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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.a


                                   RESOLUTIONS
                                     OF THE
                                PRICING COMMITTEE
                                     OF THE
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                              OF MASCO CORPORATION
                                 April 16, 1998

     In lieu of a  meeting,  the  undersigned  being all of the  members  of the
Pricing  Committee of the Board of Directors  of Masco  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), adopt the following resolutions:

     WHEREAS, the Company has filed a Registration Statement (No. 33-56043) on
Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is in effect;

     WHEREAS,  the Company desires to create an additional  series of securities
under the Indenture dated as of December 1, 1982 (as amended to the date hereof,
the "Indenture"),  with The First National Bank of Chicago, as successor trustee
to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York (the "Trustee"),  providing for the
issuance from time to time of unsecured debentures,  notes or other evidences of
indebtedness  of this  Company  ("Securities")  in one or more series under such
Indenture; and

     WHEREAS,  capitalized  terms used in these  resolutions  and not  otherwise
defined are used with the same meaning ascribed to such terms in the Indenture;

     THEREFORE RESOLVED,  that there is established a series of Securities under
the Indenture, the terms of which shall be as follows:

         1.    The  Securities  of such series shall be  designated  as the 
     "6.625% Debentures Due April 15, 2018".

         2.    The  aggregate  principal  amount of Securities of such series 
     which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is limited to
     Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000), expect for Securities of
     such series authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of,
     or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant
     to Sections 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 9.04 or 14.03 of the Indenture.

         3.    The date on which the  principal  of the  Securities  of such 
     series shall be payable is April 15, 2018.


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         4.    The  Securities  of such series shall bear  interest  from April
     21, 1998, at the rate of 6.625% per annum, payable semi-annually on April
     15 and October 15 of each year commencing on October 15, 1998, until the
     principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. The April 1 or
     October 1 (whether or not a business day), as the case may be, next
     preceding each such interest payment date shall be the "record date" for
     the determination of holders to whom interest is payable.

         5.    The Securities  shall be issued initially in the form of one or 
     more global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of
     The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), and will be held by the Trustee as
     custodian for DTC. The Securities shall be subject to the procedures of DTC
     described in the Company's prospectus supplement dated April 16, 1998
     relating to the Securities and, except as described in such prospectus
     supplement, will not be issued in definitive registered form.

         6.    The principal of and interest on the Securities of such series 
     shall be payable at the office or agency of this Company maintained for
     such purpose under Section 3.02 of the Indenture in the Borough of
     Manhattan, The City of New York, or at any other office or agency
     designated by the Company, for such purpose pursuant to the Indenture;
     provided, however, that if Securities in definitive registered form are
     issued, then at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made
     by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such
     address shall appear on the Company's registry books.

         7.    The Securities of such series shall not be redeemable prior to
     maturity.

         8.    The Securities of such series shall be issuable in  denominations
     of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) and any integral multiples thereof.

         9.    The  Securities  shall be issuable at a price such that this 
     Company shall receive $247,460,000 after an underwriting discount of
     $2,187,500.

         10.   The Securities  shall be subject to defeasance and discharge and
     to defeasance of certain obligations as set forth in the Indenture.

     FURTHER  RESOLVED,  that the  Securities  of such series are declared to be
issued under the Indenture and subject to the provisions hereof;


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     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President of the Company is authorized to execute,  on the Company's  behalf and
in its name,  and the  Secretary  or any  Assistant  Secretary of the Company is
authorized to attest to such  execution and under the Company's  seal (which may
be in the form of a facsimile of the  Company's  seal),  $250,000,000  aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series (and in addition Securities to
replace lost, stolen,  mutilated or destroyed Securities and Securities required
for exchange,  substitution  or transfer,  all as provided in the  Indenture) in
fully registered form in substantially  the form of the note filed as an exhibit
to the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-56043),  but with
such changes and insertions therein as are appropriate to conform the Securities
to the terms set forth herein or otherwise as the respective  officers executing
the Securities shall approve and as are not inconsistent with these resolutions,
such  approval to be  conclusively  evidenced by such  officer's  execution  and
delivery of such  Securities,  and to deliver such Securities to the Trustee for
authentication,  and  the  Trustee  is  authorized  and  directed  thereupon  to
authenticate  and deliver the same to or upon the written  order of this Company
as provided in the Indenture;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the signatures of the Company officers so authorized
to  execute  the  Securities  of such  series  may be the  manual  or  facsimile
signatures of the present or any future authorized officers and may be imprinted
or otherwise  reproduced  thereon,  and the Company for such purpose adopts each
facsimile signature as binding upon it notwithstanding the fact that at the time
the respective  Securities shall be authenticated  and delivered of disposed of,
the individual so signing shall have ceased to hold such office;

