pleasant. May a goodly spring bring a summer of delight, and a full autumn render our stores abundant. May health make us cheerful, and friendship be immortal. May our virtues unite us, and may we love the name of brethren, because it blesses us.

A Prayer used at opening a Lodge.

May the favor of Heaven be upon this meeting; and as it is happily begun, may it be conducted with order, and closed with harmony!-Amen.

A General Prayer, in a Lodge.

Great Architect! in whose work all life is employed. The whole is harmony in thee; each part has its place, and all is perfect.

Behold us, who form this apartment in thy works, small indeed in itself, but vast enough for our full employment. From hence we behold thy magnificent displays of power and wisdom, and here we enjoy thy goodness. Regard our work, begun in thy presence, and by thy laws. On the equal basis of truth let our building stand! May its entrance be illuminated with hope, and may great and good actions give it glory! With our master may our labor be sweet, and our reward sure. May the skilful inspire a laudable ambition, and each soul be filled with light.

When we extend our hands to a friend, and introduce him to our joys, let truth guide our lips, and love dwell in our hearts. May we add merit to our friendship, and a sincere heart to our pleasures. May the entrance be a sweet recollection to him. May each visit improve his hopes, and enlarge his virtues. May our virtues shine together with brighter light, and the everlasting glory of God be upon us.-Amen!

Occasional Prayer--By the Rev. Brother W. Bentley.

Great light of life! whom all beings love, because they enjoy thee! we live in the light of thy countenance. We exist by thy strength, and are harmony in thee. Bless us, even us, O our father! give us one soul; influence us by the same zeal; purify us by the same light of truth. In the joy of this day we praise thee; joy makes our praise sublime. Bless the brethren, one in name and heart; bless the elect,

who stand near thee to represent thy power; may they proclaim also thy wisdom and love. May the master be glorious and firm, like the arch of Heaven, in which all the revolutions of nature are performed. May the wardens be sure as the poles of our globe. May the deacons be constant as the hours. May the treasurer keep what time cannot corrupt; and the secretary receive what eternal truth shall approve. May the stewards be faithful, as the earth in its rich increase; and the tyler be like the eye of a kind providence, which watches unseen. All in thee, and each in all. To the great light of life be glory. Amen.

A Prayer used at closing the Lodge.

May the blessing of Heaven rest upon us, and all regular masons! may brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue cement us!-Amen.

A CHARGE

At the opening of a Lodge-[Altered from Preston.]

The ways of science are beautiful. Knowledge is attained by degrees. Wisdom dwells with contemplation. There are we to seek her. Though the passage be difficult, the farther we proceed the easier it will become.

If we are united, our society must flourish. Let all things give place to peace and good fellowship. Uniting in the grand design, let us be happy in ourselves, and endeavor to contribute to the happiness of others. Let us promote the useful arts; and by them mark our superiority and distinction. Let us cultivate the moral virtues; and improve in all that is good and amiable. Let the genius of masonry preside over our conduct; and under its sovereign sway let us act with becoming dignity. Let our recreations be innocent, and pursued with moderation. Never let us expose our character to derision. Thus shall we act in conformity to our precepts, and support the name we have always borne, of being a respectable, a regular, and an uniform society.

Or this.

"Behold! how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran

down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment;

"As the dew of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded a blessing, even life for evermore."

A Charge at the Closing of a Lodge.

BRETHREN-You are now about to quit this sacred retreat of friendship and virtue, to mix again with the world. Amidst its concerns and employments, forget not the duties you have heard so frequently inculcated, and forcibly recommended in this Lodge. Be, therefore, diligent, prudent, temperate, discreet. And remember, also, that around this altar you have solemnly and repeatedly promised to befriend and relieve, with unhesitating cordiality, so far as shall be in your power, every brother who shall need your assistance: that you have promised to remind him, in the most tender manner, of his failings, and aid his reformation: to vindicate his character when wrongfully traduced; and to suggest in his behalf the most candid, favorable, and palliating circumstances, even when his conduct is justly reprehended. That the world may observe how masons love one another.

