BOOK IIL

CimPTER I.

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. 1

Xyhservationsonthe Orders of Knighthood.

AS several orders of knighthood are conferred,
%oth in Europe and America, reputedly under the
sanction of masonic assemblies, it may be ex-
pected that some notice will be taken of them in
thijB work.

Biit before we proceed, it may be necessary to
premise, that the orders of knighthood compose"
•no part of the system of freemasonry ; they are,
in Qomparison to it, societiei^ of but yesterday: and
all of them fall far short of the excellence, bar-
^ony, unrvcrsality and utility of that noble institu-
tion.

The design of this part of the work will be to
^oflect together'^'such observations from scripture
^*3id history, as are deemed applicable to the seve-
*^1 orders ; and as in America they are only con-
■^ri'ed as honorary degrees, it is possible that this

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S18 TREEMASON^S MONITOR.

may be the means of producing a uniformity ia
their application and use* .