Letters relating to the administration of the Supreme Grand Chapter

HC 14/B

Letters relating to the administration of the Supreme Grand Chapter

1816 - 1900

Correspondence relating to the administration and governance of the Supreme Grand Chapter established in 1817 including: details of members of Chapters in Malta exalted between 1816 and 1819, including Waller Rodwell Wright, with a list of officers present at meetings [ HC 14/B/1]; seven letters relating to the activities of the Chapter of Promulgation, mentioning members' difficulties in sending delegates to meetings in London intended to regulate Royal Arch ritual practice from Colne and Preston, Lancashire; Leeds, Yorkshire and Stockport, Cheshire, including a suggestion by George P de Rhe Philipe (Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1837) to invite George Aarons to explain possible changes to Royal Arch ritual to enhance its acceptability by those from all religious beliefs; and a copy of a letter from Rev George Adam Browne of Trinity College, Provincial Grand Superintendent of Cambridgeshire, expressing his pleasure that the First Principal of Royal York Chapter, No. 81, Woodbridge, Suffolk attended a meeting of the Chapter of Promulgation and received instruction on working the Royal Arch degree and the installation of principals. Browne mentions his involvement as a member of the Committee of nine appointed by the Duke of Sussex, First Grand Principal, to draw up the regulations later approved by the Supreme Grand Council. Browne mentions he will attend a meeting of Chapter of Pythagoras, No. 88, attached to Scientific Lodge, Cambridge [SN 507], to exalt new candidates and install its principals and invites the Scribe E and First Principal to attend if possible [ HC 14/B/9 - 15; 41]; Other letters concern the formation of new chapters, including Chapter of Original Light, No. 701, Uckfield, East Sussex attached to Lodge of Harmony and Friendship, Maresfield [SN1694]; withdrawal of a petition for a chapter to be attached to Lodge of Virtue, No. 311, Bath [SN 767] but recommending Royal York Chapter, No. 243, Bath, be attached to Royal York Lodge of Perfect Friendship, Bath [SN 631]; a proposed Mechanical Chapter, No. 457 to be attached to Mechanics’ Lodge, St Helier, Jersey [SN 1614] and Chapter of Melita, No. 673 to be attached to St John and St Paul Lodge, Valletta, Malta [SN 1654] as recommended by Waller Rodwell Wright [ HC 14/B/2]; letter from Hon. Robert Hamilton, Clifton Mount, Kingston, Jamaica, to William Gray Clarke, Grand Scribe E, reporting on his success in resuscitating Sussex Chapter, No. 447, Kingston, Jamaica, attached to Sussex Lodge [SN 1671], sending an annual return as First Principal to avert its possible erasure, although he is busy working on a Government Commission, he names Simon Emanuel Pietersz and the Rev Thomas Robinson, former Principal Sojourner in Chapter of Pythagoras, No. 105, Cambridge, as the other officers and is making enquiries about Comp. Drummond, an American or Canadian. Hamilton mentions that Friendly Chapter, No. 291 is active but Royal Chapter, No. 250 has become dormant due to the recent resuscitation of Glenlyon Chapter (S.C.), that uses Scottish ceremonies full of outward show and action rather than English ritual, perceived as intellectual and staid by members [ HC 14/B/24]; letter from Colonel A J Greenlaw, 6 Beresford Place, Southsea, to [Scribe E?] of the Supreme Grand Chapter seeking a charter for a Chapter in Rangoon, Burma, to be attached to Lodge Victoria in Burma, No. 832 [SN 2358]. Greenlaw states he is the First Principal of a Chapter attached to Phoenix Lodge, No. 257, Portsmouth [SN 1065] and could ask two other Principals for assistance in installing Principals in Rangoon or the proposed Chapter might pay for a suitably qualified individual to travel from Calcutta, India. Explains it is easier to get a charter from London rather than obtaining a dispensation from the District of Madras [ HC 14/B/30]; Other letters mention the appointment or resignation of Royal Arch officers, including a Patent from Charles, Duke of Richmond, Provincial Grand Master of Sussex, appointing William Attree, a surgeon, W.M. of Royal Clarence Lodge, No. 511, Brighton [SN 1148], as Deputy Grand Superintendent of Sussex, signed by the Duke of Richmond and Edward Austen, P.G.S. of Sussex [ HC 14/B/6]; letter from Rev John Osmond Dakeyne, 22 Minster Yard, Lincoln, First Principal of Chapter of Concord, No. 374, to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland, First Grand Principal, concerning meetings of this Chapter attached to Witham Lodge, No. 374, Lincoln [SN 1255], and suggesting his own appointment as Grand Superintendent, having met Lord Zetland at a meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at Stokesley, North Yorkshire and having received favourable recognition for a Masonic sermon he had published with related correspondence concerning the unsuitability of Rt Hon Charles Tennyson D'Eyncourt, Provincial Grand Master, to take on this role due to his inexperience in Royal Arch masonry [ HC 14/B/16-21]; letter from John Williams, District Grand Superintendent, New South Wales, Australia to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland, First Grand Principal, confirming his resignation as District Grand Master but not as District Grand Superintendent, indicating that Bro. Holroyd, the new District Grand Master, is a recent Royal Arch freemason and therefore inexperienced [ HC 14/B/34]; and a letter from George Frederick Samuel, 1st