Transactions of the ... Annual Convocation ...

relative to the Esoteric Word, submitted the following report, which was unanimously adopted:

To the Grand High Priest, Officers and Members of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, of the State of Michigan:

Your Committee, to whom was referred so much of the Most Eminent Grand High Priest's Address, as referred to the Esoteric Word, would respectfully report, that they have had the subject under careful consideration; and beg leave to make the following statement:

In 1876, a Committee appointed by the Grand Chapter, to take into consideration the Esoteric Word, presented a majority report, recommending that the Word then in use be retained in this jurisdiction. A minority report was also presented at the same date, recommending a return to the old Word, which had been previously in use in this Grand Jurisdiction.

After elaborate discussion, the Grand Chapter indefinitely postponed the further consideration of the whole subject.

This action, in the opinion of your Committee, leaves the question just the same, in a parliamentary sense, as though the question had never been raised; and, therefore, the Esoteric Word, enunciated by Grand High Priest McCurdy, in 1872, in the absence of definite action on the part of the Grand Chapter, is the Word; and only Word now lawfully in use in the Subordinate Chapters in this Grand Juris

diction.

Respectfully Submitted.

WM. STOWE,

P. F. BLOSSER,

H. H. HINDS,

Committee.

EDICTS.

The Special Committee, to whom the matter of Edicts was referred, made the following report:

To the Grand High Priest, Officers and Members of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, of the State of Michigan:

Your Committee to whom was referred that part of the Grand High Priest's Address, relative to the printing of the Edicts of this Grand Chapter, have had the subject matter under consideration; and beg

leave to report that they recommend that the Grand Secretary be instructed to print with the Proceedings and new Constitution, the general Edicts of the Grand Chapter, now in force; and not covered by or in conflict with the new Constitution, after a careful compilation of the same.

Respectfully Submitted.

WM. P. INNES,
JOHN W. McGRATH,
THOMAS F. GERLS.

Committee.

On motion of Comp. Champlin, the subject of Edicts was referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, with instructions that they compile the same; and furnish them to the Grand Secretary, in time to publish with the Proceedings. NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.

Companion Shoemaker, in a few well-timed remarks, invited the Grand Chapter to hold its next session in the City of Jackson; and, upon motion, the invitation was accepted.

MISSISSIPPI MATTER.

Companions G. B. Noble, on behalf of the Committee appointed on that part of the Most Eminent Grand High Priest's address, relating to Mississippi, submitted the following report, which was accepted and adopted:

To the Grand High Priest, Officers and Members of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, of the State of Michigan:

Your Committee; to whom was referred so much of the Grand High Priest's address as relates to the action of Mississippi, beg leave to report, that they do not find that Cryptic Masonry was ever attached to Capitular Masonry, and that the action of Mississippi, in assuming possession of those Degrees, conflicts with the Constitution of the General Grand Chapter.

We, therefore, cannot approve of their action.

Respectfully Submitted.

G. B. NOBLE,
GEORGE HILL,

Committee.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

Companion Grand Secretary Wm. P. Innes, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, submitted his annual report, which, after being partially read, was accepted, adopted, and ordered printed with the Proceedings. [For report, see Appendix.]

PERMISSION TO FORWARD DUES.

Companion Halsted Gregory, of Chapter No. 86, was given permission to forward dues and returns of said Chapter to the Grand Secretary; and, upon so doing, to appear as the Representative of said Chapter; and the same action was taken in regard to the Representatives of Washtenaw Chapter, No. 6.

AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION.

Companion Tenant submitted the following amendment to the Constitution, which was accepted and ordered printed, and laid over for one year, under the rules.

Resolved, That Section 1, of Article 7, of the Constitution recently adopted, be amended, by inserting, in the sixth line, after the words "Grand Chapter," "Excepting representatives from the Upper Peninsula, who shall receive ten cents per mile."

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE.

Companion McCurdy, for the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, submitted the following report, which was accepted. and adopted:

To the Most Eminent Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, of the State of Michigan:

Your Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, to whom was referred the Decisions of the Grand High Priest, respectfully report and recommend, that Decisions 1, 2 and 3 be adopted.

That, as regards Decision No. 4, by the adoption of the new Constitution, Section 5 of Article 9, the membership of a Companion, receiving the Royal Arch Degree, is declared to be in the Chapter conferring the Degree, unless it shall have been conferred at the request of another Chapter; and the signing of the By-Laws is not a prerequisite to membership. With this qualification, we recommend that it be affirmed.

We also recommend, that Decisions Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, be affirmed.

In regard to Decision No. 13, it is affirmed by the adoption of Section 9, Article 10, of the new Constitution, and has become the fundamental law of this Jurisdiction. However, for the purpose of avoiding such errors, in the future, your Committee recommend that all petitions for the degrees shall state whether the petitioner has previously petitioned a Chapter for the Degrees; and this point should be faithfully inquired into by the Committee of Reference.

Respectfully submitted,

HUGH MCCURDY, P. G. H. P.,
WM. S. TENANT,

A. J. UTLEY.

Committee.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The hour having arrived for the election of Grand Officers, for the ensuing year, the Grand High Priest appointed Companions Greene, Purington, and Schedecock, to act as Tellers; who, after the votes were cast, announced the result of the ballots, as follows; and the following Officers were declared duly elected:

M. E. COMP. CHAS. J. KRUGER,

R. E. COMP. DAVID C. SPAULDING,
R. E. COMP. S. H. NORTON,
R. E. COMP. CHAS. H. AXTELL,
R. E. COMP. RUFUS W. LANDON,
R. E. COMP. WM. P. INNES,
R. E. COMP. REV. WM. STOWE,
R. E. COMP. DAVID BOVEE,

R. E. COMP. C. W. STRAIT,

R. E. COMP. R. H. MORRISON,
R. E. COMP. A. M. CLARK,

E. COMP. THERON F. GIDDINGS,

E. COMP. J. F. HICKS,

E. COMP. W. I. LATTIMER,

E. COMP. WM. V. GRIFFITH,

Gd. High Priest.
Dep. G. H. Priest.
Grand King.
Grand Scribe.
Grand Treasurer.
Grand Secretary.
Grand Chaplain.
Gd. Capt. of Host.
Gd. P. Sojourner.
Gd. R. A. Captain.

Grand Lecturer.

G. M. 3d Vail.

G. M. 2d Vail.

G. M. 1st Vail.

Grand Sentinel.