Extracts From The Minutes Of The Royal Arch Chapter Of Concord Attached To The Anchor And Hope Lodge, No, 37, Bolton.

this meeting also six Brethren were proposed and seconded " to be exalted to the degree of a Royal Arch Mason . " 29 th May , 1839 . A meeting was held at which the Principals and other officers were elected , including Comp . Stephen Blair as Z . ( In 18-16 Comp . Blair was

appointed Grand Superintendent of R . A . Masons for the Eastern Division of Lancashire , which office he held until his death in July , 1870 . ) At a meeting held 26 th Augt ., 1840 , it was Resolved , " that one black ball exclude any Brother from being exalted to tho sublime degree of a Holy R . Arch Mason . "

24 th Nov ., 1841 . — - "In consequence of the non-attendance of the candidates for exaltation the Chapter was not opened , but it was agreed by the Compns . present that the ancient & established rules of the

Chapter be in future strictly enforced , that is , that at the proposal of a Candidate for the Royal Arch the sum of One Pound be paid as a Proposition fee . " 29 th May 1844 ( First regular meeting at Swan Inn ) . ' ' It being the night for electing officers the retirinff officers were re-elected . "

28 th May , 1851 . — " Resolved that the Annual Subscription be ten shillings , and that it become due and payable in one sum on the last Wednesday in May in eA'ery year . " The last meeting recorded in the second Minute Book is 27 th May 1852 from

, , which date to the present time the Minutes we contained in the third Minute Book , being tho one at present in use . At a meeting held 26 th Augt ., 1852 , a r , . . . . t / ommittee was appointed " to examine into the condition and completeness or

otherwise of the Furniture ancl Regalia belonging to this Chapter , such Committee to submit their report to a future meeting . " 14 th June , 1853 . —The Committee 'Appointed 26 th Augt ., 1852 , presented their report , and recommended the

purchase of a new set of Principals' robes , also new Banners , Officers' Collars and Jewels , and it was resolved that tho report he adopted ; and accordingly ( as appears from the cash account ) these articles were Purchased . At a meeting held in the Freemasons ' Hall , Church Institute , Bolton , on 1 st

Extracts From The Minutes Of The Royal Arch Chapter Of Concord Attached To The Anchor And Hope Lodge, No, 37, Bolton.

March , 1866 ( the Anchor and Hope Lodge No . 37 , to which tho Chapter is attached , having removed to this place ) a proposition Avas made ( notice having been g iven at the preceding meeting ) " that the Chapter bo removed from the Swan Hotel

to the Freemasons' Hall , Church Institute , Bolton , " which was carried unanimously . On 19 th Nov ., 1866 , it Avas unanimously Resolved " That twenty pounds be given out of the funds of this Chapter towards the expenses that haA'e been incurred in decorating and furnishing the Freemasons ' Hall , Bolton . "

On 9 th April , 1873 , the Annual Meeting of the Prov . G . Chapter of East Lancashire was held in the Chapter Room , Freemasons' Hall , Bolton , under the auspices of the Bolton Chapters , Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . Superintendent , in , the chairwhen the annual business of . the

, Prov . G . Chapter was transacted . Having now completed our extracts from the Minutes of this ancient Chapter , Ave Avill conclude by observing that since llth Novr ., 1785 , the date ol the original Charter 180 Companions appear to have

, been exalted in the Chapter , of whom 50 were exalted previously to 3 rd August , 1836 , the date of the present Charter , the remainder , 130 , from that time to the present time ( April , 1 S 77 ) ,

Wonders Of Operative Masonry.

WONDERS OF OPERATIVE MASONRY .

From the " Keystone . " III . WE continue our sketches of the most remarkable Abbeys and Cathedrals in Great Britain . No edifices of recent

tiroes can match them in architectural splendour . They are wonders of Operative Masonry , reflecting the highest honour upon the Operative Craft of the Middle Ages . The more we consider , the more we admire them , and become imbued

with the spirit of the Temple builders whom we are proud to claim among our Masonic ancestry .