On 13th August, issued and mailed Grand High Priest for approval a warrant in favor of Grand Council for $176.25, funds borrowed of Grand Council in 1879, as appears by the accounts of the Treasurers of both Grand Bodies at that time. Thus completing the payment of all indebtedness of the Grand Chapter to the Grand Council. The last named body has incurred considerable expense in reprinting its earlier proceedings, and in the binding of complete sets of its proceedings, and the amount was needed to discharge obligations thus incurred. On 7th March, Charters were issued to Carthage Chapter, No. 120, Grenada; Brandon Chapter, No. 121; West Point Chapter, No. 122; DeWitt Clinton Chapter, No. 123. June 12-Issued Dispensation for revival of Chickasaw Chapter, No. 65, at Cumberland, Webster county-the Companions to apply for a Charter at this time. This Chapter was revived by virtue of the action taken at last Grand Convocation as to dormant Chapters. On April 30, prepared Dispensation for the revival of Euclid Chapter, No. 67, DeSoto County, but have heard nothing further from the Companions. GRAND REPRESENTATIVES. March 9-Received Commission for Comp. M. M. Evans as Representative Grand Chapter of Missouri. The Commission was held up for some weeks because the G.`. H.'. P.`, of Missouri was not informed that Comp. Evans was a P... H. ́. P.. On being officially notified that he was eligible according to the Missouri qualifications the commission was received. September 11-Received notice of the death of Companion Sylvester D. Stockbridge, (Representative to Grand Chapter, (Maryland,) on February II. Comp. Ira D. Miller, of Baltimore, was commissioned his successor, and signified acceptance October 5th. October 14-Notified Grand High Priest Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia that the Representative of that Jurisdiction near this Grand Chapter, was suspended for non-payment of dues by his Chapter in 1894, and that he dimitted from his Lodge in 1896. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Comp. J. R. Price, of Okolona, October 29th. The recent death of that distinguished citizen and Mason, Comp. John Q. A. Fellows, of New Orleans, created a vacancy in the office of Grand Representative. A successor has been nominated, and will be referred to the G.'. H. ́. P.'. Comp. Fellows had been our Representative since 1880. July 28-On being advised by Comp. Waring that the widow of Past Grand Lecturer Morris Cook, was in needy circumstances, I drew a warrant in her favor, and issued a special appeal to the Chapters. Am not advised of the aggregate response. The contributions were to be sent to Comp. Waring for her. She died soon after. A SIGNET RING. In reading recently Bro. Barkley's review of the proceedings of the Grand Lodges of Texas and Utah, I was impressed with a beautiful custom they have at the annual installation of Grand Officers. There have been some practices in Utah that could not be copied in Mississippi, but there are no better or brighter Masons any where than in that State. The custom that I desire copied by this Grand Chapter is the investing of each Grand High Priest with a Signet Ring, by his predecessor, on being inducted by him into office, to be worn by him during his term at least on all Masonic occasions. Presuming that the Grand Chapter would approve the suggestion, I have ordered and had hoped to have here this morning, a Signet Ring of pure gold and handsome design, with suitable inscription. This I desire, on this semi-centennial occasion, to present to the Grand Chapter as a taken of my love for and my gratitude to it and all its members for all their courtesies and kindnesses in the past; and that it may help to perpetuate among the Royal Craft in Mississippi the memory of one whose ambition has been to bring from the quarries work fit for inspection. Comp. Speed could prepare an amendment to the installation ceremonies that would include the investiture and acceptance of Ring. Fraternally submitted, J. L. POWER, Grand Secretary. The report was referred to Finance Committee. The Grand Treasurer, Comp. Wm. G. Paxton. being extremely ill, was unable to submit a report for 1897. It was ordered that when report be furnished it be audited by Finance Committee and published in the proceedings. In absence of Report, Grand Secretary submits the following statement as to the financial condition of Grand Chapter: 1898. Feb. 9. Less paid Grand Council, Nov. 7, 1896.. $ 1456.34 400.00 $ 1056.54 Pay Roll and other warrants, as cash from G. S...... 1308.97 In addition to balance in Treasury March 31, 1898... Total available.. 2.50 169.05 2.25 5.00 24.65 200.00 $1668.55 416.67 $2085.22 280.09 $2365.31 280.09 47.17 $327.26 The Report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence was submitted by Comp. P. M. Savery, and was ordered printed with the proceedings. The following interesting report from our Grand Representative at the Grand Chapter of New York, Companion Otto Scholz, was read and ordered to be inserted in the proceedings: ALBANY, N. Y., February 5th, 1898. To the M.. E.. Grand High Priest Officers and Companions of the M... E..Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Mississippi in 50th Annual Convocation assembled,-Greeting: As the Grand Representative of the M.. E.. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Mississippi near the M..E..Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of New York I fraternally submit the following report: The 101st Annual Convocation of the M.. E.. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of New York convened at the Masonic Temple at Albany, N. Y., on Thursday morning, February 1st, at 11 o'clock, A. M. The Convocation was opened in due and ample form by M.. E.. John Webb, Jr., Grand High Priest, in the presence of all the Grand Officers, Past Grand High Priests, Permanent Members. Representatives of Sister Jurisdictions, and the Representatives of 185 Royal Arch Chapters, representing a membership of over 20,000 Royal Arch Masons. Your Grand Representative was received and greeted with a cordial and fraternal welcome and requested to convey fraternal greetings and the best wishes of the M. E.. