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It would be a hard matter describe the appearance of the Masons or their dress, with its numberless strange emblems & devices. All however had a sort of large cloth gilt & figured collar round their necks; All too wore aprons, such aprons, Those of the Grand lodge of Maine were rounded, about a foot across perhaps, most of them of white silk, all figured off with various significant emblems.
In my idea they are compounded of almost every thing, very sort of superstitious. I noticed in Many of them, the cipher of the three triangles run in one, which you know was a favorite emblem of the ancient Jews. The grand chaplain wore a breastplate, I should think just like that of the Jewish High Priest/ The stones set in squares, other emblems seemed to refer to or partake of the old Greek & Roman Superstitions. But the Templars best all the rest. They wore cocked hats their breastplates & aprons triangular cloth ornamented with abundance of gold & silver, with rich scarfs etc. etc. Every one had on his front two silver daggers crossed. below that a silver skull and silver cross bones, with gold & silver stars etc. on the shoulders and sashes. I should think their dress cost several hundred dollars each: a large part of them are Boston men rich old Bugs, I warrant. And about the finest looking set of men I ever saw. All large, finely formed men, and not one among them all who would not be called a handsome man any where. Their order is military & religious; their beautiful banners bore the motto of the ancient knights of the temple, or knights of Jerusalem the knights Templars of chivalry & the Crusades. It is a crucifix with the motto of Constantine 'In hoc Vinces" By this conquer.
For the military part they carried drawn swords etc. etc. When arrived upon the spot. Our Prex. that is Pres. Woods, appeared on the platform, all in his robes and Commencement Cap, I wish you could