     FURTHER  RESOLVED,  that Salomon  Brothers Inc. and Merrill Lynch,  Pierce,
Fenner & Smith  Incorporated  are appointed as the underwriters for the issuance
and sale of the  Securities of such series,  and the Chairman of the Board,  the
President or any Vice President of the Company is  authorized,  in the Company's
name and on its  behalf,  to  execute  and  deliver an  Underwriting  Agreement,
substantially  in the  form  heretofore  approved  by  the  Company's  Board  of
Directors,  with such underwriters,  with such changes and insertions therein as
are  appropriate to conform such  Underwriting  Agreement to the terms set forth
herein or otherwise as the officer executing such  Underwriting  Agreement shall
approve and as are not inconsistent with these resolutions,  such approval to be
conclusively   evidenced  by  such  officer's  execution  and  delivery  of  the
Underwriting Agreement;

     FURTHER  RESOLVED,  that The First  National  Bank of Chicago,  the Trustee
under the Indenture,  is appointed trustee for Securities of such series, and as
Agent of this Company for the purpose of effecting  the  registration,  transfer
and exchange of the Securities of such series as provided in the Indenture,  and
the corporate  trust office of The First National Bank of Chicago in the Borough
of


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Manhattan,  The City of New York is designated  pursuant to the Indenture as the
office or agency of the  Company  where such  Securities  may be  presented  for
registration,  transfer and  exchange  and where  notices and demands to or upon
this Company in respect of the Securities and the Indenture may be served;

     FURTHER  RESOLVED,  that The First  National  Bank of Chicago is  appointed
Paying Agent of this Company for the payment of interest on and principal of the
Securities of such series,  and the corporate trust office of The First National
Bank of Chicago,  is  designated,  pursuant to the  Indenture,  as the office or
agency of the Company where Securities may be presented for payment; and

     FURTHER  RESOLVED,  that each of the Company's  officers is authorized  and
directed,  on behalf of the Company  and in its name,  to do or cause to be done
everything  such officer deems  advisable to effect the sale and delivery of the
Securities of such series pursuant to the  Underwriting  Agreement and otherwise
to carry out the Company's obligations under the Underwriting Agreement,  and to
do or cause to be done  everything  and to execute and deliver all  documents as
such officer deems  advisable in  connection  with the execution and delivery of
the  Underwriting  Agreement and the execution,  authentication  and delivery of
such Securities  (including,  without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,
delivery to the Trustee of the Securities for  authentication and of requests or
orders for the authentication and delivery of Securities).



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                               [Form of Security]

                 Permanent Global Registered Fixed Rate Security

     THIS DEBENTURE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A
DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN
PART FOR NOTES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS DEBENTURE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION
("DTC") TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS DEBENTURE IS
PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO MASCO CORPORATION OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY DEBENTURE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                                MASCO CORPORATION
                       6.625% Debenture Due April 15, 2018

REGISTERED                                                 CUSIP No. 574599 AR 7
No. R

Masco Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the "Company"), for value received,
hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, at the office or
agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the
principal sum of ___________________DOLLARS ($_____________) on April 15, 2018,
in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and
to pay interest, semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year, on said
principal sum at said office or agency, in like coin or currency, at the rate
per annum specified in the title of this Debenture, from the April 15 or October
15, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Debenture to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, unless the date hereof is a date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, in which case from the date
of this Debenture, or unless no Interest has been paid or duly provided for on
the Debentures since the original issue date (as defined in the Indenture
referred to on the reverse hereof) of this Debenture, in which case from the
original issue date, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly
provided for. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after April 1
or October 1, as the case may be, and before the following April 15 or October
15, this Debenture shall bear interest from such April 15 or October 15;
provided, however,

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that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest on such April 15 or
October 15, then this Debenture shall bear interest from the next preceding
April 15 or October 15 to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or,
if no interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Debentures since the
original issue date (as defined in such Indenture) of this Debenture, from the
original issue date hereof. The interest so payable on any April 15 or October
15 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in such Indenture, be paid to
the person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of business
on the April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, next preceding such April 15 or
October 15, whether or not such April 1 or October 1 is a business day, and may,
at the option of the Company, be paid by check mailed to the registered address
of such person.

