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Dr. Smith's imperishable nature of Masonry.

The other societies of this world-empires, kingdoms and commonwealths-being of less perfect constitutions, have been of less permanent duration. Although men have busied themselves, through all ages, in forming and reforming them, in casting down and building up; yet still their labors have been vain! The reason was-hear it and be wise, ye builders of the present day-the reason was, that they daubed with untempered mortar, and admitted into their structures, the base, discordant, heterogeneous materials of pride, ambition, selfishness, "malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies and evil speaking" which we reject. Hence their fabrics, unable to support themselves, tumbled to the foundation, through internal weakness, or were shaken to pieces by external violence.

The Egyptian, the Babylonian, the Assyrian, the Persian empires; the commonwealths of Athens, of Sparta, and of Rome, with many more of later date-Where are they now? fall'n-fall'n-fall'n"-the weeping voice of history replies! The meteors of an age, the gaze of one part of the world; they rose-they blazed awhile on high-they burst and sunk again, beneath the horizon, to that place of oblivion, where the pale ghosts of departed grandeur, fleet about in sad lamentation of their former glory!

Such have been the changes and revolutions, which, as a From the bosom of the lodge, fraternity, we have seen. (seated on an eminence) its foundations reaching the centre, and its summit the sky; we have beheld, as upon a turbulent ocean at an immense distance beneath us, the states of this world alternately mounted up and cast down, as they have regarded or neglected the principles described above; while, supported by them, the sublime fabric of our constitution has remained unshaken through ages-and, thus supported, it shall remain; while the sun opens the day to gild its cloudcapt towers, or the moon leads on the night to checker its starry canopy. The current of things may roll along its basis, the tide of chance and time may beat against its walls; the stormy gusts of malice may assault its lofty battlements, and the heavy rains of calumny may descend upon its spacious roof-but all in vain. A building, thus con

A few sentences which were left out in the London editions of the Sermon on St. John the Baptist's day, 1755, as relating only to the society before whom it was preached, are interwoven in this page.

structed and supported, is impregnable, from without; and can then only be dissolved when the pillars of the universe shall be shaken, and "the great globe itself, yea all which it inherit, shall, like the baseless fabric of a vision," pass away before the Almighty Architect.

The working tools of a master mason are in a particular manner, the Holy Bible, the Square and the Compasses. The sacred writings being the spiritual tressel board on which the master draws, and from whence he deduces his proper designs, it is appropriately circumscribed by the compass of reason, and laid down agreeably to the square of conscience. Thus the experienced master, in his degree, in imitation of the glorious Creator of all things, both in heaven and earth; the wise founder of the universe, who with his far extended compasses, measures worlds unnumbered, prescribes their revolutions, and keeps them within their orbs, should regulate his passions, curb his desires, and, by an undeviating course of faith, hope, and charity, endeavour to qualify himself for a house not made with hands, a habitation eternal in the heavens.

A Charge at Initiation into the Third Degree. BROTHER-Your zeal for our institution, the progress you have made in our mystery, and your steadfast conformity to our useful regulations, have pointed you out as a proper object for this peculiar mark of our favor.

Duty, honor, and gratitude, now bind you to be faithful to every trust; to support the dignity of your character on all occasions; and strenuously to enforce, by precept and example, a steadfast obedience to the tenets of masonry. Exemplary conduct on your part, will convince the world,

* Mr. Preston says, the working tools of a master mason are all the imple. ments of masonry indiscriminately, but more especially the trowel; and our indefatigable brother Webb, thus elucidates its spiritual use.

"The trowel is an instrument made use of by operative masons, to spread the cement which unites a building into one common mass; but we as free and accepted masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection; that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work, or best agree."

I have no objection to have the trowel used, as often as it can be applied to a purpose so beneficial to the craft, but must at the same time be allowed to remark that this important instrument, is especially adapted to the select master, a degree highly important, although not generally known. The trowel has not, until of late, been considered as appertaining to the degree of master mason.-Compiler.

that merit is the just title to our privileges, and that on you our favors are not undeservedly bestowed.

In this respectable character, you are authorized to correct the irregularities of less informed brethren; to correct their errors; to fortify their minds with resolution against the snares of the insidious, and to guard them against every allurement to vicious practices. To preserve unsullied the reputation of the fraternity, ought to be your constant care, and therefore it becomes your province to caution the inexperienced against a breach of fidelity. To your inferiors you are to recommend obedience and submission; to your equals, courtesy and affability; to your superiors, kindness and condescension. Universal benevolence you are zealously to inculcate; and, by the regularity of your own conduct, endeavour to remove every aspersion against this venerable institution. Our ancient land-marks you are carefully to preserve, and not suffer them, on any pretence, to be infringed, or countenance a deviation from our established usages and customs.

Your virtue, honor and reputation, are concerned, in supporting with dignity, the respectable character you now bear. Let no motive, therefore, make you swerve from your duty, violate your vows, or betray your trust; but be true and faithful, and imitate the example of that celebrated artist, whom you have this evening represented. Thus you will render yourself deserving of the honor which we have conferred, and worthy of the confidence that we have reposed.

The Muster's, as well as the two preceding Degrees, are closed in the name of St. John, to whose memory they are dedicated.

In modern* masonry it is given as a principle, why our dedication of lodges is made to St. John, that the masons who engaged to conquer the Holy Land, chose that saint for their patron. I should be sorry to appropriate the Balsarian sect of christians of St. John, as an explanation of this principle; St. John obtains our dedication, as being the proclaimer of that salvation which was at hand, by the coming of Christ; and we, as a set of religious, assembling in the true faith, commemorate the proclamations of the Baptist. In the name of St. John the Evangelist, we acknowledge the testimonies which he gives, and the divine aóyos, which he makes manifest.

By modern masonry is meant its propagation among the christian nations of the world.

CHAPTER XI.

Observations on the Degree of Present, or Past-Master.

FORMERLY none but those, who, having by a steady line of conduct, and the most unremitting exertions, in the cause of masonry, been selected by their brethren, and placed as chief overseers of the work, were made acquainted with the mysteries contained in this degree, and such only were considered, as legally authorized to sit and act, as representatives in the general grand conventions; but in consequence of the manner in which the divine influence of masonry has been extended over the greater parts of the habitable globe, it has been found convenient to confer this knowledge to any worthy master, who may obtain the unanimous consent of the past masters of the lodge, of which he is at the time a member. No master can, however, obtain the honorary degree of past master in any other lodge, than that of which he is a working member, except in a chapter of R. A. Masons, who possess the privilege of conferring all the intermediate degrees, by a right inherent in them.*

It is a degree which should be carefully studied, and well understood, by every master of a lodge. It treats of the government of our society; the disposition of our rulers; and illustrates their requisite qualifications. It includes the ceremony of opening and closing lodges in the several preceding degrees; and also the forms of installation and consecration; in the grand lodge, as well as private lodges. It comprehends the ceremonies at laying the foundation stones of public buildings, and also at dedications and at funerals, by a variety of particulars explanatory of those ceremonies."

The following passages of scripture, serve to elucidate the foregoing degree:

Revelations, xi. 1. "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood, saying, rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."

Ezekiel xi. 3. "And he brought me thither, and behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appear

• See constitution of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter.

ance of brass; with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4. "And the man said unto me, Son of man behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for the intent that I might shew them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

6. "Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.

8. He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.

26. "And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

32. "And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these mea

sures.

49. The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars* by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side."

Jeremiah xv. 19. "Thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth."

* See 1st Kings, vii. 21, and 2d Chronicles, iii. 16.