And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary."Ezek. xliv. 5.

The working-tools of a Mark Master are the chisel and mallet.

The CHISEL morally demonstrates the advantages of discipline and education. The mind, in its original state, is like the native diamond, rude and unpolished: but as the chisel soon discloses the latent beauties of the diamond, so education discovers the latent virtues of the mind, leading them forth into the boundless field of improvement, to aspire to the summit of human knowledge, and learn our duty to God and man.

The MALLET teaches to correct inequalities, remove superfluities, and reduce man to his proper level, so that by a quiet deportment he may, in the school of discipline, learn to be content. What the mallet is to the workman, enlightened reason is to the passions; it curbs ambition; it depresses envy; it moderates anger; it encourages good dispositions: whence arises among good masons, that comely order

"Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy,

"The soul's calm sunshine, and the heart-felt joy."

"BROTHER,

CHARGE AT ADVANCING.

"I congratulate you on having been thought worthy of being promoted to this honourable degree of masonry. Permit me to impress it on your mind, that your assiduity should ever be commensurate with your duties, which become more and more extensive as you advance in masonry.

"The situation to which you are now promoted will draw upon you not only the scrutinizing eyes of the

world at large, but those also of your brethren, on whom this degree of masonry has not been conferred. All will be justified in expecting your conduct and behaviour to be such as may with safety be imitated.

"In the honourable character of mark master mason, it is more particularly your duty to endeavour to let your conduct in the lodge and among your brethren be such as may stand the test of the grand overseer's square, that you may not, like the unfinished and imperfect work of the negligent and unfaithful of former times, be rejected and thrown aside, as unfit for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

"While such is your conduct, should misfortunes assail you, should friends forsake you, should envy traduce your good name, and malice persecute you; yet may you have confidence, that among mark master masons you will find friends who will administer relief to your distresses, and comfort your afflictions; ever bearing in mind, as a consolation under all the frowns of fortune, and as an encouragement to hope for better prospects, that the stone which the builders rejected (possessing merits to them unknown) became the chief stone of the corner.'

Previous to closing, the following parable is recited. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here áll the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man bath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall

ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more, and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmuredagainst the good man of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burthen and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen"-Matt. xx. 1-16.

MARK MASTER'S SONGS.

Hiram, the widow's son,
Sent unto Solomon
Our great key-stone,
On which appears the name
That raises high the fame
Of all to whom the same
Is truly known.

Now to the westward move,
Where full of strength and love,
Hiram doth stand;
But if impestors are

Mix'd with the worthy there,
Caution them to beware

Of the right hand.

Now to the praise of those
Who triumph'd o'er the foes
Of Masons' arts;

To the praiseworthy three,
Who founded this degree;
May all their virtues be
Deep in our hearts.

Selected and revised by Com. S. Brown.

YE dull, plodding mortals, give o'er your conjectures, Since Freemasons' secrets ye cannot obtain;

Ye know not our signs, nor our words, nor our lectures, And will not as long as the world shall remain :

Here friendship inviting,

Here Freedom delighting,

Our moments in innocent mirth we employ ;
Come, see, Masons' felicity,

Working and singing with hearts full of joy.

We live like a band of affectionate brothers,

Whose father is God, and whose home is the skies;
We heed not the love or the hatred of others;

'Tis only the love of the Craft we can prize :
No envy, or quarrels,

Shall e'er blast our laurels,

No passion our pleasures shall ever annoy;
Come, see, Masons' felicity,

Working and singing with hearts full of joy.
To aid one another we always are ready,

Our rites and our secrets we carefully guard:
The Lodge to support, we like pillars are steady,
No Babel-confusion our work shall retard.
Ye mortals, come hither,
Assemble together,

And taste of those pleasures that never can cloy;
Come, see, Masons' felicity,

Working and singing with hearts full of joy.
We are to our master for ever obedient;

Whenever he calls to the Lodge we repair;
Experience has taught, that it's always expedient,
To live within compass, and act on the square.'
Let mutual agreement,

Be Freemason's cement,

Until the whole universe time shall destroy;
Then, see, Masons' felicity,

Rising and singing with hearts full of joy.

CHAPTER IX.

PRESENT OR PAST MASTER.

GENERAL REMARKS.

THE degree of Present or Past Master treats of the government of our society; the disposition of its officers;