conduct towards your superiors. The officers will recollect that those moral and religious duties and precepts which they from time to time so forcibly impress upon the minds of others should by no means be neglected by themselves; as the most effectual way to ensure success, is to let precept and example go hand in hand.

I would therefore exhort one and all of you to look well to the East, to the West, to the North and to the South, and see that the entering avenues are strictly guarded, and that you suffer no one to pass the threshold of your asylum but the worthy children of humility; and at the same time, that you suffer no one to walk among you disorderly, without admonition or reproof. While such is the conduct of the officers and members, you may rest assured that this valiant magnanimous order will forever flourish like the green bay tree. And now, my worthy Sir Knights, I would address you in the language of David to his beloved city, “Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces." For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be with thee.

The Grand Marshal then proclaims the new Encampment in the following manner, viz:

"In the name of the Most Eminent Grand Encampment of the State of I proclaim this new Encampment, by the name of -, to be legally constituted, consecrated and the officers duly installed."

After the necessary business is finished, the Encampment is closed in due and ancient form.

PART XII.

THE INEFFABLE DEGREES.

A System, or Classification of the various Rites.

FREE-MASONRY, though uniform in its principles, its tenets and its lessons, has nevertheless, several rites; the difference between these rites, is certainly of minor importance, causes no fundamental change, yet it leads to much speculation among the uninitiated. A mason working under any of these rites, must necessarily recognize as a brother, he who professes a different one, and if at any time, differences or divisions may have arisen in the craft, they are to be attributed to other causes than the variations in the ritual.

The difference of which we speak, however, admits of an easy solution, when we reflect that Masonry was introduced simultaneously in all the states of Europe, and as a necessary consequence, its ritual became impressed with the character and habits of the nation adopting it.

The three first, or symbolic degrees, are the foundation of them all, and in all are invariably the same.

The degrees exemplified in the preceding pages, are those conferred in the United States, differing in some respects from any other formularies, and may therefore be termed the American rite.

That practised in France, England, and a large portion of Germany, is termed the "Ancient or Scottish rite." The Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite, was introduced by Frederick II., king of Prussia, who added eight degrees to the original. This modified rite, organized by the Prussian king, is observed in the northern part of Germany, in France and in the Franco-American settlements.

The formulary adopted by the Grand Orient of France, and practised by the Lodges of that jurisdiction, is styled the "Modern, or French rite."

Still another rite, originating in the East, and carried from Italy to France, is termed the rite of "Misphraim, or Egyptian rite." Before the additions to the Ancient Scottish rite by the king of Prussia, it was composed of twenty-five degrees, divided into seven classes, as follows:

Two years were required in order to obtain the foregoing degrees, and dispensations were rarely granted.

Such of these degrees as may be found in the following series, are absolutely the same, having the same signs, etc., etc.

THE THIRTY-THREE DEGREES

Of Free and Accepted Perfect Masons, ancient and modern, recognized and established by the Illustrious Grand Council of Paris, (in France,) at the epoch of the reunion of all the different rites.

1. Apprentice.

2. Companion. 3. Master.

4. Secret Master.