again our rules, your are to judge with candour, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with juftice.

"The study of the liberal arts, that valuable branch of education, which tends fo effectually to polish and adorn the mind, is earneftly recommended to your confideration; especially the fcience of geometry, which is established as the bafis of our art. Geometry, or masonry, originally fynonimous terms, being of a divine and moral nature, is enriched with the moft useful knowledge: while it proves the wonderful properties of nature, it demonftrates the more important truths of morality.

"Your past behaviour and regular deportment have merited the honour which we have now conferred; and in your new character it is expected that you will conform to the principles of the order, by fteadily perfevering in the practice of every commendable virtue.

"Such is the nature of your engagements as a fellow craft, and to these duties you are bound by the most facred ties."

'CHAPTER X.

REMARKS ON THE THIRD DEGREE.

FROM this class the rulers of regular bodies of mafons, in the first three degrees, are felected; as it is only from thofe, who are capable of giving inftruction, that we can properly expect

to receive it. The lecture of this degree, con. fidered feparately from the duties and ceremonies appertaining to the degree of prefiding or paft maffer, is divided into three fections.

THE FIRST SECTION.

The ceremony of initiation into the third degree is particularly fpecified in this branch of thelecture, and here many other useful inftructions are given.

Such is the importance of this fection, that we may fafely declare, that the person who is unacquainted with it is ill qualified to act as a ruler or governor of the work.

The following paffage of fcripture is introduced during the ceremonies.

ECCLESIASTES xii. 1---7.

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt fay, I have no pleasure in them; while the fun, or the light, or the moon, or the ftars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the ftrong men fhall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and thofe that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors fhall be fhut in the ftreets, when the found of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of mufic fhall be brought low. Alfo when they fhall be afraid of that which is high, and fears

fhall be in the way, and the almond tree fhall flourish, and the grafhopper shall be a burden, and defire shall fail: becaufe man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets or ever the filver cord be loofed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cif tern. Then fhall the duft return to the earth as it was; and the spirit fhall return unto God who gave it."

The working tools of a mafter mason, which are illuftrated in this section, are all the implements of masonry indifcriminately, but more especially the trowel.

The TROWEL is an inftrument made ufe of by operative mafons, to fpread the cement which unites a building into one common mass; but we, as free and accepted masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection; that cement which unites us into one facred band, or fociety of friends and brothers, among whom no contention fhould ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who beft can work, or best agree.

THE SECOND SECTION

Recites the hiftorical traditions of the order, and presents to view a finished picture, of the utmoft confequence to the fraternity. It exemplifies an inftance of virtue, fortitude, and integrity, feldom equalled, and never excelled, in the hiftory of man.

Prayer at raifing a Brother to the Sublime Degree of a Mafter Mafon.

"Thou, O God! knoweft our down-fitting and our up-rifing, and understandeft our thoughts afar off. Shield and defend us from the evil intentions of our enemies, and fupport us under the trials and afflictions we are deftined to endure, while travelling through this vale of tears. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou haft appointed his bounds that he cannot pafs; turn from him that he may reft, till he fhall accomplish his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will fprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. But man dieth and wafteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghoft, and where is he? As the waters fail from the fea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, fo man lieth down, and rifeth not up till the heavens fhall be no more. Yet, O Lord! have compaffion on the children of thy creation, adminifter them comfort in time of trouble, and fave them with an everlasting falvation. Amen. So mote it be."

THE THIRD SECTION

Illuftrates certain hieroglyphical emblems, and inculcates many useful lessons, to extend knowledge, and promote virtue.

his branch of the lecture, many particulars relative to king Solomon's temple are confidered.

The conftruction of this grand edifice was attended with two remarkable circumftances. From Jofephus we learn, that although feven years were occupied in building it, yet during the whole term it rained not in the day time, that the workmen might not be obstructed in their labour and from facred hiftory it appears, that there was neither the found of the hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house, while it was building.

This famous fabric was fupported by fourteen hundred and fifty-three columns, and two thoufand nine hundred and fix pilafters; all hewn from the finest Parian marble. There were employed in its building three grand masters; three thoufand and three hundred mafters, or overfeers of the work; eighty thousand fellow crafts; and seventy thousand entered apprentices, or bearers of burthens. All these were claffed and arranged in fuch a manner by the wisdom of Solomon, that neither envy, discord nor confufion, were fuffered to interrupt that univerfal peace and tranquillity which pervaded the world at this important period.

The Pat of Incenfe

Is an emblem of a pure heart, which is always an acceptable facrifice to the Deity; and, as this glows with fervent heat, fo fhould our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great and beneficent Author of our existence, for the manifold bleffings and comforts we enjoy.