N taking a historical survey of Freemasonry in the Empire State there is no part so utterly barren of details, so unreliable, so unauthentic as that connected with the introduction and early history of the Holy Royal Arch. In one of his many Masonic sketches the late Robert Macoy wrote:

There was a Royal Arch Chapter in Philadelphia as early as 1758, the offspring of the Athol Grand Lodge. * * * The conclusion is that Royal Arch Masonry was invented by some ingenious ritualist about 1750, and introduced upon the plan known in this country as "side degrees." Morris, in his Dictionary, uses the term "unsystematized degrees," which is better. The first movement toward their legitimation was to make it addendum to the Blue Lodge; the next step was to form a system of Chapters, and finally of Grand Chapters. About 1795 Thomas Smith Webb took the matter in hand, composed new and most elegant rituals, and set it forth as we now have it.

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We present this as the conclusion reached by a man of common sense, near the close of his life, a life which had been devoted to Masonry. But Macoy was not an exact student of history by any means, and much of what he has written in the few lines quoted above will not bear critical scrutiny. The main purpose of the extract is, in fact, to show how little was known on the matter by one whose long connection with the craft, as a ritualist, as a writer, and as an official, ought to have given him the knowledge of an expert. But if we turn to men whose claims to historical knowledge-claims founded, be it said, on the best foundation, that of actual

work and inquiry-we will find that the result of their investigations is equally unsatisfactory. The story told often seems fair enough. on its surface, but examination reveals such safeguards as "it is said," "it seems," "it is evident" and "undoubted," all of which means that the statements they accompany are merely suppositions, and unsupported by direct evidence. We accept or reject such qualified statements according to our ideas of the judgment and experience of the historian. Certainly if he be a zealous student, and a fairminded, liberal man, his assumptions are deserving of being received with all due respect; but even then such assumptions can never have the value which attaches to demonstrated facts. Of this class of student, of historian, none stands higher in the estimation of American Masons than the now venerable Josiah H. Drummond, of Portland, Me., and when he gives the following account of early Royal Arch Masonry in America it is entitled to the utmost consideration:

It has been understood that the "Modern" (old) Grand Lodge did not tolerate the conferring of this degree by virtue of a Lodge warrant. But it is now well settled that while in 1765, they established a separate body for conferring this degree, previous to that date it was conferred in a Lodge or Chapter appurtenant to a Lodge, and under a Lodge warrant.

As in 1758, when the "Ancients" established their first Lodge in America, at Philadelphia, the Royal Arch was cultivated by them, there can be little doubt that it was understood, as a matter of course, that this degree should be conferred under that warrant. This conclusion is strengthened by the name of the next Lodge chartered, "Royal Arch

On December 15, 1760, George Harrison, Provincial Grand Master of New York, under the old Grand Lodge, granted a warrant for Independent Royal Arch Lodge in the city of New York, whose name certainly indicates that it conferred the Royal Arch degree. Other circumstances point to the same conclusion. Harrison had already, Dec. 7, 1757, granted a charter for a Lodge (St. John's, now No. 1) in New York City, with the power of conferring the Mark degree.

Many military Lodges conferred the Royal Arch degree, and in all probability more frequently than the local Lodges.

In this brief extract, it must be observed,

there are more assumptions than actual

facts.

There is no authority whatever for saying that the Moderns ever tolerated the Royal Arch in their few American Lodges-with British Lodges we have nothing to do, although their Royal Arch connection there is, to say the least of it, very doubtful. There is no evidence in existence which would make us select the date of the introduction of the Royal Arch in America in 1758. Hughan, a much more recent historian than Drummond, has pointed out that the earliest record of a Royal Arch degree in this country was 1753, in Virginia, and the date might be thrown back further, only we have no actual evidence to justify us in doing so, although, in the circumstances, a little surmise would be justifiable. The first known Ancient Lodge in America was not that established at Philadelphia in 1758 but one at Nova Scotia in 1757. There is no evidence on record for the statement that Grand Master Harrison warranted "Independent Royal Arch" (No. 2, New York), in 1760; indeed, as shown in an earlier chapter, the evidence we have tends to show that he did not, and that the age of that Lodge must be placed somewhat earlier than 1760. Nor is it to be assumed that because a Lodge was styled "Royal Arch" it worked the Royal

