Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

142 CHAPEL
CHARACTERISTICS
one white and two black plumes, and appropriate
cross on the left side ."
Chapel. The closets and anterooms so
necessary and convenient to a Lodge for various
purposes are dignified by German Masons
with the title of "Capellen," or chapels .
Chapel, Mary's (or the Lodge of Edinburgh)
. The oldest Lodge in Edinburgh,
Scotland, whose minutes extend as far back as
the year 1599 . This long stood as the oldest
minute, but in 1912 one was found of Aitchison's-Haven
Lodge dated 1598 . (See Aitchison's-Haven.)
They show that John Boswell,
Esq ., of Auchinleck, was present in the
Lodge in the year 1600, and that the Hon .
Robert Moray, Quartermaster-General of the
Army of Scotland, was created a Master
Mason in 1641 at Newcastle by some members
of the Lodge of Edinburgh who were
present there with the Scotch Army . These
facts show that at that early period persons
who were not Operative Masons by profession
were admitted into the Order . The Lodge of
Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) is No . 1 on the
roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; the date
of its formation is unknown, and at one time it
stood first on the roll, but in 1807 the Mother
Kilwinning Lodge was placed before it as No.
0. It met at one time in a chapel dedicated
to the Virgin Mary ; hence comes the second
part of its name . Its history was published in
1873 by D. M . Lyon . [E . L . H .]
Chapiter . The uppermost part of a column,
pillar, or pilaster, serving as the head or
crowning, and placed immediately over the
shaft and under the entablature . The pillars
which stood in front of the porch of King
Solomon's Temple were adorned with chapiters
of a peculiar construction, which are
largely referred to, and their symbolism explained,
in the Fellow-Craft's Degree. (See
Pillars of the Porch .)
Chaplain . The office of Chaplain of a
Lodge is one which is not recognized in the
ritual of the United States of America, although
often conferred by courtesy . The Master
of a Lodge in general performs the duties
of a Chaplain .
Chaplain, Grand . An office of very modern
date in a Grand Lodge . It was first instituted
on the 1st of May, 1775, on the occasion
of the laying of the foundation of the
Freemasons' Hall in London . It is stated in
the English Constitutions of 1784 (p . 314)
that the office "which had been discontinued
for several years, was this day revived," but
there is no record of any appointment to it
before the date given . This office is now universally
recognized by the Grand Lodges of
America. His duties are confined to offering
up rayer at the communications of the Grand
Loge, and conducting its devotional exercises
on public occasions .
Chapter. In early times the meetings of
Masons were called not only Lodges, but
Chapters and Congregations . Thus, the statute
enacted in the third year of the rei gn of
Henry VI ., of England, A.D. 1425, declares
that "Masons shall not confederate in Chapi-
ters and Congregations ." The word is now
exclusively appropriated to designate the
bodies in which degrees higher than the symbolic
are conferred . Thus there are Chapters
of Royal Arch Masons in the York and American
Rites and Chapters of Rose Croix Masons
in the Ancient and Accepted .
Chapter, General Grand . See General
Grand Chapter .
Chapter, Grand . See Grand Chapter.
Chapter Mason. A colloquialism denoting
a Royal Arch Mason .
Chapter Masonry . A colloquialism intended
to denote the degrees conferred in a
Royal Arch Chapter .
Chapter of R. Arch Masons, An Old.
There is in Boston, Mass ., a Chapter of Royal
Arch Masons which was holden in St . Andrew's
Lodge and formed about the year
1769. (See Royal Arch Masons, Massachusetts
; also, Pennsylvania .)
Chapter, Rose Croix . See Rose Croix,
Prince of .
Chapter, Royal Arch . A convocation
of Royal Arch Masons is called a Chapter .
In Great Britain, Royal Arch Masonry is connected
with and practically under the same
government as the Grand Lodge ; but in
America the jurisdictions are separate . In
America a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons is
empowered to give the preparatory degrees of
Mark, Past, and Most Excellent Master ;
although, of course, the Chapter, when meeting
in either of these degrees, is called a Lodge .
In some Chapters the degrees of Royal and
Select Master are also given as preparatory
degrees ; but in most of the States, the control
of these is conferred upon separate bodies,
called "Councils of Royal and Select Masters ."
The presiding officers of a Chapter are the
High Priest, King, and Scribe, who are, respectively,
representatives of Joshua, Zerubbabel,
Haggai, and son of Josedech. In the
English Chapters, these officers are generally
styled either by the founders' names, as above,
or as First, Second, and Third Principals . In
the Chapters of Ireland the order of the officers
is King, High Priest, and Chief Scribe . Chapters
of Royal Arch Masons in America are
primarily under the jurisdiction of State
Grand Chapters, as Lodges are under Grand
Lodges ; and secondly, under the General
Grand Chapter of the United States, whose
meetings are held triennially, and which exercises
a general supervision over this branch
of the Order throughout the Union . (See
Royal Arch Degree .)
Chapters, Irish . See Irish Chapters.
Characteristic Name. See Order Name .
Characteristics . The prefix to signatures
of brethren of the A . A . Scottish Rite is as follows
: To that of the Sovereign Grand Commander,
the triple cross crosslet, as in (1), in
red ink . To that of an Inspector-General
other than a Commander (2), in red ink . To
that of a Brother of the Royal Secret,
Thirty-second Degree (3), in red ink . In the
Northern Jurisdiction of the U . S ., a Rose
Croix Knight will suffix a triangle our-