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submitted to such a state of things . However , there is no use in complaining of what is past . If they will only " put their shoulder to the wheel , " and by establishing a great National Institute , " in which all classes of persons would be interested ( for , be it remembered , that each portrait is the centre of a circle of friends ) , take an independent position—they will free their art from oppressive restrictions which , like the serpents of Laocoon , threaten to strangle it . A Masonic Exhibitor .

To The Editor Of The Freemasons Monthly Magazine.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MONTHLY MAGAZINE .

Sir , —I wish to bring under your notice a curious hook in MS ., which I lately purchased . It is a folio volume , containing about 320 pages , bound in rough calf , and has the remains of large steel clasps or lock . The style of writing is from fifty to eighty years old . It commences with the copy of the constitution for a Grand Chapter of Princes of the Royal Secret , addressed to Henry Andrew Francken , William Adams , and others , and is signed S . Morin , G . Insp . G . S . P . of My ., & c . & c . & c .

At foot are these words : — " Copied by J . D ., D . G . M ., P . U . S ., as the original in his possession is much defaced , and may be destroyed or lost , date June 24 , 1794 . " This constitution authorises the formation of a Grand Chapter in the island of Jamaica ; and the Brethren are enjoined to behave themselves strictly to all the rules , & c . of the nine commissioners named by the Grand Chapter at the Grand East of France and Prussia , <& c . & c . "

After this are two pages explaining the symbolic ages of the various Degrees . Next follow laws for the government of a Lodge of Perfection , in twenty-nine articles . Then thirty-nine articles for the government of all regular Lodges of Perfection , transmitted from the Royal Council at Berlin to " our inost respectable , & c . & c . Brother Stephen Morin , " and " done at the Great East of Berlin and Paris , in a holy and secret place , under the C . C ., near the B . B ., the 25 th of the 7 th month of the year 1762 . "

After this follow the whole ceremony of Secret Master , Perfect Master , Intimate Secretary by Curiosity , Provost and Judge , Intendant of the Buildings , Master elected of nine ; Illustrious elected of fifteen ; Sublime Knights elected ; Grand Master Architect ; Knights of the Royal Arch ; Knights of the East ; Perfection ultimate of symbolic Masonry ; Princes of Jerusalem ; Knights of the East and West ; Knights of White Eagle or Pelican ; Scotch Masonry , by the napae of Grand Pontiff ; Sovereign Prince of Masonry , or Mr . ad vitam ; Prussian Knight or Noachite , in two parts ; Knights of the Royal Ax , Knights of the Sun , Princes adepts , Key of Masonry , Knights of K . H ., and the ne plus ultra of Masonry , the Royal Secretary , & c .

Each Degree is separated from the next by a broad and very rich ribbon , the length of the page ; these ribbons are of various colours , and one or two of them dilapidated by age . The work is written by the same hand throughout , and contains one or two curious drawings of a knight ' s camp , theR . A ., & c . At the end of the fourteenth degree , called "the Ultimate of Symbolic

Masonry , " is a large wax seal , but so much defaced by time and pressure as to be illegible . It is an oval shield within an equilateral triangle , within each angle of which is the letter "G : " the motto is " iEquando perficit , " and the shield is surmounted by an open crown ( of France ?) , but no crest . . The mantling is very like that of the French royal arms before the establishment of the empire .

After the twenty-fifth Degree , or the neplus ultra , is another large wax seal , very much defaced by time ; but with the aid of a powerful glass I have been enabled to decipher a good deal of it . The shield is placed on a double-headed eagle displayed , grasping a sword , pointed to the sinister ; and , so far as I can read the bearing , it is as follows : — Azure , a wolf ( or heraldic tiger ) rampant , supporting what I can really make into nothing more nor less than a dhtaff .