Chapter having been recognized, and that if so, it should be, in some way, made to appear upon the record."

The report of the committee on the last item as found at the same meeting, was that they did find documentary evidence in the hands of the General Grand Secretary sufficient to prove that the Grand Chapter of Georgia was a constituent of the General Grand Chapter, although said Grand Chapter had not been represented, or made returns to that body since 1822.

The above statement of facts is not very flattering to the officers of the General Grand Chapter, whose duty it evidently was to know from the records and registers who were the constituents of that Grand Body. Such remissness and want of knowledge in regard to the very vital affairs show gross neglect of duty and want of care in the management of so important a body of Masons as the General Grand Chapter.

Idaho.

The Grand Chapter of Oregon granted a Charter to Idaho Chapter, in Idaho City, June 18, 1867, being under the impression that the General Grand Chapter had ceased to exist. This chapter was constituted August 18, 1867. At the twentieth session of the General Grand Chapter, held September 18, 1868, the General Grand Chapter adopted a report, which included "good faith" of the petitioners, healing all those who had been exalted in the chapter, and granting a Charter to Idaho Chapter, No. 1, Idaho City, on September 18, 1868. The General Grand Chapter issued warrants to other chapters in Idaho, viz.: February 14, 1870, a dispensation to Cyrus, No. 2, at Silver City, then in Dakota; March 30, 1870, a dispensation to Boise, No. 3, at Boise City; charters were issued to these two September 20, 1871.1

In the proceedings of the General Grand Chapter for August 25, 1880, on petition of Comp. C. P. Coburn and others of Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho, a Charter was granted, August 27, 1880, to Lewiston Chapter, No. 4.2

At the twenty-sixth triennial, held October 1, 1886, Alturas Chapter, No. 5, at Harley, Dak., was granted a Charter.3

Pocatello, No. 6, at Pocatello, received a dispensation dated May

1" Pro. Gen. Gr. Ch. for 1871," p. 33.

2 Ibid., p. 81.

3 Ibid., p. 125.

28, 1889, and a Charter November 22, 1889; Moscow Chapter, at Moscow, received a Charter July 23, 1891; Fayette Chapter, No. 8, at Fayette, received a Charter August 24, 1894.

Illinois.

The Deputy General Grand High-Priest, Joseph K. Stapleton, gave a dispensation to Springfield Chapter, in Springfield, July 19, 1841;1 and at the eleventh triennial meeting of the General Grand Chapter, held September 14, 1841, a Charter was granted on the 17th.2

At the twelfth triennial session, September 10, 1844, the Deputy General Grand High-Priest reported having issued a dispensation for Lafayette Chapter, in Chicago, dated July 2, 1844.3

At the thirteenth triennial session, September 14, 1847, he reported having issued dispensations to Jacksonville Chapter, No. 3, at Jacksonville, and Shawneetown Chapter, No. 6, at Shawneetown, since the session of 1844, and a Charter to Lafayette Chapter, in Chicago.1

The General Grand Scribe Ezra S. Barnum reported having issued dispensations on March 10, 1846, to open Horeb Chapter, No. 4, at Henderson, and April 1, 1846, to open Quincy Chapter, No. 5, at Quincy.

At the fourteenth triennial session, September 10, 1850, several of the chapters working under dispensations having applied for charters were refused because they had failed to send up the records of their proceedings, and therefore the committee was unable to say whether their doings had been regular or not. Among these were the chapters Reynolds, Stapleton, Springfield, and Quincy, and recommended that their dispensations be continued in force until next triennial meeting."

At the same session (fourteenth) the Deputy General Grand High-Priest reported having issued dispensations for the formation of Howard Chapter, on July 28, 1848, and Stapleton Chapter, June 28, 1849. The General Grand King reported that since the last triennial he had granted a dispensation to a chapter to be held in Cambridge in the County of Henry, Ill., to be called Reynolds 2 Ibid., p. 111. 3 Ibid., p. 122. 5 Ibid., p. 201.

1" Compendium," p. 110.

4 Ibid., p. 145.

Chapter, No.-,' dated March 2, 1850. The General Grand Scribe reported that since the last triennial he had granted a dispensation to open a chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Rock Island, Ill., August 1, 1849,2 to be called Barrett.

At the thirteenth triennial meeting the General Grand King reported that he had granted authority to seven chapters in Illinois to organize a Grand Chapter.

April 10, 1850, a convention of the representatives of six of these chapters was held, and having the authority of the General Grand King, a Grand Chapter for the State of Illinois was organized.3

Indian Territory.

A convention of three chartered chapters, Indian, No. 1; Oklahoma, No. 2, and Muskogee, No. 3, was held by their representatives, October 15, 1889; organized and made application to the General Grand High-Priest for authority to constitute a Grand Chapter for Indian Territory, which was refused. Subsequently the succeeding General Grand High-Priest, David F. Day, at the general grand convocation, held at Atlanta, Ga., November 22, 1889, granted their request, and on February 15, 1890, the Grand Chapter was constitutionally instituted. At the second annual convocation, held at Oklahoma, August 20, 1891, seven chapters were represented.

