Royal Exchange, No. 126, with date of July 30th, 1733. It is now known as the St. John's Lodge. In the "Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for 1871, imprint Boston, 1872, are fac-similes of Price's commission from Viscount Montague, the petition from the brethren to form them into a Lodge, and also copies of a large correspondence in relation to the matter. I may state that the records of the Grand Lodge of England do not show that a commission was granted to Henry Price as stated; but it may be conceded, on the evidence of the Grand Lodge calendar and records preserved by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, that a Lodge was in existence in Boston in 1733. However, by the discovery in a Philadelphia library, a few years ago, of what is known as "Liber B" of St. John's Lodge of that city, it was found that a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was working in Pennsylvania in 1731, two years prior to the institution of the Boston Lodge. This "Liber B" is the Secretary's ledger of the Lodge, and shows an uninterrupted and prosperous condition from 1731 to 1738. A photogravure copy of same was recently to be seen at the Masonic Exhibition in the Isle of Wight. Its authenticity is undoubted, and it carries in itself the hall mark of truth. It has also been reprinted in the "Early History and Reprint of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania." In connection with this it is submitted that the appointment of Daniel Cox, of New Jersey, in 1730, by the Grand Master of England, which fact is attested by the Grand Lodge records, as Provincial Grand Master of the Provinces of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; the reports of the election of successive Provincial Grand Masters by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in the files of the Pennsylvania Gazette (Bro. Ben. Franklin's paper) from 1732 to 1741; and, finally, the fact that there is extant a letter from Henry Bell to Dr. T. Cadawalader, both reputable brethren, and dated about 1754, which states that Cox instituted the St. John's Lodge, comprise a chain of testimony which it will require much more than unsupported assertions to overturn. Pennsylvania is content to submit the case on its merits, and abide by the result. Nor does she allow her judgment to be influenced other than by facts.

HENRY RIDDIFORD, Newton, Kansas, U. S. A., Member Correspondence Circle Quatour Coronita Lodge, No. 2076. England.

GRAND HOLY ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF
PENNSYLVANIA.

Matthias H. Henderson, Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania, at the annual communication, held at Philadelphia, December 27, 1886, in his address said:

As am just entering upon the administration of the affairs of this office, I have no record of duties done to submit to your consideration. but I desire to call your attention in a few plain words to some points in regard to the working of Subordinate Chapters which have at various times come under my observation. Our Chapters are sometimes applied to for the degrees by brethren who are members of Lodges in other Jurisdictions. Some of these applications—and the word application in this sense does not mean petition - are to frontier Chapters by brethren residing across the line, who are nearer the Pennsylvania Chapter than they are to one in their own Jurisdiction; the remainder are from brethren residing in our own Territory. The obstacle to the reception of these petitions is, that the applicants have not passed the chair. We call it "Passing the Chair," while our contemporaries call it "Past Master's Degree," and for the purposes of this address we will adopt that form of expression. In Pennsylvania this is done in the Lodge. In all the other Jurisdictions of this country it is conferred in the Chapter, except in the comparatively few instances where it is given to the elected Worshipful Master of a symbolic Lodge. Our Constitution, in Section 107, says, that an applicant for the degrees must be a "Past Master either by election or dispensation." The case of an applicant who holds membership in a foreign Lodge is, therefore, governed by three different conditions, as follows:

First. If he is not a Past Master he cannot present a petition. Second. If he is a Past Master and resides within our Jurisdiction, he can present a petition.

Third. If he is a Past Master residing outside of our Jurisdiction, the consent of his own Grand High Priest must be obtained in the usual manner before he can present a petition.

The remedy for those who are not Past Masters is to withdraw from their Lodge, unite with a Pennsylvania Lodge, and pass the chair by dispensation when they will be qualified to make applica

tion to the Chapter. It is to be regretted that uniformity of usage regarding the Past Master's Degree cannot be established, and as this is the principal point of difference between the other American Grand Chapters and ourselves, for which we have been mildly referred to as "conservative," "old fogy," and our position alluded to as an isolated one, it may be well to contemplate the subject and ascertain to what extent our practice is supported by common sense and ancient usage and custom. I have taken pains to examine authorities, and find that some very eminent ones express views inconsistent with the practice of their respective Grand Chapters. A well-known author of New York says:

"In point of fact, the degree of Past Master is out of place in the Chapter, and has no right there. It belongs to the Blue Lodge. *** In the Chapter it has no significance nor pertinence whatever it is simply an act without meaning, and mars greatly the beauty of Royal Arch Masonry.'

A distinguished Masonic writer of the District of Columbia, says that originally it was always conferred in Lodges, and that "the jurisdiction over it by Chapters is altogether an assumed one."

