The origins and life of Etienne Morin remain, in the opinion of historians, largely obscure: it is presumed that he was born around 1717, but several hypotheses exist as to the place of his birth. On the other hand, the date and place of his death are known: 1771 in Kingston (Jamaica).

What we know for sure is that he was a merchant and that his commercial activities took place between France (Bordeaux and Paris), the Caribbean and more specifically the West Indies.

What is also certain is that he was an active Mason, initiated probably around 1740, founder of numerous Lodges, notably in Bordeaux and in Saint Domingue. Captured several times during his travels by the English, he received various Masonic degrees in London (including the Royal Arch).

At his request, the Grand Lodge of France and, it is believed, its Grand Council (a body of high degrees) issued him a patent on 27 August 1761 - "the Morin patent" - of which we have only copies (sometimes quite different), the original having disappeared.

Deputizing him as Grand Inspector in all parts of the New World, the patent empowered him, on the occasion of his forthcoming voyage to America, "to form and establish a Lodge to receive and multiply the Royal Order of Free Masons", i.e. what has been called the Rite of Perfection, Ancient Masonry or the Order of the Royal Secret in 25 degrees.

Morin took advantage of this Patent to found, upon his arrival in Santo Domingo in 1763, a Council of Princes of the Royal Secret, to inspect the existing Lodges and to appoint, in turn, Inspectors General, including Henri Francken, from Kingston, who was to spread the Rite of Perfection in the West Indies, then on the American continent, but also to bequeath to us the rituals of the 25 degrees of the Rite.

(Text in french)