the exuberance of its seed denotes plenty. They also have two large globes or balls, one on each; those globes or balls contain on their convex surfaces all the maps and charts of the celestial and terrestrial bodies, they are said to be thus extensive, to denote the universality of masonry, and that a Mason's charity ought to be equally extensive. Their composition is molten, or cast brass, they were cast on the banks of the river Jordan, in the clay-ground between Succoth and Zaradatha, where King Solomon ordered these and all other holy vessels to be cast; they were cast hollow; and were four inches or a hands breadth thick; they were cast hollow, the better to withstand inundations and conflagrations—were the archieves of masonry; and contained the constitution, rolls, and records.' The Senior Deacon having explained the columns, he passes between them, advancing a step or two, observing as he advances, Brother, we will pursue our travels; the next thing that we come to, is a long winding stair case, with three, five, seven steps or more.' The three first allude to the three principal supports in masonry, viz: wisdom, strength, and beauty; the five steps allude to the five orders in architecture, and the five human senses; the five orders in architecture, are the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, & Composite; the five human senses, are hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling and tasting; the three first of which, have ever been highly essential among Masons, hearing, to hear the word, seeing, to see the sign, and feeling, to feel the grip, whereby one Mason may know another in the dark as well as in the light. The seven steps allude to the seven sabbatical years, seven years of famine, sev en years in building the Temple, seven golden candlesticks, seven wonders of the world; seven planets, but more especially the several liberal arts and sciences, which are grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy: for this and many other reasons, the number seven has ever been held in high estimation among Masons.' Advancing a few steps, the Senior Deacon proceeds; Brother, the next thing we come to is the outer door of the middle chamber of King Solomon's Temple, which is partly open, but closely Tyled by the Junior Warden.' [It is the Junior Warden in the South who represents the Tyler at the outer door of the middle chamber of King Solomon's Tem

ple, who on the approach of the Senior Deacon and candidate enquires, who comes here, who comes here ?' The Senior Deacon answers, A Fellow-Craft Mason.' Junior Warden to Senior Deacon, 'How do you expect to gain admission? Ans. By a pass and token of a pass.' Junior harden to Senior Deacon,'' Will you give them to me? [The Senior Deacon or the candidate (prompted by him) gives them; this and many other tokens or grips are frequently given by strangers, when first introduced to each other: If given to a Mason he will immediately return it; they can be given in any company unobserved, even by Masons, when shaking hands. A pass and token of a pass; the pass is the word Shiboleth; the token, alias, the pass-grip is given as before described, by taking each other by the right hand as if shaking hands, and placing the thumb between the fore finger and second finger at the third joint, or where they join the hand, and pressing it hard enough to attract attention. In the lecture it is called a token but generally called the pass-grip; it is an undeniable fact that Masons express themselves so differently, when they mean the same thing, that they frequently wholly misunderstand each other.]

After the Junior Warden has received the pass Shiboleth, he enquires, What does it denote? Ans. Plenty.' Junior Warden to Senior Deacon, Why so? Ans From an ear of corn being placed at the water-ford.' Junior Warden to Senior Deacon, Why was this pass instituted? Ans. In consequence of a quarrel which had long existed between Jeptha, judge of Israel, and the Ephraimites, the latter of whom had long been a stubborn, rebellious people, whom Jeptha had endeavoured to subdue by lenient measures, but to no effect. The Ephraimites being highly incensed against Jeptha for not being called to fight and share in the rich spoils of the Amonitish war, assembled a mighty army and passed over the river Jordan to give Jeptha battle; but he being apprised of their approach, called together the men of Israel, and gave them battle, and put them to flight; and, to make, his victory more complete, he ordered guards to be placed at the different passes on the ban s of the river Jordan, and commanded, if the Ephraimites passed that way, that they should pronounce the ward Shiboleth; but they, being of a different tribe,