Arch as a separate degree. There are "Royal Arch Lodges" in Scotland dating from the middle of the eighteenth century which never had, so far as is known, a clear-cut Royal Arch degree in their system. Neither is there the slightest evidence that the New York Royal Arch Lodge even worked any separate Royal Arch degree. What the "circumstances" are that "point to that conclusion" we are unable to fathom after a considerable time spent in investigating its early history. Neither can we accept the statement that when Grand Master Harrison granted a warrant in 1757 to St. John's Lodge, New York, he "threw in" a warrant for the Mark degree. Brother Drummond took his information on this point, very probably, from the printed history of that Lodge, which says that to its original charter "was also annexed a warrant with power to make Mark Masons." There is no evidence in support of this statement, and no evidence that at any time in St. John's Lodge was any sort of ceremony that might be termed a Mark degree ever undertaken. Unfortunately the early minutes of this Lodge have been lost which might have thrown either positive or negative light on this point.

We have quoted these short paragraphs. from Brother Drummond, not with any view of presenting the labors of that grand Masonic student in any unfavorable light-the length and value of his term of service raises him far above the reach of criticism, were it disposed to be unfriendly-but simply to show how much uncertainty exists regarding the early history of Royal Arch Masonry in this country. The same uncertainty applies to its ritual. As we have it now it is a beautiful, impressive and complete system of four degrees-Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch--but how much of it was in vogue, in America, say, in 1760, is a question which, it is to be feared, will ever remain unanswered. Certainly it was very different from what we have now, and while we express no opinion as to whether

or not its most striking degree-that of Most Excellent Master-was the sole work of Thomas Smith Webb, we are within bounds when we say that a good many brethren have held that to him was due the entire credit for its beautiful teachings. Certain it is that it is purely an American production and peculiar to its Royal Arch system.

So far as we can learn the early Royal Arch Chapters were by no means interesting. Few of the earliest of the records of the pioneer American Chapters have been preserved and those which have come down to us are in such fragmentary condition that they are of little practical use. We have, however, some transcripts of proceedings of Royal Arch meetings in Georgia taken from the minutes of "Royal Arch Chapter, No. 1, under the sanction of Forsyth's Lodge, No. 14, on the registry of Georgia," which met in Augusta. As these records bear the date of 1796-before there was any possibility of the introduction of Modern work by Webb or any one else in America—and give us a tolerable idea of what then was regarded as Royal Arch Masonry. The notes, it may be said, were extracted from the minute book by the late Dr. Albert G. Mackay, the first of the modern Masonic historians of America-that is to say, of those who refuse to accept mere tradition as truth and who build their conclusions on facts rather than on legends:

At a meeting of the subscribers, Royal Arch Masons, at Forsyth's Lodge room, the 29th February, 1796.

Read a petition from Brothers Joseph Hutchinson, William Dearmond, and John McGowan, Master Masons of Forsyth's Lodge, praying to become Royal Arch companions; and, the same being agreed to, a Master's Lodge was then opened.

Present: Thomas Bray, Master; Thomas Davis, S. W.; D. B. Butler, J. W.; Joseph Hutchinson, Tyler; William Dearmond, John McGowan.

Brothers Hutchinson, Dearmond and McGowan were regularly passed the chair, and obtained the degree of Past Master, and returned thanks for the same. The Lodge was then closed.

A Royal Arch Chapter was then opened in ancient form.

Present: Thomas Bray, H. P.; Thomas Davis, C. S.; D. B. Butler, K.

Brother Hutchinson (attending) received the preparatory degrees; also Brothers Past Masters Dearmond and McGowan. They were then in rotation raised to the super-excellent degree of Royal Arch Masons, and returned thanks for the same.

A committee, consisting of the M. E. H. P., C. S., and K., were appointed to prepare by-laws for the regulation and government of this Chapter, and to submit the same for consideration at the next regular meeting, which it was agreed upon should be the third Saturday in March.

After some pertinent charges were given to our new companions by the M. E. H. P., the Chapter was closed in love and ancient form.

THOMAS BRAY, H. P.
THOMAS DAVIS, C. S.
D. B. BUTLER, K.

