a green tree, some bud forth, and others fall off; so is the generation of flesh and blood; one is buried, and another is born. If a man live many years, and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness; which, when they come, the things which are past shall be reproved of vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them: before the dust return to its earth, from whence it came, and the spirit to God who gave it. Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

In all thy works remember thy last end, when thou must bid a long farewell to all the world. Remember that dreadful day of the universal judgment, "and thou shalt not sin forever. Remember the joys prepared for the righteous, and the miseries that attend the wicked; and remember how nearly it concerns thy soul to have a happy or a miserable eternity, and thou wilt break off thy sins by repentance, and acts of mercy to the poor."

Holy Resolution.-I will be steadfast, and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as I know that my labour shall not be in vain in the world.

Invocation.-0 gracious Mediator, who lay in the grave for me, a miserable sinner, let me not die eternally, but save ne for thy mercy's sake.

O Son of God and Man! who camest in mercy to save us; bring the same mercy with thee when thou comest to judge us. Meanwhile, O be pleased to assist us with thy heavenly grace, that we may continue thine forever, and to stand perpetually with our accounts prepared:

That we may die in thy peace, and after death pass through the gate of our grave to a joyful resurrection, through him who is the resurrection and the life, our only mediator and redeemer. So mote it be.

The Second Section.

This section recites the historical traditions of the order, and presents to view a finished picture, of the utmost couse

quence to the fraternity. It exemplifies an instance of virtue, fortitude, and integrity, seldom equalled, and never excelled, in the history of man.

The following passages from the first Great Light in Masonry, ought to be solemnly recited by the master, or by some brother appointed by bim:

"The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

"And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.

"And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? and I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.

"Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. "Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

"And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

"So I prophesied, as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

"And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

"Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their fect."

The Third Section.

The third section illustrates certain hieroglyphical emblems, and inculcates many useful lessons, to extend knowledge, and promote virtue.

In this branch of the lecture, many particulars relative to king Solomon's temple are considered.

The construction of this grand edifice was attended with wo remarkable circumstances. From Josephus we learn,

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that although seven years were occupied in be during the whole term it rained not in the day workmen might not be obstructed in their labor cred history it appears, that there was neither the hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, house, while it was building.

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This famous fabric was supported by fourt and fifty-three columns, and two thousand nine hundred and six pilasters; all hewn from the finest Parian marble. There were employed in its building three grand masters; three thousand and three hundred masters, or overseers of the work; eighty thousand fellow crafts; and seventy thousand entered apprentices, or bearers of burthens. All these were classed and arranged in such a manner by the wisdom of Solomon, that neither envy, discord, nor confusion, were suffered to interrupt that universal peace and tranquillity, which pervaded the world at this important period.

The Pot of Incense,

Is an emblem of a pure heart, which is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and, as this glows with fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great and beneficent Author of our existence, for the manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy.

The Bee-Hive

Is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in heaven, to the lowest reptile of the dust. It teaches us, that, as we came into the world rational and intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting down contented, while our fellow-creatures around us are in want, when it is in our power to relieve them, without inconvenience to ourselves.

When we take a survey of nature, we view man, in his infancy, more helpless and indigent than the brutal creation; he lies languishing for days, months and years, totally incapable of providing sustenance for himself, or guarding against the attack of the wild beasts of the field, or sheltering himself from the inclemencies of the weather.

It might have pleased the great Creator of heaven and earth to have made man independent of all other beings; but, as dependence is one of the strongest bonds of society,

mankind were made dependent on each other for protection and security, as they thereby enjoy better opportunities of fulfilling the duties of reciprocal love and friendship. Thus was man formed for social and active life, the noblest part of the work of God; and he that will so demean himself as not to be endeavoring to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a useless member of society, and unworthy of our protection as masons.

The book of Constitutions, guarded by the Tyler's sword,

Reminds us that we should be ever watchful and guarded, in our thoughts, words and actions, particularly when before the enemies of masonry; ever bearing in remembrance those truly masonic virtues, silence and circumspection.

The Sword pointing to a naked Heart,

Demonstrates that justice will sooner or later overtake us; and although our thoughts, words and actions, may be hidden from the eyes of man, yet that

All-seeing Eye,

Whom the Sun, Moon and Stars obey, and under whose watchful care even Comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, and will reward us according to our merits.

The Anchor and Ark

Are emblems of a well-grounded hope, and a well-spent life. They are emblematical of that divine ark which safely wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles, and that anchor which shall safely moor us in a peaceful harbor, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary shall find rest.

The Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid.*

This was an invention of our ancient friend and brother, the great Pythagoras, who, in his travels through Asia, Africa, and Europe, was initiated into several orders of

* THEOREM.]—In any right-angled triangle, the square which is described upon the side subtending the right angle, is equal to the squares described upon the sides which contain the right angle.-Euclid, lib. i, prop. 47.

priesthood, and raised to the sublime degree of a master mason. This wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of things, and more especially in geometry or masonry; on this subject he drew out many problems and theorems, and among the most distinguished, he erected this, which, in the joy of his heart, he called Eureka, in the Grecian language, signifying, I have found it; and upon the discovery of which, he is said to have sacrificed a hecatomb. It teaches masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences.

The Hour-Glass

Is an emblem of human life; behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close. We cannot without astonishment behold the little particles which are contained in this machine; how they pass away almost imperceptibly; and yet, to our surprise, in the short sp.ce of an hour they are all exhausted. Thus wastes man! to-day, he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; to-morrow, blossoms, and bears his blushing honors thick upon him;" the next day comes a frost, which nips the shoot, and when he thinks his greatness is still aspiring, he falls, like autumn leaves, to enrich our mother earth.

The Scythe

Is an emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity. Behold! what havoc the scythe of time makes among the human race; if by chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to childhood and youth, and with health and vigour arrive to the years of manhood, yet withal we must soon be cut down by the alldevouring scythe of time, and be gathered into the land where our fathers have gone before us.

The Three Steps,

Usually delineated upon the master's carpet, are emblematical of the three principal stages of human life, viz: youth, manhood, and age. In youth, as entered apprentices, we ought industriously to occupy our minds in the attainment of useful knowledge: in manhood, as fellow crafts, we should apply our knowledge to the discharge of our respective duties to God, our neighbours, and ourselves; that so in age, as master masons, we may enjoy the happy reflec