7. No Chapter can interfere in the business of another Chapter, or give degrees to candidates who have been accepted by other Chapters, without their consent.

8. No resident of any state in which there is a Chapter, can receive the degrees in any Chapter in another state, unless with the approbation of the Chapter nearest his place of residence.

9. The degrees of Mark, Past, and Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch, are the only degrees which can be conferred in a Chapter.

10. No candidate can be permitted to receive the Chapter degrees who is deformed, maimed, or imperfect in his limbs, or whose physical defects are such as to prevent him from conforming literally to all the requirements of the several degrees.

11. No candidate can be elected to receive the degrees, nor any Royal Arch Mason admitted a member of any Chapter, except by a unanimous vote in his favor.

12. All ballotings for candidates, and trials of Companions, must take place in the Royal Arch degree. But a brother who is not a Royal Arch Mason, may be tried in the degree to which he has attained.

13. None but Royal Arch Masons can be permitted to make any motion, vote, or join in any debate.

14. Every Subordinate Chapter, as well as every member of the same, has the right of appeal to the Grand Chapter, whose decision shall be final.

15. There can be no appeal to the General Grand Chapter from the decisions of a Grand Chapter.

16. Every Chapter must meet at least once in three months, and no Chapter can suspend its convocations, unless by dis pensation from the Grand Chapter or Presiding Grand of ficer.

17. No Chapter can be opened unless there be nine Royal Arch Masons present.

18. No Chapter can be opened, or held, except by the authority of a warrant from the Grand Chapter, or a dispensation from the Grand or Deputy Grand High Priest.

19. Neither more nor less than three candidates can be exalted at one and the same time.

20. It is not necessary for the due and legal discharge of his functions, that a High Priest should receive the degree of High Priesthood. But it is recommended that every High Priest should, as soon as convenient after his election, apply to a convention of High Priests for admission into that order. 21. No Chapter in one state can work under a warrant granted by the Grand Chapter of another state.

22. No ex post facto law can be made in the Grand Chapter, or any Subordinate Chapter.

23. No warrant or dispensation can be granted for the opening of a new Chapter, except upon the petition of nine regular Royal Arch Masons.

24. The election of officers in Subordinate Chapters must be held at the stated convocation next preceding the festival of St. John the Evangelist, and the installation must take place as soon after the election as possible. Where from any cause the election has not been held at the stated period, a dispensation from the Grand or Deputy Grand High Priest will be required, for holding it at any subsequent time.

25. No Chapter can suspend its by-laws.

26. There can be no appeal from the decision of the Presiding officer of a Chapter, to the Chapter. The Grand Chapter, alone, can reverse such decision.

27. Every Chapter must consist of the following officers: High Priest, King, Scribe, Captain of the Host, Principal Sojourner, Royal Arch Captain, Masters of the Third, Second and First Veils, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sentinel.

APPENDIX.

Forms of Masonic Documents.

As these formal and orderly parts are calculated to convey the meaning in the clearest, distinctest and most effectual manner, and have been well considered and settled by the wisdom of successive ages, it is prudent not to depart from them without good reason or urgent necessity."

BLACKSTONE'S COMMENTARIES.

MASONIC DOCUMENTS.

I.

Form of a Petition for a Dispensation to Open and Hold a New Chapter. To the Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of the State of

[Date.]

WE, the undersigned, being Royal Arch Masons in good standing, and having the prosperity of the Royal Craft at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Royal Arch Masonry, and for the convenience of our respective dwellings, and other good reasons, us thereunto moving, we are desirous of forming a new Chapter at in the ...... of... to be named ...... Chapter.

.......

......

We, therefore, pray for a Dispensation empowering us to open and hold a regular Chapter at aforesaid, and therein to discharge the duties and enjoy the privileges of Royal Arch Masonry, according to the landmarks and usages of the order, and the constitution and laws of the Grand Chapter.

And we do hereby nominate and recommend Companion A.... B........ to be our first Most Excellent High Priest; Companion C.... D.... to be our first King, and Companion E.... F.... to be our first Scribe.

And should the prayer of this petition be granted, we do hereby promise a strict conformity to the constitution, laws and edicts of the Grand Chapter of the State of and to the constitution of the General Grand Chapter of the United States,* so far as they may come to our knowledge.

......

[This Dispensation must be signed by not less than nine Royal Arch Masons.]

It may be presented to either the Grand or Deputy Grand High Priest, and must be accompanied with the recommendation of the nearest Chapter working under a warrant of constitution, which recommendation should be in the following words:

*These words in italics may be omitted in those states whose Grand Chapters are not in union with the General Grand Chapter