All persons may be candidates for the first degree, except three excluded classes,--boatmen, barbers, and actors.

The candidates are examined by the governors of their own towns.

Of those approved, a few are selected after another examination.

These again are examined by an officer who makes a circuit once in three years for that purpose.

They are placed alone in little rooms or closets, with pencils, ink, and paper, and a subject is given them to write upon.