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CHAPTER XV.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE ORDER OF HIGH PRIEST.

THIS order appertains to the office of High Priest of a Royal Arch Chapter, and no one can be legally entitled to receive it until he has been elected to fuftain that office in fome regular chapter of Royal Arch Mafons.

The following paffages of scripture are made ufe of during the ceremonies appertaining to this order, viz.

Gen. xiv. 12-24. "And they took Lot, Abram's brother's fon, (who dwelt in Sodom) and his goods, and departed. And there came one, that had efcaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Efhcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained fervants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and purfued them unto Dan. And he divided himfelf against them, he and his fervants, by night, and fmote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damafcus. And he brought back all the goods, and alfo brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women alfo, and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him (after his return from the flaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him) at the valley of She

veh, which is the king's dale. And Melchifedec, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine: and he was the prieft of the Most High God. And he bleffed him, and faid, Bleffed be Abram of the Moft High God, poffeffor of heaven and earth: and bleffed be the Moft High God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the perfons, and take the goods to thyfelf. And Abram faid to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the Moft High God, 'the poffeffor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a fhoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, left thou fhouldeft fay, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Efhcol and Mamre; let them take their portion."

Numb. vi. 22—26. "And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak unto Aaron, and unto his fons, faying, On this wife ye fhall bless the children of Ifrael, faying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face fhine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and' give thee peace."

Heb. vii. 1-6. "For this Melchifedec, king of Salem, prieft of the Moft High God, (who met Abraham returning from the flaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom alfo Abraham gave a tenth part of all;) abideth a priest: continually. Now confider how great this mani

was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the fpoils. And verily they that are of the fons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham."

"For he teftifieth, Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchifedec.

"And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest.'

"For those priefts (under the Levitical law) were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that faid unto him, The Lord fware and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchifedec."

FREEMASON'S MONITOR.

PART FIRST.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.

Of the Government of Royal Arch Chapters.

THE first three degrees of masonry are holden under the authority of Grand Lodges, compofed of the mafter and wardens of all the lodges within a certain diftrict, together with the proper grand officers; the organization of which will be noticed in another part of this work.

In like manner chapters of royal arch masons, with power to confer the preparatory degrees of mark mafter, past mafter, and moft excellent mafter, are holden under the authority of grand chapters, compofed of the three principal officers of all the royal arch chapters within a certain diftrict, together with the proper grand officers.

Until the year 1797, no grand chapter of royal arch mafons was organized in America. Previously to this period, a competent number of companions of that degree, poffeffed of fufficient abilities, under the fanction of a master's warrant, proceeded to exercise the rights and privileges of royal arch chapters, whenever they

thought it expedient and proper; although in moft cafes the approbation of a neighbouring chapter was deemed useful if not effential.

This unrestrained mode of proceeding was fubject to many inconveniences; unfuitable characters might be admitted; irregularities in the mode of working introduced; the purposes of the fociety perverted; and thus the order degraded, by falling into the hands of those who might be regardless of the reputation of the inftitution. If differences fhould arife between two chapters, who was to decide upon them? If unworthy characters, who for want of due caution had gained admiffion, fhould attempt to open new chapters, for their own emolument, or for the purposes of conviviality or intemperance, who was to reftrain them? If the eftablished regulations and ancient landmarks fhould be violated or broken down, where was there power fufficient to remedy the evil?

Senfible of the existence of thefe and many other inconveniences, to which the order were fubjected, the chapters of royal arch masons, in various parts of the United States, have, within a few years paft, taken the proper and neceffary measures for forming and establishing grand royal arch chapters, for their better government and regulation.

On the 24th of October, 1797, a convention of delegates, from feveral chapters in the northern ftates, affembled at Mafons Hall, in Boston; being appointed (as expreffed in their credentials) to meet with any or every chapter of royal arch mafons, within the ftates of New-.

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