Marquess of Ripon, Studley Royal, First Grand Principal to John Hervey, Grand Scribe E of the Supreme Grand Chapter requesting that his resignation be mentioned at the next Supreme Grand Chapter meeting [ HC 14/B/39]; additional Files mention the installation of principals, including a dispensation granted to Earl Ferrers, P.G.S. of Warwickshire, Sir Frederick Fowke, William Henry White, Grand Scribe E and Lawrence Thompson, members of the Supreme Grand Council and the Principals and Past Principals of St John’s Chapter, No. 525, Leicester for holding a conclave of Installed Principals at Leicester as there are insufficient numbers of suitably qualified members available in Warwickshire and Derbyshire to install Principals [ HC 14/B/8]; warrant from Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland, First Grand Principal empowering Alexander Dobie, Third Grand Principal, William Henry White, Grand Scribe E, Frederick Pattison, Grand Scribe N, Henry L Crohn, Principal Grand Sojourner, Henry Fenwick, Assistant Grand Sojourner and John Henderson, Grand Registrar to hold a Conclave or Chapter of Installed Principals In London in order to install Benjamin Archer Kent, Provincial Grand Master of the District of South Australia and Second Principal of Mount Lebanon Chapter, No. 630, as Provincial Grand Superintendent for the same District [ HC 14/B/23] and copy of a letter from John Christian Burckhardt (1772–1848) to the Scribe E of Royal York Chapter, No. 81, Woodbridge, Suffolk responding to enquiries concerning procedures for installing a First Principal in a Chapter, confirming that a Scribe or Sojourner is eligible to become a Principal irrespective of his address and that a Third Principal is eligible to serve as a First or Second Principal but must go through the installation ceremony as Second Principal in order to serve as First Principal [ HC 14/B/42]; other letters raise concerns over Royal Arch regulations, including a letter from W[illiam] Booth of Norwich, First Principal of Friendly Chapter, No. 112, attached to Lodge of Friendship, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk [SN 273], to Edwards Harper, Grand Secretary seeking advice concerning rules for re-electing Chapter officers [ HC 14/B/5]; note by [William Gray Clarke, Grand Scribe E] concerning information received from B J Price of St George’s Chapter, No. 853, South Africa, that Comp. Lazar was never an officer or a Principal according to Chapter of Justice, No. 266, Todmorden, and the proposed consecration of Clare Lodge, No. 1177, Stanley, South Australia [ HC 14/B/26]; correspondence relating to the reluctance of John Havers, Third Grand Principal, to sign a patent appointing Henry Murray as Grand Superintendent of the District of China with the power to grant dispensations for new chapters [ HC 14/B/31a-c]; letter from J Peace, Past Provincial Grand Warden, Province of West Yorkshire, Huddersfield Masonic Hall concerning eligibility for joining a chapter based on serving as a Master of a Craft Lodge now updated to include those nominally passing the Chair that has led to the latter claiming the rank of Past Master [ HC 14/B/31d]; letter from John Smorfitt, Past First Principal of Oriental Chapter, No. 687, attached to Oriental Lodge, Constantinople [SN 2212] pointing out that certificates have been sent to companions in error when exaltations had been declared void [ HC 14/B/32]; letter from W J Williams, Sydney, Australia seeking advice concerning his election as Second Principal in Chapter, No. 390, attached to Lodge of Australia [SN 1805], rescinded following his suspension from Sydney Samaritan Lodge, No. 578 [ HC 14/B/36]; letter from L Mackersy, Grand Scribe E of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland to William Gray Clarke, Grand Scribe E of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England relating to Masonic protocol from Comp. Connell, First Principal of Chapter of Perseverance, No. 71 (S.C.), Bombay following his attendance at a meeting of a Chapter (E.C.) where he was not admitted to the opening ceremony [ HC 14/B/37]. Other letters concern relationships with other Masonic jurisdictions, in particular Scotland, including a copy letter from William Pringle, Recorder and Vice Chamberlain of the Supreme Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland to the First Principal of Chapter of Strict Benevolence, attached to Sea Captain’s Lodge, No. 153, Sunderland [later known as Palatine Lodge, SN 411] concerning the latter’s refusal to admit a Scottish Royal Arch freemason from Raby Castle Chapter despite the fact that six Chapters in Scotland, namely Royal Caledonian Chapter, No. 100, Annan, Loyal Scots Chapter, No. 106, Langholme, Dumfries, Mount Lebanon Chapter, No. 153, Gatehouse of Fleet, Royal Gallovidian Chapter, No. 155, Kircudbright, St John of Ruthwell Chapter, No. 175, Clarencefield and Mount Sinai Chapter, No. 123, Langholme, near Carlisle, work under Charters issued by the Excellent Grand and Royal Chapter of the Royal Arch of Jerusalem established by the Moderns’ Grand Lodge, with reference to the welcome proffered to Sir Patrick Walker, Second Grand Principal of Scotland, at meetings of St James’s Chapter presided over by the Duke of Sussex as First Grand Principal of England, with annotations indicating that the last members of these chapters were exalted between 1811 and 1817 [ HC 14/B/4]; letter from James Broom, Scribe N, Royal Gallovidian Chapter, No. 155, Kirkcudbright, Scotland to the Grand Scribes of the Supreme Grand Chapter, London, listing