CHAPTER XI.

REMARKS ON THE FOURTH, OR MARK MASTER MASON'S DEGREE.

THIS degree of mafonry was not lefs useful in its original inftitution, nor has it proved lefs beneficial to mankind, than those which precede it.

By the influence of this degree, each operative mafon, at the erection of the temple of Solomon, was known and distinguished by the

Senior Grand Warden.

By its effects, the diforder and confufion that might otherwise have attended so immense an undertaking were completely prevented; and not only the craftsmen themselves, who were eighty thousand in number, but every part of their workmanship, was discriminated with the greatest nicety, and the utmoft facility. If defects were found in the work, by the help of this degree the overfeers were enabled without difficulty to afcertain who was the faulty workman fo that its deficiencies might be remedied, without injuring the credit, or diminishing the reward, of the induftrious and faithful of the craft.

Charge to be read at Opening the Lodge.

"Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice. and guile, and hypocrifies, and envies, and all evil fpeakings.

"If fo be ye have tafted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living ftone, difallowed indeed of men, but chofen of God, and precious; ye alfo, as living ftones, be ye built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up facrifices acceptable to God.

"Wherefore, also, it is contained in the fcriptures, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a tried ftone, a precious corner ftone, a fure foundation; he that believeth fhall not make hafte to pass it over. Unto you, therefore, which believe, it is an honour; and even to them which be disobedient, the ftone which the builders difallowed, the fame is made the head of the corner.

“Brethren, this is the will of God, that with well doing ye put to filence the ignorance of foolifh men. As free, and not ufing your lib. rty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the fervants of God. Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God."

REMARKS ON THE FOURTH LECTURE.

THE FIRST SECTION

Explains the manner of convocating and opening a mark mafter's lodge. It teaches the ftations and duties of the refpective officers, and recapitulates the myftic ceremony of introducing a candidate.

In this fection is exemplified the regularity and good order that was obferved by the craftsmen on Mount Libanus, and in the plains and quarries of Zeredathah, and it ends with a beau

tiful difplay of the manner in which one of the principal events originated, which characterizes this degree.

IN THE SECOND SECTION

The mark mafter is particularly inftructed in the origin and hiftory of this degree, and the indifpenfable obligations he is under to ftretch forth his affifting hand to the relief of an indigent and worthy brother, to a certain and specified extent.

The progrefs made in architecture, particularly in the reign of Solomon, is remarked; the number of artists employed in building the temple of Jerufalem, and the privileges they enjoyed, are specified; the mode of rewarding merit, and of punishing the guilty, are pointed out; and the marks of diftinction which were conferred on our ancient brethren, as the rewards of excellence, are named.

In the course of the lecture, the following texts of fcripture are introduced and explained, viz.

Rev. of St. John, ii. 17.-To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, faving him that receiveth it.

2 Chron. ii. 16.-And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou fhalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats by fea to Joppa, and thou shalt carry it up to Jerufalem.

Pfalm, cxviii. 22.-The stone which the builders refufed is become the head ftone of the

corner.

Matt. xxi. 42.-Did ye never read in the fcriptures, The ftone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.

Mark xii. 10. And have ye not read this fcripture, The ftone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.

Luke xx. 17.-What is this, then, that is written, The ftone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.

Als iv. 11.-This is the ftone which was fet at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Rev. iii. 13.-He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.

Ezekiel, xliv. 1, 3 & 5.-Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward fanctuary, which looketh toward the eaft, and it was fhut. Then faid the Lord unto me, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man fhall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Ifrael, hath entered in by it, therefore it fhall be fhut. It is for the prince; the prince he fhall fit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and fhall go out by the way of the fame. And the Lord faid unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I fay 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 fanctuary.

The working tools of a mark mafter are the chifel and mallet.

The chifel morally demonftrates the advantages of discipline and education. The mind, like the diamond in its original state, is rude and unpolished; but as the effect of the chifel on the external coat foon prefents to view the latent beauties of the diamond, fo education discovers the latent virtues of the mind, and draws them forth to range the large field of matter and fpace, to difplay the fummit of human knowledge, our duty to God and to man.

The mallet morally teaches to correct irregularities, and to reduce man to a proper level; fo that, by quiet deportment, he may, in the fchool of difcipline, learn to be content. What the mallet is to the workman, enlightened reafon is to the paffions: it curbs ambition, it depreffes envy, it moderates anger, and it encourages good difpofitions; whence arifes, among good masons, that comely order,

"Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy,

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

Charge to be delivered when a Candidate is advanced to the Fourth Degree.

"BROTHER,

"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 affiduity fhould ever be commenfurate with your duties, which become more and more extenfive as you advance in mafonry.