should first acknowledge our dependence upon Him who orders all things wisely-by the might of his power, and the perfection of his attributes. This, I trust, we do, not only because it is customary at the commencement of our proceedings, on occasions like this, but from feelings of sincere reverence and gratitude, due from intelligent and rational creatures to their Creator.

DEATH OF P. G. SECRETARY COX.

Referring to the death of Past Grand Secretary Cox, he

says:

We feel thankful that so many of us have been spared to meet again, to transact such business as may come before us, and so promote the welfare of Capitular Masonry in our jurisdiction. While the theme may be one of gratitude and congratulation, yet, since we last met, many have fallen by the wayside; and while some of our sister jurisdictions have suffered by the fatal scourge that swept the Southern States the past year, our own has lost but few. Among the number, I have to record the death of our Companion Thomas H. Cox, who died at his residence in Salem, Oregon, on the 24th day of September, 1878. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1837, and thus, at the age of 41 years, while in the prime of his life and usefulness, he passed from our mortal sight forever.

WE AS GRAND REPRESENTATIVE.

Among the list of Grand Representatives appointed during the year, appears "WM. P. INNES, of Michigan."

In March last we received our appointment as Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Oregon; and, despite the effectual manner in which our Grand Chapter "crushed" us as Grand Representative of Nebraska, at our present session we shall look our prettiest, dress our neatest, and in as faultless a style as possible,--with "honeyed words of sweetness' -ask recognition of our Grand Chapter.

Should they not see fit to receive us, our Companions of Oregon can rest assured we shall ever keep a watchful eye to their

interests, and when our Grand Chapter recognizes the system, be exceedingly proud to appear as the Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Oregon.

VALUABLE DOCUMENT.

Comp. BAYLEY P. G. H. P., read to the Grand Chapter a brief but highly interesting History of Royal Arch Masonry in Oregon, which is published with the proceedings. We should like to publish it entire would our space permit; to quote from it is but to mar its beauty.

TEMPERANCE.

The following resolution was adopted by Grand Chapter :

Resolved, That the habit of using profane language, and that of intemperance in the use of strong drink, or engaging in the keeping of saloons and retailing alcoholic liquors, or indulging in the practice of gambling, by Royal Arch Masons, is in violation of the regulations of Royal Arch Masonry, and discreditable to the Craft; and, also, that it is a proper subject for Masonic discipline.

We are glad to see that Oregon "wheels into line" on the Temperance question.

CONSOLIDATION OF THE DEGREES.

Oregon is in favor of consolidating the Chapter ond Council degrees, as the following report-which was adopted by Grand Chapter, testifies.

I. Each Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, in this jurisdiction, shall open a council of Royal and Select Master Masons, and confer the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master subsequent to the degree of Royal Arch Mason. The officers or the Chapter corresponding in rank to those of the council to be the officers in the council.

II. All Royal Arch Masons, members of the Chapter in good standing at the date of the transfer, shall receive the degrees for the sum of $2.00 each degree.

III. In Chapters where there is not a sufficient number of Select Masters, and where a sufficient number cannot conveniently be assembled from the neighboring Chapters to open a council, a competent

companion may, by request of the High Priest of a Chapter, commu nicate the degrees to a sufficient number of Companion Royal Arch Masons, members of the Chapter, to open a council; but thereafter the degrees must be fully and properly conferred.

MEMORIAL TO COMP. CORSON.

Comp. EARHART, Grand Secretary, announced the death of Comp. CORSON, of New Jersey, and asked that the Committee on Foreign Correspondence take suitable action thereon.

Comp. T. McF. PATTON, for the Committee, submitted the following beautiful report, which, with the resolutions thereto attached, was adopted as the sense of the Grand Chapter:

The announcement made in open Grand Chapter, by the R.. E.. Grand Secretary, of the death of M.`. E. ́. Companion Thomas J. Corson, of New Jersey, has filled our hearts with sadness. The pleasure which we had anticipated in meeting our Companions, after a year's separation, is mingled with sorrow over the loss of a warm-hearted, generous friend and Companion. One by one our near and dear friends cross the dark river to the evergreen shores." Only a short time ago, we were called upon to express our grief and sorrow over the death of the lamented Gouley. During the past year, Comps. Walter, Wheeler, McClellan, Lownsbury, and others, answered the final summons, and now Companion Corson has joined the host who have gone before.

