Difference between revisions of "RACMassachusettsYear1821"

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1821

Jonathan Gage, Grand High Priest
Samuel L. Knapp, Deputy Grand High Priest
Caleb Butler, Grand King
James Morss, Grand Scribe

REGULAR SESSIONS

ANNUAL SESSION, 09/11/1821

Meeting held at Newburyport (Ch1-223):

Grand Chapter opened.

A committee was appointed to examine the records of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary. The report was attached.

The committee on charges against the Chapter at Greenwich reported progress and was given leave to sit again.

A committee reported on the resolution offered by St. Paul's Chapter:

The Committee, to whom was referred the communication from St. Paul's Chapter, ask leave to report, that they do not find any article in the Regulations, or in the Constitution of the State, or General Grand Chapter, respecting the names of candidates being inserted on the notifications for the meetings of Subordinate Chapters.

If, however, the by-laws of any Chapter require the names of candidates to be so inserted, then the warrant of a Grand Officer to dispense with the article which requires of the candidate a certain form of probation, does not dispense with the by-law requiring the insertion of the name; because the Grand Officers, or even the Grand Chapter, have no control over the by-laws, or local concerns of a Subordinate Chapter, provided they are not repugnant to the Regulations and Constitutions of the State and General Grand Chapter.

Your Committee are of opinion, that the names of candidates for exaltations should be invariably inserted in the notifications for the meeting at which they are to be balloted for.

The committee on regalia reported.

The petition from Franklin Chapter was read and postponed until after the meeting of the General Grand Chapter.

The committee on diplomas reported and additional Companions were added to it.

A sum of $60 was appropriated for charity.

After "much debate", the Grand Chapter voted to establish a Committee of Finance.

The meeting elected the following officers for the Grand Royal Arch Chapter for the ensuing year:

• Jonathan Gage, Grand High Priest
• Caleb Butler, Grand King
• James Morss, Grand Scribe
• Thomas Jackson, Grand Treasurer
• John Loring, Grand Secretary

Companion Morss declined the office; accordingly, Companion Roswell Lee was elected Grand Scribe for the coming year. The officers were accordingly installed. Companion Morss was voted the thanks of the Grand Chapter.

Companion Samuel L. Knapp declined the appointment for Deputy Grand High Priest. Thanks were voted to him for his service.

• Paul Dean, Deputy Grand High Priest
• William Barry, Grand Marshal
• Asa Eaton, Grand Chaplain
• Ezekiel Bascom, Grand Chaplain
• Samuel Osgood, Grand Chaplain
• Michael Roulstone, Grand Steward
• Daniel Baxter, Jr., Grand Steward
• John Scott, Grand Steward
• Joseph T. Pike, Grand Steward
• Stephen S. Hedge, Grand Inside Sentinel
• William Eaton, Grand Tyler
• Joseph Currier, Grand Tyler

STATED MEETING, 12/11/1821

Held at Mason's Hall, Boston (ChI-229):

The Grand Chapter opened.

The committee on charges against King Hiram's Chapter in Greenwich reported:

The Committee on charges against King Hiram's Chapter, having taken into consideration the defense made by their deputation, which is herewith annexed, report that their statement offers such an apology as might in good conscience be accepted by the Grand Chapter, and recommend that the subject subside.

The statement was as follows:

The agents of King Hiram's R. A. Chapter in answer to charges presented against them, before the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, by Franklin R. A. Chapter, acknowledge the incorrectness and impropriety of those proceedings which are the subject of said charges or complaints, though they did think there were reasons existing at the time which would tend to palliate if not almost to justify the said proceedings.

A petition for a chapter in Princeton was granted.

A report from the Grand Treasurer indicated that the meeting hall in the Old State House had been completed and fitted for Masonic purposes, and specified the amount assessed to the Grand Chapter.

A committee was reported "to take into consideration the propriety of modifying one of the duties of Royal Arch Masons, and to report thereon."

The committee on communication with the Grand Chapter of Maine was given leave to sit again.

The committee on diplomas presented a sketch for the new document, and were given leave to sit again.

A committee was appointed to purchase the Mark Plates from the widow of Comp. Edward Horsman.

STATED MEETING, 06/11/1822

Held at Mason's Hall, Boston (ChI-232):

The Grand Chapter opened.

The committees on modifying one of the duties of Royal Arch Masons and the diploma redesign were given leave to sit again.

The Grand Treasurer reported that the purchase of the Mark Plates from the widow of Comp. Edward Horsman had been accomplished.

A committee was appointed to consider a change to the Grand Constitutions, and reported:

... Your committee beg leave to report that the terms in said 13th article ought to be in accordance with the 4th section of the third article of the General Grand Chapter, that is, the application "shall lie over at least one meeting."

They therefore recommend that the said article be so amended as thus to comport with the General Grand Constitution.

The report will be acted on at the next Annual Communication.

A committee was appointed to examine the 14th article of the Regulations of the General Grand Chapter, and reported:

On the above motion the Committee are of opinion that the term nearest was meant to apply to the place where the candidate is domiciliated, but they think there is frequently a difficulty in this construction, as very often the candidate may reside in a commercial town (for purposes of business) nearer to a Chapter, than his place of domestic residence is, and that the article ought to be so altered as to admit him to the degrees in the Chapter where he can receive them with the greatest facility and least expense of travel. They therefore recommend that a Committee be raised to take this article into consideration.

A committee was appointed to consider the disposition of funds between the Grand Chapter and the new Grand Chapter of Maine.

LIST OF CHAPTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS: 18XX

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