues shall be made good, and paid annually, by the said chapters and lodges respectively, into the grand treasury of the grand chapter under which they hold their authority, on or before the first day of the respective annual meetings of the said grand chapters.

SECT. 9. No warrant for the institution of a new chapter of royal arch Masons shall be granted, except upon the petition of nine regular royal arch Masons; which petition shall be accompanied by a certificate from the chapter nearest to the place where the

new chapter is intended to be opened, vouching for the moral characters and Masonic abilities, of the petitioners, and recommending to the grand chapter under whose authority they act, to grant their prayer. And no warrant for the institution of a lodge of mark master Masons shall be granted, except upon the petition of (at least) five regular mark master Masons, accompanied by vouchers. from the nearest lodge of that degree, similar to those required upon the institution of a chapter.

SECT. 10. The grand secretaries of the state grand chapters, shall sev erally, make an annual communication to each other, and also to the general grand secretary, containing a list of grand officers, and all such other matters as may be deemed necessary for the mutual information of the said grand chapters. And the said grand secretaries shall also regularly transmit to the general grand secretary a copy. of all their by-laws and regulations.

SECT. 11. Whenever there shall have been three, or more, royal arch chapters, instituted in any state, by virtue of authority derived from this constitution, a grand chapter may be formed in such state, (with the approbation of one or more of the general grand officers) by the high priests, kings, and scribes, of the said chapters, who shall be authorized to elect the grand officers. Provided always, that no new state grand chapter shall be formed until after the expiration of one year from the establishment of the junior chapter in such state.

SECT. 12. The several grand and deputy grand high priests, kings, and scribes, for the time being, of the several state grand chapters, are bound to the performance of the same duties, and are invested with the same powers and prerogatives, throughout their respective jurisdictions, as are prescribed to the general grand officers, in the 4th section, 1st article of this constitution.

SECT. 13. The jurisdiction of the