An English author, in a letter to Grand High Priest Meyer, dated October 1, 1872, and published in our proceedings of that year, says:

"It seems to have been the custom (in fact was) of the Grand Lodge according to the old Constitutions (called the Ancients') to confer the Past Master's Degree in a Craft Lodge to candidates for Royal Arch Masonry,"

Which is precisely what we in Pennsylvania do to day. In another part of the same letter, he says:

Until recently, in Scotland, the system of Capitular Freemasonry prevailing in the United States was adopted, but at the Grand Lodge, held the 5th of February last, it was decided to return to the old English system, and hence the Grand Chapter of Scotland has retired from the control of the Past Master's Degree, and left it entirely in the hands of the Grand Lodge."

I regret that I have not space to quote this letter in full, and would refer those to it who desire to pursue the subject further. Its whole tenor is that the degree originated in the Lodge, that it was designed for the use of the Lodge, and that it is out of place anywhere else. I might multiply quotations and enlarge upon them,

but enough has been said to show that the practice of conferring the degree in Chapters is a modern innovation, and that our Grand Chapter is the only one in this country that has observed that timehonored precept which admonishes us to reject all attempts to improve Freemasonry, and to adhere strictly to ancient usage, custom and landmark. The name, Past Master, signifies that it is an honorary distinction given to a brother who has past through the office of Master, and as Lodges are the only Masonic bodies governed by Masters, a sensible view of the matter would indicate that it should be given to the brother entitled to it by the Body in which he has attained the distinction, and why it should be conferred by any other authority, or how two different Bodies can consistently exercise jurisdiction over the same degree is something which our friends have never explained.

In connection with the Past Master's Degree a point of law demands notice. A Chapter has no right to receive a petition for the degrees and membership unless it has Masonic knowledge that the applicant has passed the chair, and is in reality what he professes to be, a Past Master Mason. In order to expedite matters, and enable an applicant to become a Royal Arch Mason two or three weeks earlier than he otherwise would, Chapters have been known to receive a petition and the signer has past the chair after the petition was presented and before he came fo ward to take the degrees. This is a violation of the law which cannot be permitted to go unnoticed. A brother cannot conscientiously sign a petition stating that he is a Past Master until he is one, nor can a Chapter acting in the same spirit receive it.

The office of District Deputy Grand High Priest is not second in importance to any in the gift of the Grand High Priest, and not the least of his responsibilities is the selection of competent Companions for these appointments. The ideal officer should be so thoroughly conversant with the ritual as to be able to detect and correct errors in it, and so well acquainted with the law as to be able to decide questions submitted to him. These things he should know, but these are not enough; he should know how to discharge his duties with tact, and his deportment should be so gentlemanly that intercouse with him will be agreeable to the Chapters in his charge. He should never lose sight of his allegiance to the Grand Chapter, and should, with gentle firmness, insist upon strict con

formity to its Constitution and edicts. As he is supposed to be better acquainted with the condition and necessities of his District than any one else, the Grand High Priest is disposed to defer to a great extent to his opinions, and, therefore, the prosperity of Capitular Masonry in his District will depend greatly upon his judgment and discretion. He is the representative of the Grand High Priest, and his Chapters should address him upon all questions affecting their interests. Although the Constitution, in Section 21, defines his powers and duties, my own experience is that many Chapters have very crude ideas concerning them, and for the benefit of all concerned I will endeavor to explain them more fully. It is his duty to visit his Chapters at least once a year, and oftener if he deems it necessary; to examine their condition, and give them such counsel as the peculiarities of each case demand. He should examine the minutes annually, observing that the proceedings of the Chapter are fully expressed, and that nothing improper is committed to writing. Irregularities are sometimes discovered only by an inspection of the minutes. He should make a written report in the minute book, commending the Secretary when he finds his duties well performed, or suggesting such improvements as may be needed. He should see that the annual returns and dues are forwarded to the Grand Secretary at the proper time, and he should, at the close of each year, make a full report of his official acts to the Grand High Priest. He should visit the Grand Chapter at least twice in each year, to become familiar with its working and details, and should. read its annual reports, which will assist him to decide questions submitted to him. He has no power to grant dispensations for any purpose whatever. He is not appointed for the purpose of doing the work of his Chapters, such as conferring degrees, and it must not be expected of him. It is a popular error that he alone has authority to install newly elected officers. While there can be no objection to his doing so, it is no part of his duty, either expressed or implied, and if High Priests who sometimes ask whether it would be lawful for them to install their own successors would read the warrants of their Chapters they would not ask the question. He should see that each High Priest in his district is in possession of the order of High Priesthood, and is competent to give it to his successor when installed. He should be energetic and active, and constantly on the alert to protect the interests of the Grand Chapter