officers appointed and seeking responses to previous letters [ HC 14/B/7]; letter from Morris Leon, Grand Scribe E of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland, to William Henry White, Grand Scribe E, reporting details of a resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland suggesting an exchange of Representatives to encourage better understanding between the two Grand Chapters and requesting discussion of this resolution at the next meeting of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England [ HC 14/B/22]; letter from G S Judge, Past Third Principal, Chapter of Hope, No. 126, Calcutta and First Principal of Keystone Chapter, No. 1059, Bombay, India to William Gray Clarke, Grand Scribe E referring to regulations in the Book of Constitutions for Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters that may not be suitable for Masters and Principals initiated or exalted under the Scottish or Irish Constitutions and difficulties arising from text included in the Quarterly Communications of the Grand Lodge of Scotland dated 3 May 1847, that refer to Worshipful Masters not requiring additional instruction [ HC 14/B/27]; letter from thirteen members in the Western District of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland, including Donald Campbell, Past Third Grand Principal, David Sutherland, Past Provincial Third Grand Principal, and others, addressed to the Supreme Grand Chapter of England concerning the circulation of a pamphlet among Royal Arch Chapters in England, Scotland and Ireland from the Grand Chapter of Scotland concerning the suspension of four chapters in West Scotland whose members allege that this action was un-Masonic and without a hearing or investigation. As a result they are forming a new body, the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter for Scotland and the Colonies, and will seek co-operation from companions in England and Wales [ HC 14/B/29]; and a letter from Frederick Binckes, Office of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons to John Hervey, Grand Scribe E of the Supreme Grand Chapter concerning a proposed conference between representatives of various supreme bodies exercising jurisdiction over the Mark Degree in the UK to discuss issues of mutual concern and inviting representatives from the United Grand Lodge of England and the Supreme Grand Council [ HC 14/B/38]. One File, a letter from Charles Walmisley, Deputy Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Ireland, informs the Supreme Grand Chapter of England about the expulsion of Count Gustavo Crispo Barbaro, the Marquis Barbaro de St George, (c.1818-1880) following a complaint received from Leinster Chapter, No. 387, Malta (I.C.) and his conviction for felony. The Marquis was a Past WM of Lodge of St John and St Paul, No. 349 (E.C.) [SN 1654] in 1859 and Excellent King of Leinster Chapter, No. 387 (I.C.) in 1861. He was removed as the Inspector of Primary Schools by the Governor of Malta in 1850 following a paternity claim by a teacher. The Marquis was then accused in the Civil Court and found guilty on 6 March 1862 of stealing articles from the Union Club, including several pairs of opera glasses, a gold pin, gold buttons, coral buttons, glassware and other Files and was sentenced to 5 years Hard Labour but gained a re-trial [ HC 14/B/28]; in another alleged case of un-Masonic conduct, Samuel Noble, Past First Principal, Chapter of Hope, No. 206, Greenwich attached to Lodge of Friendship, Deptford [SN 1016] writes to the General Purposes Committee of the Supreme Grand Chapter concerning the actions of Henry A Collington in respect of the ballot for John Stevens as a candidate [ HC 14/B/33]. Three miscellaneous Files refer to an account for 172 tickets printed, delivered and for advertising a dinner in 1821 sent by John Carter, George Street, Grosvenor Square, London to William Henry White, joint Grand Secretary, with an apology for delays caused by illness [ HC 14/B/3]; a letter from George Kenning from Messrs George Kenning gold laceman and embroiderer Masonic Depot to the General Purposes Committee of the Supreme Grand Chapter concerns advice sought on the design of jewels for Principals, Past Principals and Provincial Grand Chapters as no guidance is included in the Book of Constitutions [ HC 14/B/35]; and a letter from Sir Francis Knollys, private secretary of HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later HM King Edward VII), First Grand Principal to the Supreme Grand Chapter expresses sympathy at the death of his brother, Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Edinburgh (6 August 1844 – 30 July 1900) [ HC 14/B/40].

English

1 folder containing 42 documents

After the merger between the Moderns and Antients Grand Lodges in 1813, the Articles of Union acknowledged Royal Arch freemasonry as the perfection of the Masters Degree. The administration of Royal Arch freemasonry was brought together by the formation of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England and Wales in March 1817, from the union of the Moderns' Grand Chapter and the Antients' Grand Chapter. The Supreme Grand Chapter acknowledged all chapters registered before 27 December 1813 but required every chapter to associate with a Craft Lodge and assume the same number. Between 1834 and 1835 a Chapter of Promulgation was established by the Supreme Grand Chapter, to which delegates from Provincial Grand Chapters were invited, in order to achieve concensus on Royal Arch constitutional issues and the format of ceremonies.