Little did we imagine when we prepared our report on correspondence, and reviewed the cheerful greetings of Companion Corson, that those greetings would be the last he would ever send forth to the Ma sonic world. It was not our good fortune to have had a personal acquaintance with our companion, yet our relations for the past nine years have been of such a character as to make us feel that we have been intimately acquainted all our lives, and have, in his death, lost a near and dear friend.

Although pain and suffering had been his constant companions, yet his words, to his companions, were always the most cheerful, and none would ever suppose, for a moment, by reading his productions, tha pain, grief or sorrow had ever left its footprints upon him. A few years ago, while suffering and almost blind, his report on correspondence was dictated by him, and written by his daughter Caroline. The encomiums of praise, from the Masonic world, for the devotion of that daughter in assisting her afflicted father in his labors, were meritorious

and deserving, and were gratifying, alike to father and daughter. Since then, she has been called to another sphere-leaving a devoted father, mother and sister stricken with grief, and broken-hearted ; soon the wife and mother was called to join her daughter-leaving a husband and daughter in grief and sorrow. And now the sad news is wafted across the continent, that the last stay of this once happy and cheerful family circle, has been called home

In his last words to Oregon, he refers to our report on correspondence, and makes allusion to his only remaining, faithful, devoted daughter, by comparing our report to the "sweetness of the bouquet, which our little one (the link which binds us to earth, although pain and suffering are our constant companions by day and night), has just placed on our table." We have quoted these words in our report, and they should be treasured as precious words by all, as they are by us.

Royal Arch Masons of Oregon mingle their tears with those of New Jersey in this, their sad bereavement.

In the death of Thomas J. Corson, the Masonic world has lost an active, zealous worker; one who made sunshine wherever he went, and one whose place cannot be filled. In these brief and hurried moments allotted to us to express our sorrow, we feel that we cannot speak the praise due to the memory of our departed Companion. A more full and extended notice must, of necessity, be postponed until our next convocation.

We submit the following resolutions :

Resolved, That a memorial page be set apart, under direction of the Grand Secretary, with appropriate inscriptions to the memory of our distinguished Companion.

Resolved, That the Grand Secretary transmit a copy of this report, under the seal of the Grand Chapter, to his surviving daughter, accompanied by assurances from this Grand Chapter of our heartfelt sympathy in the loss which she has sustained, more than all others.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

Comp. T. McF. PATTON, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, presented a valuable review of the doings of 35 Sister Grand Chapters, Michigan for 1879 among the number.

Comp. PATTON's reviews are always good, but this one far excels any of his previous efforts; we should like to publish

the report entire, but such a thing is impossible, so we must be content with a few extracts therefrom.

OPENING.

In opening he makes a new departure and says:

In addition to our usual review of each separate jurisdiction, we present for your consideration a few questions under separate heads. hoping thereby to secure in a more consolidated and convenient form for reference, the various opinions expressed therein. We are inclined to the opinion that such a plan, well matured and carefully executed, would be of great practical value.

We have found much in these documents to interest us, and which we would gladly reproduce if we had space. In our desire to bring our report within reasonable limits, we have been compelled to omit many beautifu! thoughts expressed by the several Grand High Priests and Committees in their reference to such of their Companions as have "crossed the dark river" to the "Land beyond the blue."

The experience of the past nine years in this department has demonstrated the fact that it is far easier to design a model report than it is to execute the details and construct according to plan.

In selecting our material, we invariably overestimate as to quantity required in its construction. We always have a large surplus of choice, well-selected material on hand, enough, in fact, to construct a firstclass residence, when we designed only for the construction of a cottage. In the arrangement of our report we have concluded to present the several subjects considered separately, in advance of the regular review, for fear that some of our Companions might become weary, and never reach the conclusion of this report, where they would necessarily be placed, if they appeared at all. With these explanatory remarks, we pass to the consideration of the subject of

VALUE OF REPORTS ON FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

Under the head of Reports on Foreign Correspondence, he asks the question, "Are they worth what they cost?" and says:

Our Companions will doubtless consider this as a very singular question to present for their consideration at this time, when every thing throughout the Masonic world betokens advancement and prosperity. Little did we think that any one would question the utility or value of