E 2

،

6

pronounced it Seboleth, which trifling defect proved them spies, and cost them their lives : and there tell that day, at the different passes on the banks of the river Jordan, forty and two thousand. This word was also used by our ancient brethren to distinguish a friend from a foe, and has since been adopted as a proper pass-word to be given before entering any well regulated and governed Lodge of Fellow-Craft Masons.' Since this is the case, you will pass on to the Senior Warden in the West, for further examination.' As they approach the Senior Warden in the West, the Senior Deacon says to the candidate, Brother, the next thing we come to is the inner door of the middle chamber of King Solomon's Temple, which we find partly open, but more closely tyled by the Senior Warden when the Senior Warden enquires, Who comes here? who comes here?' The Senior Deacon answers,' A Fellow-Craft Mason.' Senior Warden to Senior Deacon, How do you expect to gain admission ? Ans. ، By the grip and word. The Senior Warden to the Junior Deacon, Will you give them to me? They are then given as herein before described. The word is Jachin. After they are given, the Senior Warden says, 'They are right; you can pass on to the Worshipful Master in the East. As they approach the Master, he enquires, 'Who comes here? who comes here? Junior Deacon answers, ' A Fellow Craft Mason.' The Master then says to the candidate, Brother, you have been admitted into the middle chamber of king Solomon's Temple, for the sake of the letter G. It denotes Deity, before whom we all ought to bow with reverence, worship and adore. It also denotes Geometry, the fifth science, it being that on which this degree was principally founded. By Geometry we may curiously trace nature through her various windings to her most concealed recesses: By it, we may discover the power, the wisdom, and the goodness of the grand Artificer of the Universe, and view with delight the proportions which connect this vast Machine : By it, we may discover how the planets move in their different orbits, and demonstrate their various revolutions: By it, we account for the return of seasons, and the variety of scenes which each season displays to the discerning eye. Numberless worlds surround us, all formed by the same divine Architect, which roll through this vast expanse, and all con

6

ducted by the same unerring law of nature.

A survey of nature, and the observations of her beautiful proportions, first determined man to imitate the divine plan, and study symetry and order. The Architect began to design; and the plans which he laid down, being improved by experience and time, have produced works which are the admiration of every age. The lapse of time, the ruthless band of ignorance, and the devastations of war have laid waste and destroyed many valuable monuments of antiquity, on which the utmost exertion of human genius have been employed. Even the Temple of Solomon, so spacious and magnificent, and constructed by so many celebrated artists, escaped not the unsparing ravages of barbarous force. The attèntive ear recives the sound from the instructive tongue and the mysteries of Freemasonry are safely lodged in the repository of faithful breasts. Tools and implements of architecture, and symbolic emblems, most expressive, are selected by the fraternity, to imprint on the mind wise and serious truths; and thus, through a succession of ages, are transmitted, unimpaired, the most excellent tenets of our institution.' Here ends the work part of the Fellow Craft's degree. It will be observed that the candidate has received, in this place, the second section of the lecture on this degree. This course is not generally pursued, but it is much the most instructive method, and when it is omitted, I generally conclude that it is for want of a knowledge of the lecture. Monitorial writers [who are by no means coeval with Masonry] all write or copy very much after each other, and they have all inserted in their books all (hose clauses of the several lectures which are not considered by the wise ones as tending to develope the secrets of Masonry. In some instances they change the phraseology a little; in others, they are literal extracts from the lectures. This,it is said, is done to facilitate the progress of learners, or young Masons, when in fact it has the contrary effect. All lecture teachers, and there are many travelling about the country with recommendations from some of their distinguished brethren] when they come to any of those clauses, will say to their pupils, I have not committed that.it is in the Monitor, you can learn it at your leisure.' This course of procedure subjects the learner to the necessity of making his own questions, and, of course, an

swering monitorially, whether the extracts from the lectures are literal or not. Again, there is not a perfect sameness in all the Monitors, or they could not all get copy-rights; hence the great diversity in the lectures as well as the work. The following charge is, or ought to be, delivered to the candidate after he has got through the ceremonies; hut he is generally told, It is in the Monitor, and you can read it at your leisure'

Brother, being advanced to the second degree of MaSonry, we congratulate you on your preferment. The internal, and not the external, qualifications of a man, are what Masonry regards. As you increase in knowledge, you will improve in social intercourse.

It is unnecessary to recapitulate the duties which, as a Mason, you are bound to discharge; or enlarge on the 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 of fences of your brethren; but in the decision of every trespass against our rules, you are to judge with candor, 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 synonimous terms, being of a divine 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 FellowCraft, and to these duties you are bound by the most sacred ties.'

I will now proceed with the Lectures on this degree. It is divided into two sections.