The record of the next meeting is as follows:

At an extra meeting of the Past Masters of Forsyth's Lodge, No. 14, on the 9th of April, 5796.

Present: Thomas Bray, M.; Thomas Davis, S. W. pro tem.; William Dearmond, J. W. pro tem.; Joseph Hutchinson, Sec. pro. tem.; John McGowan, Treas. prb tem.

A Master's Lodge was opened in ancient form. The minutes of the Past Master's Lodge that met on a similar occasion were read. The petition from Brother Samuel William Jones and Abner Davis was now agreed to, and, they attending, were regularly passed the chair, and returned thanks for the same.

The Lodge was then closed by the W. M. in harmony and ancient form.

JOSEPH HUTCHINSON, Sec. pro tem.

At an extra meeting of the R. A. C. No. 1, under sanction of warrant No. 14, Forsyth's Lodge, on the registry of Georgia, held at the State house the 9th April, 5796.

Present: Thomas Bray, H. P.; Thomas Davis, C. S.; John McGowan, K.; William Dearmond, R. A. C.; J. Hutchinson, Sec.

The Chapter was opened in ancient form, and the minutes of the last Chapter read. The petition of Samuel William Jones and Abner Davis, praying to be admitted companions of this Chapter, was read and unanimously agreed to. Brother Jones and Brother Davis, attending, were accordingly raised

to the super-excellent degree of Royal Arch Masons, and returned thanks for the same.

In a subsequent part of the records of this meeting it is mentioned,

That a Royal Arch Chapter has lately been opened in Savannah, under the sanction of warrant No. 10, Union Lodge, and that most of the officers of the Grand Lodge have been raised to the superexcellent degree of Royal Arch Masons in that Chapter.

The Chapter proceeded to elect officers to serve until next St. John the Evangelist's day, when the following were duly appointed:

Thomas Bray, H. P.; Thomas Davis, C. S.; D. B. Butler, K.; William Dearmond, R. A. C.; John McGowan, Treas.; Joseph Hutchinson, Sec.

The Chapter at Savannah having announced its intention of applying to the Grand Lodge of Georgia for a dispensation or warrant, a letter was written to the companions of Savannah by the Chapter at Augusta, on the 27th May, 1796, in which the following declaration appears:

If there is any rule or by-law that requires a Royal Arch Chapter to apply for a special dispensation or warrant, it is unknown to us. We conceive that the warrant given to Forsyth's Lodge was sufficient for the members thereof to confer any degree in Masonry agreeable to the ancient usages and customs.

After several meetings, very similar in character and proceedings to those just recorded, we find the Mark and some other degrees mentioned for the first time in the minutes of November, which are as follows:

At an extra meeting of Forsyth's Lodge, convened by the order of the W. M., and held at the court house on Tuesday, 29th November, 5796.

Present: Thomas Bray, Master; Thomas Davis, S. W.; Wm. Dearmond, J. W. pro tem.

A Masters' Mark Lodge was opened, for the purpose of conferring the degrees of Fellow Craft's, Mark, and Master Mark, on Brothers John McGowan, Lawrence Trotti, and John B. Wilkinson,

when they, attending, received the same, and returned thanks to the Lodge; which was then closed. A Past Masters Lodge was then opened.

Present: Thomas Bray, M.; Thomas Davis, S. W.; William Dearmond, J. W. pro tem.; John McGowan.

The Lodge was opened for the purpose of conferring the degree of Past Master on Brothers Lawrence Trotti and John B. Wilkinson, when they, attending, were regularly passed the chair and obtained the degree of Past Master, and gave thanks for the same. The Lodge was then closed in ancient form. The Royal Arch Chapter was then opened.

Present: Thomas Bray, H. P.; Thomas Davis, C. S.; John McGowan, K.; William Dearmond, R. A. C.

The minutes of the last Chapter were read. The M. E. H. P. informed the companions present that the Chapter was called for the purpose of conferring the super-excellent degree on Brothers Lawrence Trotti and John B. Wilkinson, who were then attending. Brother Trotti was then duly prepared and received the preparatory degrees of R. M. and R. A., also Brother Wilkinson. They were then raised to the super-excellent degree of Royal Arch Mason, and returned thanks. The Chapter was then closed by order of the M. E. H. P.

