Royal Arch Masonry

At a meeting of Washtenaw Chapter, Koyal Arch Masons, held Monday evening. Past High Priest Wm. O. Dóty was the recipiënt of a handsome high priest jewel from the members of the chapter. B. F. Watts, Grand Captain of the Host, who had been selected to make the presentatin, spoke as follows: 'It has long been the practico in the several bodies of masonry to confer some token upon those who have ably served the eraft, as a slight acknowledgement of services, which are always rendered without the hope of otber fee or reward, than that higher reward and commendation, " well done, good and faithf ui servant," for which every just and upright mason works and strives. Dear and Most Excellent Companion and Friend. it is my duty as well as pleasure, here to-night, to present to you a mark of the approval of this Chapter "for the valuable services you have so frei-ly rendered it, and which have done so much to advance the prospenty of our beloved order. You saw the flelds ripe for the harvest and the laborers few; forgetful of vourself but ever mindful of the Master's work, you came to the rescue, and by your constanoy, your zeal, and your intelligence, you have animated, encouragrd and piomoted the _great objects for which we are bound together, to a surprising degree, and at the same time enriched this bodv in all that pertains to its worldly estnte, This chapter would be forgetful of its honor and interests shoull labors such as these go unrewarded. It is therefore niy duty as its representativo to present tbis jewel. It is my pleasure still more so to do, beeause in sorewarding a faithful Bnd efficiënt offlcer, I confer an honorable distinction upon a tried and faithful friend. Wear this jewel, Companior, and mav lts purity and beauty remind you of the beauty of holiness and the purity of life and conduct that should ever chnracterize him who has served at the altar of the great " I am." May the familiar tokens emblazoned n its circle and the mysteries of the beautiful arch remind you of scènes to which the world is not a wiiness, and of familiar faces which you have. so often met and counseled. May the precepts you have so often expounded, and the lessons you have inculcated, be mirrored always in yolir heart of hearts, and finally, Companion, may the Lord bless thee nd keep thee; may the Lord cause the light of His countenance to shine upon thee and give thee peace. mk. dott's response. Most Excellent Companion High Priest.- I thank you for your kind and flattering remarks. I known that I am not worthv of them but I assure you that I slial try so to sliHpe my course in life that this cbaptersLallnot be ashamed of the trust it once reposed in me. And you, Companions. permitme to return to you my moRt sincere ttwnks for this elegant testimonial of your affection and esteem. You have indeed outhorized me to receive a work as good and true as ever passea mspectiou. The cunning craftsman bas leffc the mark of his skill upon it, and the beauty of its design and its singular form are calculated to make a deep and lasting impression upon the mind of him who reads their mystic language aright. It is indeed a beautiful gift, duubly precious to me in that it marks the acceptable close of an important epoch in my masonic life. Few of you know with what hesitation and distrust I entered upon the arduous duties of the high priesthood, when but few short ye.irs ago your choice called me to that high and responsible station. Around me were men who had borne the heat and burden of the day, whilst I, almost at the llth hour, was summoned to the labors of the vineyard. Companions, I have indeed wrought but on e hour, compared with many of you, but it has been my blessed privilege to harken to your adinonitions, toprofit by your examples, and to prosper by your support. You have stayed me on the right hand and on the left; you have been ins'ant in season and out of season, and fervent ii ndzealous over all. Together we have advanced the material prosperity of our order beyond our highest hopes, and we stand to-day in the front rank of masonic power and influence. Peacefully and in harmony we have raised this second temple, and -'neither hammer nor ax nor any tooi of iron has been heard in this our house wh lst it was in building." It is then,' Companions, a source of the profoundest gratitude that the G. A. O. T. U. has so singularly blessed and favored our work. Let us hope that we have here erected a temple of the Most High which in every part is well pleasing unto H m. For ifter all, if it is not for Him that we have labored, then is our work worse than useless, and all our efforts vain. Mav this brea t-p] a te with its settings typify the precious lives we have built into our temple, and the nghteousness with which we have endeavored to fit ourselves and them as liviDg stones for th it uiher temp e, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. As this beautiful arch, reared upon these gr ceful columns, is keyed by the mystio sto -e, so may the arch which shares our dual lives be keyed by the divine benediction, so that, When the solemn strain shall swell, From the bosom and the tonque, And the Master's glory teil, In the harmony of son?. This shall crown the mighty arch, When the temple sprlngs on high. And the brethren bend their march, Wafting incensp to the sky. Most excellent sir, feeling and acknowledging as I do, my indebtedness to this chapter for all that has made my administiation a material success, I cannot receive this jewel as a reward of my own merit, but humbly and ihankfully as a pledge of my companions' friendship and a badge of the exalted masnoic rank te which their favor has raised me. And what a pledge! The friendship and esteem of a body of men who have never faltered in their allegiance to a friend. The friendship and esteem of one of the oldest and most loyal subjects of the Most Excellent, the Grand Ch ipter of thehtate of Michigan, whose gracious care it has ever been to maint dn support and defend her loyal children, as she hersel! in full and confident faith expects a like return from her lawful suzerain. This is the friendship you have pledged me, Companions, and with it the heait8 and hands of thonsands and thousands throughout the inhabited glob'' to whom. perchance the name of Wa-htenaw Chapter JN' o. 6 mav be unknown, but to whose listening ears the faithful tongue may speak by words or signa; 'Hail I Masonry devine, Glory of the agep, thine!" Permit me then, corup nions, to thank you again and agiiin for this beautiful gift. Bi y the great I Am help me to read and practice its symbolisme aright, so that in His full time, with the breastplate of nghteousness, I may pass with you the vails of Hie tabernacle, and stand at last before the effulgent glories of His ever living arch and under the shadows of His awf ui throne. The jewel itself, which is of solid gold, coneists of a circle upon which are emblems of Koy,al Arch Masonry. In the center is a tripple triangle surmounted by a breast-p'ate set with precious stones suspended by chains beneath an arch of gald, having in its center a key stone and pendant from the arch, the mongram of the recipiënt; beneath the monogram the number of the chapter. On the reverse side is the followinpr inscnption: "Presented to M. E. P. H. P. William G. Dotv by Washtenaw Chapter No. 6, B. A. M., (Ann Arbor, Mich.,) intokenof fraternal esteem and in testimony of his fervency and zeal in the oause of capitular masonry. Dated, Dec. 27th, A. D. 1883. A. I. 2413."