Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-12
25Oth ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
of the
Founding of Norwich, July 5th and 9th
GRAND CHAPTER OF
ROYAL ARCH MAsoNs.
Annual convoeation Held at New
Haven-Report Of G. A. Kies.


The grand chapter of Royal Arch
Masons of Connecticut convened in Its
111th annual convocation at Masonic
hall in New Haven Tuesday. the grand
high priest, George A, Kies, of Nor
witch, presiding. There were about 200
members present. The report Of Grand
High Priest Kies contains the follow
ing recommendations:
For years l have been struck with
the inconsistency of our system of
titles. We style the high priest of a
subordinate chapter as most excellent
Should he be called to an appointive
office in this grand chanter. he is
shorn of a portion of his title, being
styled simply excellent Again, In the
grand chapter both the grand high
priest and deputy grand high priest
~8re called most excellent
with a view of doing away with
these and other inconsistencies, l rec
ommend a revision Of our regulations
so as to provide that the grand high
priest shall be styled most excellent,
the remainder of the elective officers
of the grand chapter right excellent
and the appointive officers simply 'ex-
cellent.' l also urge that the high
priest of subordinate chapter be
styled simply excellent the king and
scribe, as well as the other officers and
members, to be known simply as COM
panions.' In addition, 1t would seem
that the word grand should be elfni-
mated from the titles of masters Of the
walls in subordinate chapters.
Il have recently received a commu-
nication from a chapter secretary who
is a companion of long standing and a
man of affairs, Masonically speaking.
In 1t he complains of the difficulty OF
dealing with companions who former
ly claimed exemption from payment of
dues under our old regulation which
forbade chapters from administering
discipline for nom payment. of dues in
the cases Of companions who had
maintained good standing in their
chapters for thirty or more years. At
his request. mention the matter and
suggest that it be again considered.
While I have no personal or detailed
knowledge as to the difficulties attend
ing this class Of cases, II seems TO me
that, on general principles, companions
who have thus borne the heat and
burden of the day, whose earning
powers have diminished, might equita-
bly, be given their own option as to fur
Their payment of dues and that. too,
without taking a sort Of poor debtors
oath. recommend theSmatter to your
careful consideration, both pro and
contra"
Reports were also submitted by
Charles 4. Farnham, deputy grand
high priest; Eugene A Hall, grand
king, and George r. Morris, grand
scribe.
The grand high priest submitted the
annual report of the committee on cor
respondence. a report Of -9S printed
pages, giving data concerning the or
der in the various states Of the union
and in several foreign countries Ac-
companying this report Is table of
statistics which shows that the order
in this state has $500 members. an in
crease of 275. There were 124 deaths
during the year. There are 40 chap
ters The membership In the United
States is reported as 34s,317.
The reports showed that all OF the
chapters In the state are in good
financial condition.
The officers elected were:
Grand High Priest - Charles A.
Farnham, Collinsville.
Deputy Grand High Priest-Eugene
A. Hall. Meriden.
Grand King = George R. Morris,
New London.
Grand scribe-w. ]. Bissell, Litch-
field.
Grand Treasurer-Isaiah Baker Jr.,
Hartford.
Grand Secretary - James McCor-
mick Hartford.
L. L. Beach, Bristol, grand captain
of the host: Horace w. Eddy, New
Britain, grand principal sojourner; H
L. Pearsons. Bridgeport. grand royal
arch captain; trustees, r. H. Tucker,
Ansonia, James Collan, Waterbury J.
o. Rowland, Wallingford, Rev c. W.
Boylston, Hartford; reverend grand
chaplain; B. L. futile New Haven,
grand master of the third vail: E. w.
Avery. South Windham. grand master
Of the second vail; e. c. Adj. Water
bury, grand master of the first vail;
w. K Wilson, Danbury, grand senior
steward; F. H. George, Newtown,
grand junior steward; G. A. Loomis,
Hartford, grand tyler; G. A. Kies, Nor
witch, correspondent.
At the conclusion of the work thers
was a banquet
The grand cnunciI meets today