lestial vault; in the sign Cancer, and point vertical from the zenith for 48° 50' 14" of north latitude, and longitude 0 the meridian of Paris in the second day of the month Tamuz, &c. &c. Given under our signs, the seal of our arms, the great seal of the Princes of Masonry, and in the private seal of the Sovereign Grand Commander, in a place wherein are deposited the greatest treasures, the sight of which fills us with joy, consolation, and acknowledgment, for everything that is great and good under the celestial canopy." The Supreme Council of France has recently published a document purporting to be an extract from the Livre d'Or, which records the installations or enthronings into this high degree. 23 The Lodge room represents the cabinet of Solomon, and is lighted by twenty-seven lamps, distributed by three times nine. Solomon, dressed in royal robes, with black fringed gloves and a white apron trimmed with silver lace, sits in the east, holding a blue sceptre with a luminous triangle at the top, emblematical of his wisdom, power, and benevolence. Hiram, King of Tyre, is dressed like Solomon, and holds in his hand a dagger. The degree refers to H. A. B., and the three gates of the temple. 24 The floor-cloth is an oblong square, terminating in a triangle inscribed within a circle, containing a blazing star with the letter G. At the angles are the letters S. V. G. The room is hung with black, and lighted by twenty-one candles, eighteen of which are placed in two chandeliers with nine branches each. The throne is elevated on three steps; and on the altar are placed the great lights, a triangle, an urn containing a golden trowel, and a paste made of flour, milk, oil, and wine; and the three remaining lights. The apron is edged with crimson, and the triangular jewel attached to a blue rose is suspended from a broad crimson collar. This degree recounts the appointment of an Architect in the room of H. A. B. 25 The Lodge is hung with red tapestry, adorned with hyacinth flowers. Near the throne is an altar, on which is the first great light, a double triangle, and a plan of the temple unfinished. The jewel is a pair of compasses and level with a circle of gold. 26 The appointments of this Lodge are the same as the preceding one, except that a pedestal is placed in the west, and the plan represents the temple completed. Before the pedestal is a stool, on which the candidate is seated with his head leaning on the pedestal, while the temporary black curtain is removed. 27 For this degree two apartments adjoining each other are necessary; the one belongs to Cyrus, and the other is the court of the temple; the first is hung with green, but a space of six feet between the hangings and the wall must be left. The throne is in the east, two arm-chairs in the west, and benches for the members in the south. Behind the throne is a transparency, representing the dream of Cyrus; above which, in a triangular glory, is the word ". An eagle issues from it with a label in its mouth, inscribed "LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES." The second apartment is hung with red, and the carpet represents the furniture of the H. and M. H. places. Above the ark is the Shekinah, represented by a lamb seated on a book with seven seals. At one of the angles is a broken column. 28 The jewel of this degree is a quadrant, with a pair of compasses inclosing the rosy cross. At the foot is a pelican feeding its young. The collar is crimson, and the Lodge-room is hung with the same colour. In the east is a triangular altar elevated on seven steps, containing a trans parency representing the crucifixion. On one of the faces is drapery interlaced with roses, and above, the letters INRI. Before the transparency are some broken columns, on which Roman soldiers are sleeping, and a tomb with grave-cloths at its mouth. There are three triangular tables, each containing a light; one in the east, and the others in the west. At the time of the reception the room is hung with black. No furniture is used, except three columns placed triangularly, and inscribed-FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY. 29 In the explanations attached to the above catalogue, I have been particularly careful to insert nothing but what may be found in the printed works of Webb, Dalcho, Cole, Town, Tannehill, Cross, Hardie, Greenleaf, and others, whose respective publications were issued under the express sanction of Grand Lodges, Chapters, Consistories, &c. and I have. therefore, had no hesitation in transferring them to my pages. LECTURE XXXV. THE ROYAL ARCH TRACING-BOARD. "These mysteries are so profound and so exalted, that they can be comprehended by those only who are enlightened. I shall not, therefore, attempt to speak of what is most admirable in them, lest by discovering them to the uninitiated, I should offend against the injunction not to give what is holy to the impure, nor to cast pearls before such as cannot estimate their worth."-CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. "I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste."-SOLOMON. "There are seven pillars of gothic mould Like a marsh's meteor-lamp."-BYRON. 3 THE symbols and ornaments which are displayed on the Royal Arch Tracing-boards, as well as the forms and ceremonies at present observed in our Chapters, are said to have been adopted by our predecessors at the building of the second temple, and were intended to impress upon the minds of Royal Arch Masons, to the end of time, the providential means of a series of important discoveries; by which the Jewish nation was enlightened by a knowledge of the truth," without a fresh revelation, after all traces of the written law had been swept away at the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar ; and the knowledge and worship of the true God was only retained by memory, and transmitted by oral tradition amongst the remnant of his people, existing by sufferance, and as exiles and captives in the midst of an idolatrous nation,' practising a splendid superstition, profusely decorated with all the adjuncts which might render it imposing and attractive.3 The form of the Tracing-board before us is an oblong square, with its eastern end curved into an arch; but the Companions are supposed to be seated round, in the form of the catenarian arch, 10 in which the thrones of the three Principals form the key or cope-stone," to preserve a memory of the vaulted shrine in which King Solomon deposited the sacred name or word. The floor is a Mo saic pavement,12 with a tesselated border, extending from west to east, approachable by six broad steps, the platform of the arch being on the seventh; to denote the six degrees which are usually requisite to qualify a candidate for exaltation.13 The first object that attracts attention on the Mosaic floor, paved with black and white flags,15 after having attained the seventh step, is the holy Bible open, upon a crimson cushion, with tassels of gold. Without a full acknowledgment of the truths contained in that sacred volume, no one can penetrate the secrets within the veil of the sanctuary. On one side are the square and compasses, 16 and on the other a trowel and sword in saltire.17 Further eastward we see certain curious utensils of manual labour, on which is placed an open scroll, written in some unknown language; these are the pickaxe, the crow and the shovel,18 supporting the sacred roll of the law,19 which having been deposited in a place of security at the building of the first temple, was lost, together with the sacred name,20 at the Babylonish captivity, and accidentally found at the construction of the second.21 Beyond these symbols, and about the centre of the floor-cloth, we are struck with certain appearances which excite astonishment and awe. A double circle with an embossed border, encloses a double equilateral triangle, a symbol which may be traced in every country of the world, and amongst all religions. With the Jew it referred to the Sephiroth; the Moslem saw in it the Deity and his prophet; and with the Christian it symbolized the Creator in his capacity of Mediator, working out our redemption under two natures, the human and divine. It was the Pythagorean symbol of health. On the circumference of the circle are placed three great |