"1. Do you solemnly promise that you will redouble your endeavours, to correct the vices, refine the morals, and promote the happiness of those of your brethren who have attained this sublime degree?

2. That you will never suffer your chapter to be opened unless there be present nine regular royal arch masons ?

"3. That you will never suffer either more or less than three brethren to be exalted in your chapter at one and the same time?

4. That you will not exalt any one to this degree, who has not shewn a charitable and humane disposition; or who has not made a considerable proficiency in the foregoing degrees ?

"5. That you will promote the general good of our order, and on all proper occasions be ready to give and receive instructions, and particularly from the general and state grand officers.

“6. That to the utmost of your power you will preserve the solemnities of our ceremonies, and behave in open chapter with the most profound respect and reverence, as an example to your companions?

"7. That you will not acknowledge or have intercourse with any chapter, that does not work under a constitutional warrant or dispensation?

"8. That you will not admit any visiter into your chapter who has not been exalted in a chapter legally consti tuted?

9. That you will observe and support such bye-laws as may be made by your chapter, in conformity to the constitution and general regulations of the grand chapter?

"10. That you will pay due respect and obedience to the instructions of the general and state grand officers,

particularly relating to the several lectures and charges, and will resign the chair to them, severally, when they may visit your chapter ?

"11. That you will support and observe the royal arch constitution, and the general regulations of the grand royal arch chapter, under whose authority you act?

"Do you submit to all these things, and do you promise to observe and practise them faithfully?

These questions being answered in the affirmative, the companions all kneel down in due form, and the grand high priest, or grand chaplain, repeats the following, or some other suitable prayer.

"Most Holy and Glorious Lord God, the Great High Priest of Heaven and Earth! we approach thee with reverence, and implore thy blessing on the companion appointed to preside over this new assembly, and now prostrate before thee; fill his heart with thy fear, that his tongue and actions may pronounce thy glory. Make him steadfast in thy service; grant him firmness of mind; animate his heart, and strengthen his endeavors; may he teach thy judgments and thy laws; and may the incense he shall put before thee, upon thine altar, prove an accep table sacrifice unto thee. Bless him, O Lord, and bless the work of his hands. Accept us in mercy; hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive our transgressions.

"Glory be to God the Father; as it was in the beginning, &c. Response." So mote it be."

All the companions except high priests and past high priests, are then desired to withdraw, while the new high priest is solemnly bound to the performance of his duties; and after the performance of other necessary cere

monies, not proper to be written, they are permitted to re

turn.

The grand high priest then addresses the new high priest, as follows:

3

"MOST EXCEELLENT COMPANION,

"In consequence of your cheerful acquiescence with the charges and regulations just recited, I now declare you duly installed and annointed high priest of this new chapter; not doubting your determination to support the reputation and honor of our sublime order. I now cheerfully deliver unto you the warrant under which you are to work; and I doubt not you will govern with such good order and regularity, as will convince your companions that their partiality has not been improperly placed.”

The grand high priest then clothes and invests the new high priest with the various implements and insignia of the order, with suitable charges to each of them.

The grand high priest then instals the several subordinate officers in turn; and points out to them the duties appertaining to their respective offices; after which he pronounces a suitable address to the new chapter, and closes the ceremony, with the following benediction:

"The Lord be with you all; let brotherly love continue; be not forgetful to entertain strangers :-Now the God of peace, our supreme high priest make you perfect to do his will.

"Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace and good will to men. As it was in the beginning, is now,

and ever shall be, &c."

SECT. 2. At the institution of all lodges of mark mas ter masons, under this jurisdiction, the same ceremonies as are prescribed in the foregoing section, are to be ob served, as far as they will apply to that degree.

SECT. 3. Whenever it shall be inconvenient for the grand or deputy grand high priests, respectively to attend in person, to constitute a new chapter or lodge, and instal the officers, they shall severally have power and authority to appoint some worthy high priest or past high priest, to perform the necessary ceremonies.

We, the officers and members of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the Northern States of America, do certify, that the foregoing is a true copy of the constitution of the said grand royal arch chapter of the northern states, as altered, amended and ratified, at a meeting of the grand chapter, holden at Providence, in the state of Rhode Isl and, on the 9th day of January, A. D. 1799, by adjournment from the city of Middletown, in the state of Connecticut. As witness our hands, the day and year above mentioned.

Benjamin Hurd, Grand King, & Grand High Priest, p. 1.
Thomas S. Webb, Grand Scribe, and Grand King, p. t.
James Harrison, Grand Scribe, p. t.
William Woart, Grand Secretary,
Abraham L. Clarke, Grand Chaplain.

GRAND CHAPTER OF MASSACHUSETTS

Benjamin Hurd, jun. Grand High Priest,
James Harrison, Grand Scribe.

售

GRAND CHAPTER OF RHODE-ISLAND.

Seth Wheaton, Grand High Priest,

Gersham Jones, Grand King,

Samuel Eddy, Grand Scribe.

GRAND CHAPTER OF NEW-YORK.

Dewitt Clinton, Grand High Priest,
Thomas Forthingham, Grand Kings
Jedediah Sanger, Grand Scribe.

Officers of the General Grand Chapter of the Northern States of America, elected agreeably to the second section of the first article of the constitution; to continue in office seven years from the second Thurday in January, A. D. 1799.

**EPHRAIM KIRBY, Esq. of Litchfield, (Connecticut) General Grand High Priest. :

BENJAMIN HURD. jun. of Charleston, (Massachusetts) General Grand King.

THOMAS S. WEBB, of Providence, (Rhode-Island) General Grand Scribe. ·

- REV. ABRAHAM L. CLARKE, of Bristol, (Rhode Island) General Grand Chaplain.

WILLIAM WOART, of Newburyport, (Massachusetts) General Grand Secretary.

JOSEPH HUNTINGDON, of Norwich, (Connecticut) Ge. neral Grand Treasurer,

JOHN C. TEN BROECK, Esq. of Hudson, (New-York) General Grand Marshal.

*Deceased.

CHAPTER XVII.

POWERS VESTED IN THE GENERAL GRAND OFFICERS.

AGREEABLY to the General Grand Royal Arch Constitution, Grand Royal Arch Chapters were established in the several northern states, where there were royal arch chapters existing; and in every instance the private chapters united with, and acknowledged the authority of the said grand chapters, excepting two chapters in the ci ty of New York.