rules and useful maxims laid down, than are inculcated in the feveral masonic lectures. The greatest and best of men in all ages have been encouragers and promoters of the art, and have never deemed it derogatory from their dignity, to level themselves with the fraternity, extend their privileges, and patronise their affemblies.

德

"There are three great duties, which, as a mafon, you are charged to inculcate-to God, your neighbour, and yourself. To God, in never mentioning his name, but with that reverential awe which is due from a creature to his Creator; to implore his aid in all your laudable undertakings, and to esteem him as the chief good : to your neighbour, in acting upon the fquare, and doing unto him as you wish he should do unto you and to yourfelf, in avoiding all irregularity and intemperance, which may impair your faculties, or debase the dignity of your profeffion. A zealous attachment to thefe duties will enfure public and private esteem.

"In the ftate, you are to be a quiet and peaceful fubject, true to your government, and juft to your country; you are not to countenance difloyalty or rebellion, but patiently fubmit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the country in which you live.

"In your outward demeanour be particularly careful to avoid cenfure or reproach. Let not intereft, favour, or prejudice, bias your integrity, or influence you to be guilty of a difhonourable action. Although your frequent appearance at our regular meetings is earnestly folicit

ed, yet it is not meant that masonry should interfere with your neceffary vocations; for thefe are on no account to be neglected; neither are you to fuffer your zeal for the inftitution to lead you into argument with those who, through ignorance, may ridicule it. At your leifure hours, that you may improve in mafonic knowledge, you are to converse with well informed brethren, who will be always as ready to give, as you will be ready to receive, inftruction.

"Finally keep facred and inviolable the myfteries of the order, as these are to diftinguish you from the reft of the community, and mark your confequence among mafons. If, in the circle of your acquaintance, you find a perfon defirous of being initiated into mafonry, be particularly attentive not to recommend him, unless you are convinced he will conform to our rules; that the honour, glory and reputation of the inftitution may be firmly established, and the world at large convinced of its good effects."

CHAPTER IX.

REMARKS ON THE SECOND DEGREE.

MASONRY is a progreffive fcience, and is divided into two different claffes or degrees, for the more regular advancement in the knowledge of its myfteries. According to the progrefs we make, we limit or extend our inquiries; and in.

proportion to our capacity, we attain to a lefs or greater degree of perfection.

Masonry includes within its circle almoft every branch of polite learning. Under the veil of its myfteries is comprehended a regular fyftem of science. Many of its illuftrations, to the confined genius, may appear unimportant; but the man of more enlarged faculties will perceive them to be, in the higheft degree, ufeful and interefting. To please the accomplished fcholar, and ingenious artift, masonry is wifely planned; and in the investigation of its latent doctrines, the philofopher and mathematician may experience equal delight and fatisfaction.

To exhauft the various fubjects of which it treats, would tranfcend the powers of the brighteft genius; ftill, however, nearer approaches to perfection may be made, and the man of wif dom will not check the progrefs of his abilities, though the task he attempts may at first seem infurmountable. Perfeverance and application remove each difficulty as it occurs; every ftep he advances, new pleasures open to his view, and inftruction of the nobleft kind attends his researches. In the diligent pursuit of knowledge, the intellectual faculties are employed in promoting the glory of God, and the good of

man.

The firft degree is well calculated to enforce the duties of morality, and imprint on the memory the nobleft principles which can adorn the human mind. It is therefore the best introduction to the second degree, which not only extends the fame plan, but comprehends a more

diffufive fyftem of knowledge. Here practice and theory join, in qualifying the induftrious mason to share the pleasures which an advancement in the art muft neceffarily afford. Liftening with attention to the wife opinions of experienced craftsmen on important fubjects, he gradually familiarizes his mind to useful inftruction, and is foon enabled to inveftigate truths of the utmost concern in the general tranfactions of life.

From this fyftem proceeds a rational amufement; while the mental powers are fully employed, the judgment is properly exercifed; a fpirit of emulation prevails; and all are induced to vie, who fhall moft excel in promoting the valuable rules of the inftitution.

THE FIRST SECTION

Of the fecond degree accurately elucidates the mode of introduction into that particular clafs; and inftructs the diligent craftsman how to proceed in the proper arrangement of the ceremonies used on the occafion. It qualifies him to judge of their importance, and convinces him of the neceffity of ftrictly adhering to every ef tablished ufage of the order. Here he is entrufted with particular tefts, to enable him to prove his title to the privileges of this degree, while fatisfactory reafons are given for their origin. Many duties, which cement in the firmeft union well informed brethren, are illuftrated in this fection; and an opportunity is given to make fuch advances in mafonry as will always diftinguish the abilities of those who have arriv

ed at preferment. The knowledge of this fection is abfolutely neceffary for all craftsmen; and as it recapitulates the ceremony of initiation, and contains many other important particulars, no officer or member of a lodge fhould be unacquainted with it.

The plumb, fquare, and level, thofe noble and ufeful implements of a fellow craft, are here introduced and moralized, and ferve as a conftant admonition to the practice of virtue and morality.

The plumb is an inftrument made use of by operative mafons, to raise perpendiculars; the Square, to fquare their work; and the level, to lay horizontals; but we, as free and accepted masons, are taught to make use of them for more noble and glorious purposes: the plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several ftations before God and man, fquaring our actions by the Square of virtue, and remembering that we are travelling upon the level of time, to "that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveller returns."

THE SECOND SECTION

Of this degree has recourfe to the origin of the institution, and views masonry under two denominations, operative and speculative. These are separately confidered, and the principles on which both are founded particularly explained. Their affinity is pointed out by allegorical figures, and typical reprefentations. The period ftipulated for rewarding merit is fixed, and the inimitable moral to which that circumftance alludes is