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great name's sake, and thy mighty hand and thy stretched. out arm; if they come and pray in this house: Then hear from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people israel; and may know that this house, which I have built, is called by thy name.

If thy people go out to war against their enemies, by the way that thou shalt send them. and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen and the house which I have built for thy name: Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

If they sin against thee (for there is no man which sinneth not) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near, yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying; We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly, if they return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and orgive thy people which have sinned against thee

Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open; and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

Now, therefore, arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place. thou and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed remember the mercies of David thy servant.

vi. 1-42.

2 Chron.

Now, when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.

And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever,- ? Chron. vii. 1, 4.

Charge to be delivered to a Brother, who is accepted and acknowledged as a Most Excellent Master.

BROTHER,

"Your admittance to this degree of masonry, is a proof of the good opinion the brethren of this lodge entertain of your masonic abilities. Let this consideration induce you to be careful of forfeiting, by misconduct and inattention to our rules, that esteem which has raised you to the rank you now possess.

"It is one of your great duties, as a most excellent mas. ter, to dispense light and truth to the uninformed mason; and I need not remind you of the impossibility of complying with this obligation without possessing an accurate acquaintance with the lectures of each degree.

"If you are not already completely conversant in all the degrees heretofore conferred on you, remember, that an indulgence, prompted by a belief that you apply yourself with double diligence to make yourself so, has induced the brethren to accept you.

"Let it, therefore, be your unremitting study to acquire such a degree of knowledge and information as

shall enable you to discharge, with propriety, the various duties incumbent on you, and to preserve unsullied the title now conferred upon you of a Most Excellent Master.

MOST EXCELLENT MASTER'S SONGS.

To be sung when one is received into that degree.
ALL hail to the morning

That bids us rejoice;
The temple's completed,
Exalt high each voice;
The cape-stone is finish'd,
Our labour is o'er ;
The sound of the gavel

Shall hail us no more.

To the power Almighty, who ever has guided
The tribes of old Israel, exalted their fame,
To him who hath govern'd our hearts undivided,
Let's send forth our voices, to praise his great name.
Companions, assemble
On this joyful day,

(The occasion is glorious)
The key-stone to lay;
Fulfill'd is the promise,

By the Ancient of Days,
To bring forth the cape-stone,
With shouting and praise.

There's no more occasion for level or plumb-line,
For trowel or gavel, for compass or square;
Our works are completed, the ark safely seated,
And we will be greeted as workmen most rare.

Now those that are worthy,

Our toils who have shared
And proved themselves faithful,
Shall meet their reward.

Their virtue and knowledge,
Industry and skill,

Have our approbation,

Have gain'd our good will.

We accept and receive them most excellent masters,"
Invested with honours, and power to preside;
Among worthy craftsmen, wherever assembled,
The knowledge of Masons to spread far and wide.

Almighty Jehovah,

Descend now, and fill

This lodge with thy glory,

Our hearts with good will!

Preside at our meetings,

Assist us to find

True pleasure in teaching

Good will to mankind.

Thy wisdom inspired the great institution,
Thy strength shall support it, till nature expire;
And when the creation shall fall into ruin,

Its beauty shall rise, through the midst of the fire ?

THE MASON'S DAUGHTER.
Altered and revised.

A Mason's daughter, fair and young,
The pride of all the virgin throng,
Thus to her lover said;

Though, Damon! I your flame approve ;
Your actions praise, your person love,
I still must live a maid.

No youth shall loose my virgin zone,
But one to whom the secret's known
Of ancient

asonry;

In which the great and good combine,
To raise, with generous design,

Man to felicity.

I hate the fop, the churl, the fool,
The plodding knave, the party tool,
The libertine and slave;

I love the man that's good and true,
Who learns his passions to subdue ;
Is generous and brave.

I love the frank and faithful breast,
On which the aching head may rest,
And quite forget its pain;

Where charity prefers her prayer-
And finds a ready helper there;
Nor needs to ask again.

This said, he bow'd and went away-
Applied-was made without delay;
Then to his charmer came ;

She sweetly granted his request :
And clasping Damon to her breast,
Confess'd a kindred flame.

CHAPTER XI.

ROYAL ARCH MASON.

As Moses was commanded to pull his shoes from off his feet, on Mount Horeb, because the ground whereon he trode, was sanctified by the presence of the Divinity; so the Mason who would prepare himself for this exalted stage of Masonry, should advance in the naked paths of truth, be divested of every degree of arrogance, and ap proach with steps of innocence, humility, and virtue, to

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