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of New York to the M.. E.. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Mississippi. The reading of the minutes being dispensed with, the M.'. E... Grand High Priest delivered his annual address, as also the other officers. The Committee appointed at the last annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter to arrange for the Centennial Celebration made their report and outlined the program agreed upon. In the afternoon session the newly elected High Priests were duly annointed, consecrated and solemnly set apart for the Order of High Priesthood. In the evening the Fraternal Union of Annointed High Priests of the State of New York, of which your representative has the honor to be president, held a Banquet at the Masonic Temple. Wednesday morning the Grand Chapter convened at 9 o'clock a. m. for routine business, and for the annual address of the Grand Chaplain, R.'. E.. Comp. and Rev. Murray. At 2 o'clock p. m. the Grand Chapter assem bled at the Temple and marched in a body to St. Peters P. E. church where an address was delivered by Right. Rev. and Companion Bishop Potter from New York, and Historical Addresses by the following Past Grand High Priests. M.. E.. David M, Day, P.'. Gr.'. H.'. P. M.. E.. Marvin I. Greenwood M.. E.. Thomas Cassidy.. M.. E.. William Sherer. 1797-1822. .1822-1847. 1847-1872. .1872-1897. At 6 o'clock p. m. the Grand Chapter sat down to an elaborate Centennial Banquet, covers being laid for 400, where we had the pleasure of listening to the speeches of the following distinguished Companions and Masons: M.. E.. John Webb, Jr., Grand High Priest, State of New York. M.·. W... Wm. A. Sutherland, Grand Master, State of New York. M.. E.. Arthur McArthur, Grand Commander, State of New York. M.. E . Luke A. Lockwood, Grand High Priest, State of Connecticut. M.. E.. James D. Pollard, Past Grand High Priest, State of New York. R.. E.. George McGown, Grand Lecturer, State of New York. W.. Thomas Van Alstyne, Past Master, Mount Vernon Lodge No. 2, F. and A. M., also Mayor of the City of Albany. Thursday morning the Grand Chapter convened at 9 o'clock, and proceeded with the election of Officers. The result was a re-election and re appointment of all the Grand officers of the preceding year. After the installation the routine business of the Grand Chapter was concluded. The Grand Chapter then formed in procession and marched to the lower hall of the Temple, where a copper box was deposited in an opening cut into the wall, containing a history of the Grand Chapter, an autograph book of all those who attended the Centennial celebration and other souvenirs; the box was then sealed with a Bronze Tablet bearing the following inscription: 1798, Centennial Celebration Record, Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons, State of New York, Deposited here February 3rd, 1898. John Webb, Jr.. Grand High Priest. CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE-William J. McDonald, chairman, William Sherer, George E. W. Stivers, John W. Palmer, Herman H. Russ, Alfred A. Guthrie, William E. Fitch, 1898. After this ceremony the 101st Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of the State of New York was closed in due and ample form. A more detailed description of this historic event you will find in the accompanying newspaper reports, and also in the printed proceedingswhich will be forwarded to you as soon as issued. I regret very much that I am not permitted to be present at your 50th or semi-centennial celebration, but I extend to you my heartfelt congratulations on this occasion, and I pray that the Great Jehovah may continue to shower His blessings as also prosperity upon the Royal Craft and the M.. E.. Grand Chapter of the State of Mississippi. Trusting that you will have a pleasant and successful Convocation, I am yours in the work. OTTO SCHOLZ, Grand Representative of the M.. E.. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Mississippi, near that of the State of New York. The Special Committee on Address of M.. E.. Grand High Priest submitted the following report, which was adopted: To the Grand Chapter: Your Special Committee to whom was referred the Address of the M... E.. Grand High Priest, beg leave to report— 1. That so much of said Address as relates to the Grand Lecturer, be referred to a Conference Committee composed of four members from the Grand Chapter and three from the Grand Council. 2. So much as refers to necrology, be referred to a Special Committee of three. 3. That so much as refers to compensation of Grand Lecturer be referred to said Conference Committee. 4. So much as refers to Subordinate Chapters to the Committee on Subordinate Chapters. 5. So much as refers to dispensations, to the Law Committee. 6. So much as refers to the General Grand Chapter, to a Special Committee of three. Fraternally submitted, E. G. DELAP, The M... E.. Grand High Priest announced the following Special Committees: CONFERENCE Companions O. L. McKay, J. C. French, Jno. S. Cobb, A. M. Hicks. NECROLOGY-P. M. Savery, Irvin Miller, Frederic Speed. Report of Committee on Credentials. To the Grand Chapter: Your Committee on Credentials beg leave to report that we find the following duly accredited Representatives of Chapters in attendance: NATCHEZ, NO. I—J. C. French, proxy for H. P., L. A. Benoist, proxy for King. VICKSBURG, No. 3-B. W. Griffith, H. P. COLUMBUS, No. 4-Thos. B. Franklin, H. P. WILSON, No. 5-Geo. C. Myers, P. H. P., Representative. JACKSON, No. 6—Wm. B. Taylor, P. H. P., prox for H. P. TUPELO, No. 7—J. T. Garrett, H. P. YAZOO, No. 8 LEXINGTON, No. 9-C. C. Swinney, K. CANTON, NO. 10-John A. B. Jones. H. P.; C. Olsen, K. EUPHEMIA, No. 13-Wm. G. Sykes, H. P. WM. H. WILKINSON, No. 16-A. T. Benedict, H. P. MERIDIAN, No. 25-W. H. Howard, K. OKOLONA, NO. 27-J. R. Price, H. P. WALKER, NO. 28-J. H. Howry, H. P. DECATUR, No. 31 EMORY, NO. 32-John Belford, P. H. P., proxy for H. P. VERONA, No. 47-John S. Cobb, P. H. P.; C. B. Evans, K. NEW ALBANY, No. 49-John S. Brooks, H. P. MT. CARMEL, No. 50-D. C. Buchanan, H. P. |