(Ι) The Secrets and Mysteries which veil our undertakings conduce to this end,—that without ostentation we may do good, and without disunion of action, prosecute our designs to the uttermost.
(Κ) We celebrate annually the Memory of St. John the Forerunner of Christ, and Patron of our Community.
(Λ) These, and the rest of the corresponding ceremonies of the Institution, though conducted in the meetings of the Brethren by signs, or speech, or otherwise, do nevertheless differ totally from the rites of the Churches.
(Μ) The above is considered a Brother of the Joannite Society, or a Freemason, who, in a lawful manner, by the help, and under the direction of some Elect Master, with the assistance of at least seven Brethren, is initiated into our mysteries, and who is ready to prove his adoption by the Signs and Tokens which are used by other Brethren; but in which Signs and Words are included, those which are in use in The Edinburgh Lodge or Tabernacle and its Affiliated Lodges; as also in the Hamburgh, Rotterdam, and Middleburg Tabernacles, and in that which is found erected at Venice, whose ministrations and labours, though they be ordained after the manner of the Scots, differ not from those which are used by us, in so far as they respect the origin, design, and institution.
(Ν) This our Society, being superintended by one General Prince, while the different governments of which it consists are ruled by various Superior Masters, adapted to various regions and kingdoms, as need requires. Nothing is more necessary than a certain conformity among all those who are dispersed throughout the whole World, as members of one aggregate body; and likewise an intercourse of missionaries and correspondence harmonising with them, and with their doctrines in all places.—Wherefore, these present letters, testifying the nature and spirit of our Society, shall be sent to all and sundry Colleges of the Order as yet existing. For these reasons above-mentioned, nineteen uniform duplicates of letters, composed in this form, exactly of the same tenor, confirmed and corroborated by our subscriptions and signatures, are given at Cologne on the Rhine, in the year one thousand five hundred and thirty-five, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of June, according to the Era, designated Christian.
Harmanius + Carlton, Jo. Bruce, Fr. V. Upna, Cornelius Banning, De Colligni, Virieux, Johani Schröder, Kofman, 1535, Jacobus Praepositus, A. Nobel, Ignatius de la Terre, Dona Jacob Uttenhove, Falk Nacolus, Va Noot, Phillippus Melanthon, Hugssen, Wormer Abel.
Certified in form to the printed examplar, deposited into the Archives of the Gr. and Sublime Chap. of the Temples Interior, Sitting in the East of Namur.
The Gr. Chancellor of that Chief Chap.
De Marchot.