Introduction.

It treats of the necessity that existed to undertake the reunion of the lodges, of their rectification, and of the hope that such a respectable Order will receive with time the splendor & the glory that it had lost through members who were little worthy and meritorious; it speaks of the abuses that have reigned there until now, & with which the necessary Ceremonies had been overloaded under the pretext of knowing something more sublime, which led to nothing. It treats of the zeal with which some true Masons have continued their work notwithstanding these abuses and deceptions. The necessity they found to annihilate these chimeras, to choose a common center, a depositary of a legislative authority, to reunite & to cooperate in the formation of the various Grand Orients. It continues to speak of & to praise the new arrangements made for the growth, the honor & the utility of an order so ancient, so respected, & so celebrated in distant times.

Precis

Of the general government of the order of Freemasons according to the fundamental laws observed in the reformed & rectified regimes.

The entire Order of Freemasonry is governed by a Grand Master general, by National Grand Masters & provincial administrators, by Scottish Directories and Scottish Grand Lodges, which will have under their inspection either the whole order, or a nation, or a province, or a District, or a particular department. Each Scottish Grand Lodge is composed of a head or president, the officers necessary for the management of its department, and the Deputy Masters, who are included therein. Each Scottish Directory is composed of its president, the representatives of the Scottish Grand Lodges and the officers necessary for the administration of its District. The Provincial Grand Directories are composed of a general administrator, a Visitor, a chancellor, & the representatives of the Directories & Scottish Grand Lodges. The National Grand Directory is presided over by the National Grand Master as principal head of the nation, the provincial administrators, the presidents of the Directories, & the necessary Counselors and officers. The legislative order force resides in the whole order assembled regularly in the General Convent, national and provincial convents, & they can fix the particular legislation of a nation & province, in so far as it is not contrary to the general laws of the order. Masonic litigious cases are judged in the first instance by the Scottish Committee of each lodge presided over by the Venerable Master. From the