Commenting on these extracts, Dr. Mackay

said:

These records supply us with several curious facts as to the peculiar organization of Royal Arch Masonry in 1796.

The Chapter degree was then, as we before knew, conferred under the sanction of the warrant of a Lodge.

Nine Royal Arch Masons were not, it seems, necessary to the opening of a Chapter.

The only officers mentioned are a High Priest, Chief Scribe, King, Royal Arch Captain, Treasurer, and Secretary; and the Scribe in those days took, or appears to have taken, precedence of the King.

The Mark degree was divided into two parts. and was conferred subsequently to the Past Master; and the preparatory degrees of the Royal Arch seem to have been given in the following order: Past Master. Fellow Craft's, Mark, Master's Mark, R. M. and R. A. These last two degrees are never recorded throughout the book, except by the initials, which were intended, I suppose, to denote Royal Master and Royal Ark, or Royal Ark Mariner. The former now follows the Royal Arch,

and the latter has been discontinued in this country, though mentioned by Cole as late as 1826.

The ceremony of passing the chair, or conferring the Past Master's degree, seems from the record of 29th February, 1796, to have been performed in a Master's Lodge. The same usage was pursued at several subsequent meetings; but on the 26th December, 1796, for the first time, I find it recorded that the Master's Lodge was closed, and a Past Master's Lodge opened for this purpose.

These records show in marked degree a resemblance to the system of the Royal Arch as practiced in Scotland. We are not aware that the Royal Mariner degree ever obtained currency in Ireland-the other great starting point of Royal Arch Masonry, so far as its early settlement to this country is concerned. Of course I do not wish it to be inferred from this that I hold any idea of putting forward a claim for the prevalence of the Scotch system in America, it is more probable that the Scotch and Irish work was equally divided. It seems certain that in those days the Royal Arch was simply a development out of the Master Mason's Lodges, and its honors were confined to those who had passed the presiding officer's chair either by election and actual service, or by formal advancement to that position and prompt retirement after being duly elected, invested and installed. There is no evidence on record of any warrant other than that held in a Master's Lodge, no document purporting to confer the right to work the system, whichever it may have been, from anybody assuming to hold distinct authority over Mark Masters, or Past Masters, or Royal Arch Mariners, or any other of the degrees. Those who possessed their secrets bestowed them upon others as they pleased, the only prerequisite to their acquirement being the possession at one time or other, for a full term or for ten minutes, aíter regular election and installation, of the Master's Chair. Possibly at first a three months' actual service in the East was essential. There may of course have been a formal warrant, but if so it is not in evidence. We know that the

Royal Arch was an inherent part of the "Ancient" system, but the "Ancient" system at one time consisted of four degrees, and the Georgia minutes show that there were others in 1796. At all events, and so far as documentary evidence shows, they were simply conferred without special warrant.

We have many evidences, negative evidences to be sure, but none the less suggestive, in the early notices we have of the existence of the Mark degree. Several Lodges conferred this without any other, and the story of the introduction of it is always clouded in mystery. We have mystery. We have seen that St. John's Lodge (No. 1) claimed to have a warrant for conferring the Mark degree, but beyond bare assertion there is nothing but tradition to support the claim. Neither is there extant any evidence of the brethren having enrolled and marks; nor in the earliest extant by-laws (1772) is there any provision made for it or even any reference to it. Several other early Lodges claimed to possess a mark warrant, but none has yet been seen, although in New York State alone many Lodges were in 1798 said to have power to confer such a degree. Take another case by way of illustration. The Otsego Mark Lodge claimed March 7, 1797, as the date of its foundation, but its history confesses that "the authority for its establishment is somewhat obscure." Certainly it is, although there seems no reason to doubt that it existed prior to April 3, 1798, the date of its warrant from the Grand Chapter of New York. Of what it calls its charter membersfive in all-only two were Master Masons, and apparently in possession of a mark when Otsego Lodge received its warrant Aug. 14, 1795, so we may conclude that whatever ceremony-if any—was attached to the taking of this mark of distinction was performed by these two brethren on their own responsibility and of their own volition. Even when most of the early Grand Chapters were formed they do not seem to have claimed any jurisdiction over the mark, or to have recognized it as