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necessity of a strict adherence to them, as your own experience must have established their value.

Our laws and regulations you are strenuously to support, and be always ready to assist in seeing them duly executed. You are not to palliate, or aggravate, the offences of your brethren; but in the decision of every tresspass against our rules, you are to judge with candour, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with justice.

The study of the liberal arts, that valuable branch of education, which tends so effectually to polish and adorn the mind, is earnestly recommended to your consideration; especially the science of geometry, which is established as the basis of our art. Geometry, or masonry, originally synonymous terms, being of a divine and moral nature, is enriched with the most useful knowledge: while it proves the wonderful properties of nature, it demonstrates 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 steadily persevering 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 sacred ties.

FELLOW CRAFT'S SONG.

WHEN Sol with grave motion, had plung'd in the ocean,
And twilight hung over the borders of day,

A splendid reflection, with downward direction,
Stole softly the senses of mortals away.

My thoughts were suspended, and darkness descended,
With night's ample canopy widely unfurl'd;
The solemn procession, the mists in succession,
Bade twilight in silence retire from the world,

I saw in each feauture a beautiful creature,
Replete with celestial, transporting glee;
With rapture I trembled, I thought he resembled
Some beautiful angel of humanity.

As far as I view'd him, or fancy pursu'd him,
His state was elective, and noble his mind,
Proceeding uprightly, fiulfilling completely
The precepts of nature, by wisdom enjoined.

His soul like an ocean of pleasing devotion,
His tongue like an organ of music and mirth;
His heart like a fountain, his head like a mountain,
His science like treasures hid deep in the earth.
My fancy it caught him, home with me it brought him,
And with my own heart strings I bound him with care;
Nor could I unloose him, for in his soft bosom

I saw the blest image that mortal can wear.

1 thought he said to me, in vain you pursue me,
While on the swift pinions of science I soar;
But if you will hasten, become a Freemason,
Then you may go with me, and never before.
There's one thing most certain, and truly diverting,
The keeping a secret in union so long;

'There're no combinations so firm as Freemasons,
No bond of sweet friendship so lasting and strong.

For kingdoms have quarrels, for conquest and laurels,
And churches, though christian, do wrangle and jar;
There're no such invasions among the Freemasons,
No rupture or rumour of internal war.

Through Time's ancient measure, with freedom and pleas

ure,

The sons of fair Science immoveable stand

Through all the commotion, by land or by ocean,

In triumph has pass'd the harmonious band.

Old Time may keep beating, his numbers completing,
And wear out his wings in the region of years;
But WISDOM and BEAUTY shall teach us our duty,
Till the WORSHIPFUL MASTER in glory appears.
The world may keep gazing, their senses amazing,
And rack their invention to find out the plan;
We'll meet them with meekness, and pity their weakness,
And prove that a Mason's a virtuous man.

Let madmen invade us, and scribblers degrade us,
And all the black engines of malice combine;
Though hell and her furies turn judges and juries,
With innocent lustre the order will shine.
Like rocks in the ocean, we fear not the motion,
Of waves which attack us in foaming career;
With truth and discretion, we still make progression,
And leave all the envy of fools in the rear.

While each in his station, with sweet admiration,
Beholds the fair temple of Wisdom arise;
Let each faithful brother support one another,
Till the Lodge universal shall meet in the skies.
With orient grandeur, and dazzling splendor,

The wide arch of heaven reflecting the blaze,
When sisters and brothers, and millions of others,
Shall shine in the courts of the ANCIENT OF DAYS.

The scene is before us, we'll join in the chorus,
Let worlds and all beings unite in the song,
To God, the creator of wisdom and nature,
And ages eternal the anthem prolong.

But when armies terrestrial, and squadrons celestial,
Shall echo through heav'n with music serene,
The majestic story falls short of its glory,

And silence expressive shall move on the scene.

SCIENCE.

Composed for this work by companion S. Brown.

WHEN SCIENCE first came to enlighten mankind,
She sought, through the world, for a home to her mind,
Where GENIUS might lend her the aid of his fire,
And ART, with her generous efforts, conspire.

She landed, at first, on the banks of the Nile;
Then visited Tyrus, the sea-sircled Isle ;
In Greece she had travelled, but fled, in despair,
Of finding her favourite residence there.

At length, half resolved to remount on her wing,
She heard of the wisdom of Israel's king,
Then straight to Moriah she hied her away,
And high, on its summit, recumbent she lay.

King Solomon saw her reclin'd on the cliff,
And sent the glad message to Hiram Abbiff,
Who flew to the Vision that blaz'd on his sight,
And clasp'd to his bosom the spirit of Light.

She taught him the use of the compass and square,
And how to erect the grand column in air;
She taught him to work by the level and line,
And gave him the corn, and the oil, and the wine.

She led him by threes, and by fives and by sevens,
And show'd him the path-way that leads to the heavens,
Where sets the GRAND MASTER who surely will know,
The craft that have zealously serv'd him below.

CHAPTER VII.

MASTER MASON'S DEGREE.

GENERAL REMARKS.

FROM this class the rulers of regular bodies of Masons, in the first three degrees, are selected. The lecture is divided into three sections.

SECTION FIRST.

The ceremony of raising a brother to this degree is here particularly specified, and much important instruction is communicated in this section.

The following passage of scripture is employed during the ceremonies.

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

"While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain :

"In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.

"And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.

"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshoppes shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern.

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shal return to God who gave it."

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