And these generous principles are to extend farther. Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. So that we enjoin it upon you to do good unto all," while we recommend it more "especially to the household of the faithful."

By diligence in the duties of your respective callings, by liberal benevolence, and diffusive charity, by constancy and fidelity in your friendships, by uniformly just, amiable, and virtuous deportment, discover the beneficial and happy effects of this ancient and honorable institution.

Let it not be supposed that you have here laboured in vain, and spent your strength for nought; for your work is with the Lord, and your recompence with your God."

"Finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace; and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with and to bless you!"

CHAPTER VII.

Prerequisites for a Candidate.

By a late regulation, adopted by most of the grand lodges in America, no candidate for the mysteries of ma.

sonry can be initiated without having been proposed at a previa meeting of the lodge; in order that no one may be introduced, without due inquiry relative to his character and qualifications.

All applications for initiation should be made by petition in writing, signed by the applicant, giving an account of his age, quality, occupation and place of residence, and that he is desirous of being admitted a member of the fraternity, which petition should be kept on file by the secretary. FORM OF A PETITION,

To be presented by a Candidate for Initiation.

"To the worshipful master, wardens and brethren of lodge of free and accepted masons.

"The petition of the subscriber respectfully sheweth, that, having long entertained a favorable opinion of your ancient institution, he is desirous of being admitted a member thereof, if found worthy.

"His place of residence is occupation Recommended by

years; his

his age

[Signed]

A. B."

After this petition is read, the candidate must be proposed in form, by a member of the lodge, and the proposition seconded by another member; a committee is then appointed to make inquiry relative to his character and qualifications.

Declaration to be assented to by a Candidate, previous to initiation.

"Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that, unbiassed by friends, and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the mysteries of masonry?" I do.

"Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that you are prompted to solicit the privileges of masonry by a favorable opinion conceived of the institution, a desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures?" I do.

"Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that you will conform to all the ancient established usages and customs of the fraternity?" I do.

If there remain no objections, the candidate is introduced in due form.

Prayer at the Initiation of a Candidate.

By Br. John Hargrove, G. Chaplain of the G. L. of Maryland.

O! Thou, by whose Omnipotent fiat the fair fabric of the Universe rose into existence, and is still upheld! Thou greatest, and best of beings!

From the centre of thine own essential and uncreated glory, where thou coverest thyself with light unapproachable by mortals, we beseech thee to behold, in mercy, a few of thy unworthy creatures, assembled here at this time to promote and to extend the heavenly principles of benevolence, friendship and harmony amongst mankind, through the mystic medium of masonry; and O! LORD, let the light of thy countenance shine in among us; and particularly upon thy servant, now bowed before thee, and on his way to thy temple. Do thou graciously enlighten his darkness; annoint his eyes with the eye-salve of true wisdom, that he may see;-clothe his nakedness with the garments of true righteousness; and enrich his poverty with the celestial gold of thy kingdom.

And though he may meet with various perils, on his way to the portals of our mystic building, suffer not his courage to forsake him, nor his timidity to prompt him to draw back, until he becomes more than a conqueror over all that may oppose him. So shall he be enabled, in due time, to pass on, towards higher attainments, until he be raised, and exalted to the highest honors of thy faithful and perfect servants; and enabled to enter within the rails, into the most secret chambers of thy holy temple. We therefore now commend him to thy divine providence and protection, beseeching thee to make him, in due time, a master in Israel; and to thy holy name, the glory, honor and praise shall be ascribed, now, and for evermore.―Amen.

Another.

Thou Supreme Author of peace and lover of concordbless us in the exercise of those kind and social affections thou hast given us. May we cherish and display them as our honor and our joy. May this, our friend, who is now to become our brother, devote his life to thy service, and consider aright the true principles of his engagements, May he be endowed with wisdom to direct him in all his ways; strength to support him in all his difficulties; and beauty to adorn his moral conduct. And may we jointly and individually walk within compass, and square our actions by the dictates of conscience and virtue, and the example of the wise and good.-Amen.