9. That the expenses of the general grand chapters, for tylers, summonses, ke. shall be borne from the fund of R. W. Grand Lodge.
10. That towards defraying the expenses of private chapters, a sum not exceeding eight dollars shall be charged on and paid by the brother admitted at ally chap ter within the jurisdiction of the grand lodge of Penn sylvania, one dollar whereof shall be paid to the general grand fund on the registering of the brother, and twenty five cents to the grand scribe, and the rest to be applied according to the direction of the private chapters.
11. That a member of any particular lodge within the jurisdiction of the grand lodge of Pennsylvania, recom mended by the master, wardens, and secretary, in open lodge, and after due trial and examination, the brother being a master mason and duly registered, as shall ap pear under the hands of the grand secretary, and having past the chair, shall, if approved by R. A. Chapter, to whom the brother is recommended, be admitted to the sublime degree of excellent or royal arch mason ; and that sojourners, not residents of the state of Pennsylva nia, recommended by at least three well known past master masons or most excellent royal arch masons, and on the approbation of the chapter to whom they shall have applied, after due trial and examination as afore said, shall also be admitted to the sublime degree of excellent or royal arch masons.
12. That excellent brothers, producing proper certifi cates from any chapter under the jurisdiction of Penn sylvania, in which they were admitted, to the satisfaction of the grand chiefs in Philadelphia, the grand scribe, or any two of them, shall be entitled to be registered, and receive a grand royal arch certificate immediately, if required, for which the grand scribe shall make his report at the next grand chapter.
13. That at the half yearly general grand chapter, held in December in every year, the said general grand chapter shall elect their officers, saving that the R. W. G. M. for the time being, if of that degree, shall always preside as first grand chief, make their own bye-laws, and shall hear and decide upon all complaints and ap peals from chapters held under warrants granted or to be granted by the grand lodge of Pennsylvania. But
the said grand chapter shall not at any time raise any brother to the degree of R. A. Mason, unless in cases of emergency, which shall be judged by the grand chiefs, or any two of them, and the monies thus received shall be applied to the grand fund, as herein before directed with regard to private chapters.
14. The grand chapter held in December in each year shall elect three excellent masters to assist the grand officers in visiting lodges, &c. that the general unifor mity of ancient masonry may be preserved, and handed down unchanged to posterity.
Thus much as it respects the rules and regulations for the government of the grand and other chapters in Pennsylvania ; we shall now make a few brief remarks on the degree itself.
Agreeably to the Masonic Monitor of Webb, the lec ture on the degree of the holy royal arch, is divided into two sections, and should be well understood. Upon an accurate acquaintance with it will depend his use fulness at our assemblies ; and without it he will be un qualified to perform the duties of the various stations, in which his services may be required by the chapter.
The first section opens to our view a large field for contemplation and study. It furnishes us with many interesting particulars relative to the state of the frater nity, during and since the reign of king Solomon ; and illustrates the and consequences of some very important events which occurred during his reign. This section also c7.phins the mode of government in this class of masons it designates the appellation, number, and situation, ( several officers ; and points out the purposes and euties'of tneir respective.station.
The second section is equally important. It contains much valuable historical information, and proves, be yond the power of contradiction, and in the most strik ing colours, that prosperity and happiness are ever the ultimate consequences of virtue and justice, while dis grace and ruin invariably follow the practices of vice and immorality.