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Debenture set forth on the
reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same
effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Debenture shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee under such Indenture.

                             ****[end of page 2]***



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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Masco Corporation has caused this instrument to be executed
in its corporate name by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of
the Board or its President and imprinted with a manual or facsimile of its
corporate seal, attested by the manual or facsimile signature of its Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary.

Dated: April 21, 1997


Masco Corporation


By________________________
  Chairman of the Board

Attest

By________________________
  Assistant Secretary






CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the securities of the series designated therein referred to in
the within-mentioned indenture.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                    AS TRUSTEE

BY________________________
  AUTHORIZED OFFICER





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                                REVERSE OF NOTES

     This Debenture is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes,
bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (hereinafter called the
"Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued
under and pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 1, 1982 (herein called
the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered by the Company to The First
National Bank of Chicago (as successor trustee to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company
of New York), Trustee (herein called the "Trustee"), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder
of the Trustee, the Company and holders of the Securities. The Securities may be
issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various
aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest
(if any) at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions
(if any), may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if
any), may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may
otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided. This Debenture is one of a series
designated as the 6.625% Debentures Due April 15, 2018 of the Company, limited
in aggregate principal amount to $250,000,000.

     In case an Event of Default with respect to the 6.625% Debentures Due April
15, 2018 shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become due and payable, in the manner,
with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

     The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee,
with the consent of the holders of not less than 66 % in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of all series to be affected
(voting as a class), evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute
supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental
indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities
of each such series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture
shall (i) extend the final maturity of any Security, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount
thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption
thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest of premium thereon payable
in any coin or currency other than that hereinbefore provided, or impair or
affect the right of any holder to institute suit for payment thereof or the
right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, without the consent of
the holder of each Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid principal
amount of Securities of all series to be affected, the holders of which are
required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of
the holders of all Securities so affected then outstanding. It is also provided
in the Indenture that, with respect to certain defaults or Events of Default
regarding the Securities of any series, prior to any declaration accelerating
the maturity of such Securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time outstanding

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(or, in the case of certain defaults or Events of Default, all the Securities)
may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series (or all the
Securities, as the case may be) waive any such past default or Event of Default
under the Indenture and its consequences except a default in the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities.
Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as
provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and
upon all future holders and owners of this Debenture and any Debentures which
may be issued in exchange or transfer hereof or in substitution herefor,
irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Debenture
or such other Debentures.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this
Debenture at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or
currency herein prescribed.

     The Debentures are issuable in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any multiple of $1,000. Upon due presentment for
registration of transfer of this Debenture at the office or agency of the
Company for such registration in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
or any other location or locations as may be provided for pursuant to the
Indenture, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations for an
equal aggregate principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange
therefor, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without charge
except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

     The Debentures may not be redeemed prior to maturity.

     The Debentures will be subject to defeasance and discharge and to
defeasance of certain obligations as set forth in the Indenture.

     The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may
deem and treat the holder hereof as the absolute hereof (whether or not this
Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or
other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of
the principal hereof and, subject to the provisions on the face hereof, interest
hereon, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any such agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All payments
made to or upon the order of such holder shall, to the extent of the sum or sums
paid, effectually satisfy and discharge liability for moneys payable hereon.

     No recourse for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or
interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in
respect hereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or
agreement of the Company in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto
or in any Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented
thereby, shall


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be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such,
past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either
directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue
of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance
hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived
and released.

     All terms used in this Debenture which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the respective meanings ascribed to them therein.

     This Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with
and governed by the laws of that State.

                              ***[end of page 6]***

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The following abbreviations, where such abbreviations appear on this
certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM as tenants in common TEN
ENT as tenants by the entireties JT TEN as joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common 
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT..............Custodian............ 
                     (Cust)                  (Minor) 
                     under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act......................
                                                             (State) 
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.




            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns
                               and transfers unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
  IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
/                               /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      the within Debenture of MASCO CORPORATION and hereby does irrevocably
               constitute and appoint

Attorney to transfer the said Debenture on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dated 
     ---------------------         --------------------------------------------

                                   NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST
                                   CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE
                                   FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR
                                   WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY
                                   CHANGE WHATEVER.



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