erect in our hearts! Love, the crowning attribute of the Deity, is the foundation and the completion; and enclosed within this sacred structure, are all of those virtues which make men good and holy. Let us so build this divine Temple in our hearts, that all of its chambers may be pure and spotless, so that no evil thought or impure desire can enter therein, to defile and pollute it, and so that it may be a fit dwelling-place for truth and virtue. For thus, and thus only, can we "fit our minds as living stones for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Having thus taken a cursory view of speculative Masonry, and what it requires of its votaries, let us examine wherein it is that professing Free Masons are guilty of a violation of principles, and are recreant to their professions. And in doing this, only a few of the most prominent and important points can be considered; for the limits of one lecture will not suffice to enable us to go over the whole ground; for this is a fruitful theme and one well worthy of careful consideration.

There is one vice, the practice of which, by members of our Order, brings more dishonor and just censure upon us than any other-and that is Profanity. This disgusting habit is too shamefully prevalent among men calling themselves Masons-calling themselves Masons, I say for no man who is addicted to this sin, and who habitually practices it, is a Mason in his heart. The profane swearer has never properly felt and appreciated the force of the obligations resting upon him; nor has he ever had his soul illumined by the pure light that emanates from Masonry; for if he had, he would forsake his evil ways. How terrible it is to hear oaths and imprecations

from one who professes to put his trust in that God who has said, "I will not hold him guiltless that taketh my name in vain "-and who has declared that he takes the Holy Bible to be the rule and guide of his faith and practice-who has been solemnly instructed never to speak the name of the Deity but with that reverence due from a creature to his Creator-and who has been taught that before Him we should all bow with reverence, worship, and adoration! How shocking it is to hear such an one profane that great, mighty and terrible name—that name above all other names—the name of Him who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords-from whom, and by whom, all things exist, and to whom all things are in subjection ; and before whose awful majesty, kingdoms, and principalities and powers sink into utter insignificance. How dreadful it is to hear that name flippantly and irreverently spoken—and to hear oaths flowing from the lips of those who profess to trust in God, that make the hearers shudder!

Think of this matter, brethren-think seriously of it; and if any of you are guilty of this sinful habit, think what an indignity you are offering to the Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth-think what a wrong you are committing to yourselves-think what an incalculable injury you are inflicting upon that Institution which professes to make its followers good men, moral men, and pure

men.

For other sins there may be some excuse or palliation, which ingenious sophistry will devise to satisfy an easy conscience; but for this, there can be none whatever. While the commission of other sins may bring us temporary pleasure or supposed benefit-while fraud and dis

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honesty may add to our possessions, and deceit may shield us from exposure and punishment-profanity can neither add to our store, give us pleasure or secure our safety. The profane swearer is a volunteer in an unholy cause who serves the Devil gratuitously.

But, debasing and self-degrading as this habit is, yet indulgence in it so fastens it upon us that it "grows with our growth, and increases with our strength," until it gains a power over us that can be overcome only by the most determined and unremitting exertions.

"Habits are soon assumed; but when we strive

To strip them off, 'tis being flayed alive."

Of all the vices of which men are guilty, this is the least excusable. It destroys our own self-respect and deprives us of the respect of others; it places us on a level with the lowest of the low, and the vilest of the vile, for it is the vernacular of rogues and criminals. It renders us unfit to mingle with the pure and the virtuous, for it is tabooed and prohibited in all respectable society. It brings down upon us the censure and reproach of all rightminded people, and subjects us to the condemnation of every noble and upright heart.

No man living-not even the profane swearer himself— dare attempt to justify the use of profanity, for no justification of it can be offered. No man, pretending to be a gentleman, will dare to swear in the presence of refined society. And yet too many, who refrain from it under such circumstances, will at other times interlard their conversation with the most horrible oaths and imprecations, and "fall to cursing like very drabs "-seeming to forget that there is an all-seeing eye, from whose vision we can never escape.

No one, except in the ravings of the wildest delirium, when reason has abdicated her throne, would curse and swear upon his death-bed. And yet, when we consider the uncertainty of human life, we know not how near the grave we may be at this very moment-one step more may land us in eternity,

""Tis a stern and startling thing to think
How often mortality stands on the brink
Of its grave, without any misgiving:
And yet in this slippery world of strife,
In the stir of human bustle so rife,

There are daily sounds to tell us that Life
Is dying, and Death is living."

We should at all times so live, as to be prepared to answer that summons, which must sooner or later. come to all of us, to appear before the Judge of the world, to answer for deeds done in the body. If we will but keep our hearts pure, and divest our minds and consciences of those vices which would degrade and debase us, then will we be ready to answer that summons with alacrity, and to "welcome the grim tyrant, Death, and receive him as a kind messenger sent from our Supreme Grand Master, to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect, glorions and celestial Lodge, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides."

The strongest argument that can be used against Free Masonry-and the only tenable one-is, that immoral and profane men are allowed to remain in fellowship and communion with us. It is an argument which cannot be refuted, for it is too true. This should not be the case. Such men should be summarily dealt with. Every possible effort should be made to reclaim and reform them

by reason, persuasion and entreaty; but these efforts failing, we should at once get rid of them in the quickest and most effectual manner possible, for their presence is an injury and danger to our Order.

Two of the Grand Lodges of the United States have issued orders to their Subordinates to expel from membership all such as are habitually profane, after having used the necessary lenient measures to cause reformation; and it would be well indeed if all the other Grand Lodges of the Union would follow their example.

The Grand Chapter of Texas has adopted the following resolution, which entitles the 'Companions of that Grand Chapter to the heartfelt gratitude of the Craft: "Resolved, That, whereas profane swearing, gambling and the intemperate use of intoxicating drinks is, by the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Texas, declared un-Masonic, therefore, all Chapters subordinate to this Grand Chapter are hereby positively instructed not to confer the Chapter degrees upon any person addicted to either of these vices, he or they being unfit material for the Royal Arch Temple, whose corner-stone is Morality, as taught by the Holy Bible, that Great Light in Masonry."

It gives me pleasure to quote, in this connection, the manly words of Bro. Thos. McCulloch, M. W. G. M. of Tennessee. He says: "As members of the Fraternity, let us forever aspire to the standard which Masonry lifts up as the measure of moral excellence for all its votaries. We laud our Institution as a school of morality and virtue, and claim to be the Sons of Light; but others will judge us by our fruits, not by our pretensions, and they will judge Masonry by us, not by what we say it is, nor by its ritual, ceremonies and symbols. We profess a high