Indiana.

The first record evidence of the establishment of Royal Arch Masonry in the State of Indiana is found in the proceedings of the General Grand Chapter at the sixth meeting, held September 14, 1826, where under the report of a committee on the papers and proceedings of the General Grand Officers they say: "That a Charter had been granted to Vincennes Chapter, at Vincennes, State of Indiana, on 13th May, 1820; to Jennings Mark Lodge, at Vevay, Indiana, on 4th May, 1821, by the General Grand King, John Snow."4 September 14, 1838, the committee on the doings of General Grand Officers reported a dispensation having been granted by M. E. Companion Stapleton for a chapter at Richmond, Ind., and recommended a Charter for that chapter (September 14, 1838). This 2 Ibid., p. 184. 3 Ibid., p. 183.

1 "Compendium," p. 182.

4 Ibid., p. 73.

chapter was named King Solomon. At the eleventh meeting, held September 14, 1841, the Committee on Warrants recommended a Charter to be issued to Logan Chapter, Logansport; the dispensation of this chapter was dated March 12, 1839.

At the twelfth meeting, held September 10, 1844, the following statements were made by the General Grand Secretary: "By the records of the proceedings of the General Grand Chapter in 1819, it appears that the Committee to whom was referred the subject matter of dispensations granted by the General Grand Officers during the previous recess had heard that the then late Deputy General Grand High-Priest had granted dispensations for charters at Madison, and at Brookville, in Indiana; but there being no further evidence of their existence before the General Grand Chapter, no ratification of these acts was passed, nor were their charters ordered; although several charters were at that time ordered for other chapters holding dispensations under authority of other General Grand Officers. Consequently, Madison and Brookville Chapters ceased to exist as legally constituted Masonic Bodies at that time. It appears, however, from the herewith accompanying papers, that Madison Chapter continued its labors for many years; and there having been another chapter established at Vincennes, in that State, in 1823, it is said a Grand Chapter was organized with the approbation of M. E. Comp. John Snow, General Grand King. No documentary evidence of that authority, however, or even records of the proceedings of that Grand Chapter are known to exist. Nor does it appear of record that the General Grand Chapter was ever advised of the existence of such an institution.

On the true position of these things being made known to the Companions at Madison, in the proper spirit of Masonry they immediately suspended all work, closed their chapter, and determined to lay their case before the General Grand Chapter, which was done by their High-Priest, M. E. Joseph G. Norwood, in a very frank, perspicuous, and able manner, presented amongst the documents, accompanied by their dispensation, their return for 1842 to the present time (September 10, 1844), and the payment of such dues as have accrued within that time. No return had been made from 1819 to 1842. Their irregularities were evidently the result of mistakes as to the extent of power given by their dispensation, and

1" Compendium," p. 116.

2

they asked that their acts may be made lawful by the General Grand Chapter and that all dues up to 1842 be remitted, and asked for a Charter.1 This was duly granted, September 12, 1844, and all dues remitted up to 1842. The past work was pronounced illegal, and authority was given to heal all who had received degrees in it. At the twelfth meeting above mentioned (1844), the Deputy General Grand High-Priest reported having issued a dispensation to Lafayette Chapter, No. 3, at Lafayette, August 17, 1843; a Charter was granted to this chapter, September 11, 1844; at this meeting permission was granted by the General Grand Chapter for a convention to assemble, dated November 18, 1845, and the Grand Chapter of Indiana was duly constituted December 25, 1845.

Iowa.

3

At the thirteenth meeting of the General Grand Chapter, held September 14, 1847, the Deputy General Grand High-Priest reported that since the triennial session, in 1844, he had authorized the consecration, by proxy, of Iowa Chapter, at Burlington, Ia., and also Iowa City Chapter, at Iowa City. He had also issued a dispensation to form Dubuque Chapter, No. 3, at Dubuque, Ia.1 Charter to the same was dated September 17, 1847.

Dispensation to Iowa Chapter, No. 1, was dated August 24, 1843.5 Charter to the same was dated September 11, 1844.

Dispensation to Iowa City Chapter, No. 2, was dated March 19, 1844. Charter to the same was dated September 17, 1847.

At the fifteenth meeting of the General Grand Chapter, held September 17, 1853, Washington Chapter, No. 4, at Muscatine, Ia., was chartered, dated September 17, 1853.7

A dispensation had been issued to McCord Chapter, No. 5, at Fairfield, probably in March, 1853. The Deputy General Grand High-Priest, Joseph K. Stapleton, having died very soon thereafter, no report was made. That chapter received a Charter from the Grand Chapter of Iowa after it was constituted, dated June 14, 1854.

A convention of the above-named chapters, by their delegates,