uniformity is indispensibly necessary in the masonic art, the time is certainly at hand, when there will be no Chapters in the Union which are not subordinate to this general head.

As this is the only general Grand Chapter in America, we shall here insert a list of the present officers. His excellency Dewitt Clinton of New-York, General Grand High Priest.

Thomas S. Webb Esq. of Massachussetts, Deputy General Grand High Priest.

John H. Lynde, Esq. of Connecticut, General Grand King.

Philip P. Eckel, Esp. of Maryland, General Grand Scribe.

John Abbott Esq. of Massachussetts, General Grand Secretary.

Peter Grenell Esq. of Rhode Island, General Grand Treasurer.

The Reverend Jonathan Nie, of Vermont, General Grand Chaplain.

John Harris Esq. of New-Hampshire, General Grand Marshal.

As to the number of Chapters at this time instituted in the United States, we have not been able to ascertain. We, however, submit the following particulars.

Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachussetts.

On the 12th June 1798, the Grand Chapter of this State was organised. The annual meetings are held alternately at Boston and Newburyport in the month of September. There are six Chapters under its jurisdiction.

Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Rhode Island.

This Chapter was organized in 1798, and met at Providence. In 1808, there were two Chapters and two mark lodges under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Connecticut Was instituted in May 1798, and has eight Chapters under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Vermont

Was organized in 1799, and has four Chapters under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New York

Was organized at the city of Albany, on the second Tuesday in March 1798, and meets annually in that city on the 1st Tuesday in February. It has twenty Chapters under its jurisdiction, of which number there are six in the city of New-York, viz. the ancient Chapter No. 1. the Phoenix No 3, the Jerusalem No. 8, the Rising Sun No. 16, the Fredonian Chapter No. 19,and the Eagle Chapter.

The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New-Jersey Has two Chapters under its jurisdiction. It meets annually at Trenton on the second Tuesday of November. The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Pensylvania Was, as we have already observed, organized in the year 1797. Its stated meetings are held on the 3d Mondays in June and December. There are four subordinate Chapters in the city of Philadelphia; there are also several other Chapters under its jurisdiction, as at the White Horse, Chester County, Harrisburgh, Carlisle, and Pittsburgh, No. 1, which is held at Wilmington, Delaware.

There are five Chapters in the state of Maryland, five in the state of Virginia, three in South Carolina, and three in the state of Georgia. In each of the other states there is no doubt a Chapter or Chapters; but we have received no authentic information on the subject.

With respect to arch masonry in Europe, and particularly in England, Scotland, and Ireland, it appears, that their Chapters are numerous and well conducted. In France, and in different parts of the continent, this, as well as the preceding degrees, meets with the highest respect, and there is no reason to do

strict uniformity in the mode of conferring degrees, and transacting their other business in all Lodges and Chapters, in every part of the world which has been enlightened by the beams of Free-masonry.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Of the Social Influence of Free-masonry.

THE institution of free-masonry, as has been already observed, has an absolute tendency to inculcate on the mind of its votaries, every thing laudable and useful to society; and its leading qualities are, well directed philanthrophy, pure morality, inviolable secrecy, and a taste for the fine arts.

It may be observed, that Solon, Lycurgus, Numa, and all the other most celebrated legislators of antiquity, were never able to render their establishments permanent, nor to extend their laws, however salutary they might have been, to all countries, or to cause them to be perpetuated to distant ages. Having little more in view than the elevation of one set of people above another, they were never universal, nor consonant to the genius or interest of all nations. They were not founded on phiJanthrophy, and he is but little acquainted with history, who has not perceived, that the love of country, badly understood, often destroys in warlike republics, the love of general humanity.

Men are not to be essentially distinguished by the difference of tongues which they speak, of clothes which they wear, of countries which they inhabit, nor of the exalted stations which they may have attained, either in church or state. The whole world is one great republic, of which, each nation is a family, and each indivi

dual a child. To revive and reanimate these important maxims, is an object of primary concern in the society of free masons. The great design of the institution has ever been, to unite all men of sense, talents, and integrity, not only in a reciprocal love of the fine arts, but still more, in the great principles of virtue, by which the interest of the fraternity might become that of the whole human race; where all nations might increase in knowledge, and every subject of every country, might exert himself without jealousy, live without discord, and embrace mutually, without forgetting, or too scrupulously remembering, the spot in which he was born. What benefits may we not, therefore, expect from the existence of a society. the main object of which is the re-union of the understanding and the heart, and the amelioration of both by the contact.

The sanctity which attends the moral qualities of the society, next require our consideration. Other institutions, intended for the benefit of mankind, have been founded in different ages and countries, and though the design, which they severally had in view, was nearly the same, the means by which they have attempted to accomplish it, have greatly varied; but the principles of free-masonry are now the same in all places of the world, have remained the same from time immemorial, and will continue the same till this terraqueous globe, and all the other temporary works of the Great Architect, shall be annihilated. The masonic order has for its objects, the forming of men into good citizens, good husbands, good fathers, and good sons; of making them inviolable in their promises, faithful friends, and more lovers of liberality than of recompense.

But free-masonry is not bounded by the display of virtues merely civil. As a severe and misanthropic kind of philosophy disgusts its votaries, so the establishment of

the system of which we are now speaking, renders men amiable, by the attraction of innocent pleasures, pure joys and rational gaieties. The sentiments of this society, are not such as a censorious world may be tempted to suppose. Those who are suspected of irreligion, libertinism, incredulity, and debauchery, are by the book of constitutions, and the practice of all well-regulated lodges, precluded from becoming members. The meetings of the masons resemble those amiable entertainments, spoken of by Horace, where all those are made welcome guests whose understandings may be enlightened, whose hearts may be mended. or who may be, in any way, emulous to excel in that which is true, good, or great.

From the society in question, are banished all those disputes, which might alter the tranquillity of friendship, or interrupt that perfect harmony, which cannot subsist, but by rejecting all indecent excesses, and discordant passions. The obligation imposed upon this order is, that each member is to protect a brother as far as he can, to advise him according to his abilities, in the language of tenderness and love; to edify him by his virtues, to assist him in an exigence, to sacrifice all personal resentment, and to seek diligently for every thing, which may contribute to the pleasure and profit of the society. It instructs us in our duty to the Great Architect of the universe, and also in our duty to our neighbours; it teaches us to injure him in none of his connexions, and that in all our dealings with him we should act with justice and impartiality; it discourages defamation, orders us to be faithful to our trusts, to be above the meanness of dissimulation, to let the words of our mouths be the thoughts of our hearts, and to perform religiously whatsoever we promise.

With regard to our secrets, to which some, who know nothing about them may object, they are only cautionary