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Southern District of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the eleventh day of December, in the fortysecond year of the Independence of the United States of America. George Long, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right where of he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"The New Free-Mason's Moniter; or, Masonic Guide. For the direction of members of that ancient and honourable fraternity, as well as for the information of those, who may be destrous of becoming acquainted with its principles. By James Hardie, A. M "

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." And also to an act, entitled "An act, supplementary to an act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps. charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

JAMES DILL.

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

RECOMMENDATION.

WE, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do certify, that we have perused, with much satisfaction, a work entitled "The New Free-mason's Monitor; or, Masonic Guide. For the direction of members of that ancient and honourable fraternity, as well as for the information of those, who may be desirous of becoming acquainted with its principles. By James Hardie, A. M. ;" and consider it as a very valuable publication.

We, therefore, earnestly beg leave to recommend it to the attention of our brethren, and sincerely wish, that our brother, the author may receive a suitable reward for his labour and assiduity.

PHILIP BECANON, P. M. Trinity Lodge.
SAMUEL CLARK, P. M. Benevolent.
PHILIP EARL, P. M. Trinity.

JOHN N. JOHNSTON, P. M. No. 2.

LEWIS SEYMOUR, P. M. No. 1.

WILLIAM CARLISLE, P. M. No. 11.

DANIEL D. ARDEN, S. W. and acting
Master of I. R. A. No. 2.
RICHARD HATFIELD, P. M. No 17.
JAMES LYONS, P. M. No. 6.

JONAS HUMBERT, JUN. P. M. No. 31.
WM. MONROE, P. M. No. 10.

J. VANDERBELT, JUN. P. M. Trinity L.
No. 10.

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THAT free-masonry has greatly tended to enlighten thé minds, as well as to improve the morals of those, who have arranged themselves under its banners, is a fact which the most intelligent part of the community will not contradict, and were its principles more generally known, the objections against it would be removed from the breast of every unprejudiced person. Upon due examination, it will be found, that its institution is extremely well calculated to inculcate every thing laudable and useful to society, and that its leading qualities, are, philanthrophy well directed; morality pure ; secrecy inviolable, and a taste for the fine arts.

It may be observed, that SOLON, LYCURGUS, NUMA, and all the other political legislators of antiquity, have not been able to render their establishments durable, and that however sagacious their laws may have been they had, at no time, the power of expanding them over all countries and of perpetuating them to all ages. Having little more in view than victories and conquests, and the elevation of one set of people above another, they were never universal, nor consonant to the taste, genius, or interest of all nations. Philanthrophy was not their basis. The love of country badly understood and pushed into limits, on which they should not verge, often destroys in warlike republics, the love of general humanity. Men are not to be essentially distinguished by the difference of tongues which they speak, of cloaths which they wear, of countries which they inhabit, or

of dignities, with which they are invested. The whole world is one great republic, of which each nation is a family and each individual a child.

It was to revive and re-animate such maxims, that the society of FREE-MASONS was first instituted. The great design was to unite all men of sense, knowledge, and worth, not only by a reciprocal love of the fine arts, but still more by the great principles of virtue, where the interest of the fraternity might become that of the whole human race where all nations might improve in knowledge, and where every subject or citizen of every country might exert himself without jealousy, live without discord, and embrace mutually, without forgetting or too scrupulously remembering, the spot in which he was born. What obligations do we not owe to those superior souls, who, without listening to the suggestions of interest, or the natural desire to surpass others in power, first conceived an establishment, whose end was the re-union of the understanding and the heart, to render both better by the contact?

The solemnity which attends the moral qualities of this society, is the next branch of the subject worthy of observation. Religious orders were instituted to render men more perfect christians; military orders were founded to inspire the love of glory; but the order of freemasonry was instituted to form men into good citizens and good subjects; to make them inviolable in their promises, faithful votaries to their God, and more lovers of liberality than of recompence.

But free-masonry is not bounded by virtues merely civil. As a severe, sorrowful, and misanthropic kind of philosophy disgusts its votaries, so the establishment of free-masonry renders men amiable, by the attraction of innocent pleasures, pure joys, and rational gaieties. The

sentiments of this society are not such, as a world adicted to ridicule, may be tempted to suppose. Every vice of the head and heart is excluded: libertinism, irreligion, incredulity and debauchery, are banished and disqualified. The meetings of the free-masons resemble those amiable entertainments spoken of by the poet HORACE, where all those are made welcome guests, whose understandings may be enlightened, whose hearts may be mended, or who may be any way emulous to excel in that which is true, good and great.

O noctes cœnasque Deum quibus ipse meique,
Ante Larem proprium vescor: vernasque procaces
Pasco líbatis dapibus. Prout cuique libido est,
Siccat inæquales calices conviva, solutus
Legibus insanis; seu quis capit acria fortis

Pocula, seu modicis humescit lætius,

Sermo critur, non de villis domibusque alienis ;

·sed quod magis ad nos

Pertiuet et nescire malum est, agitamus; utrum

Divitiis homines, au sint virtute beati.

Quidve ad amicitias, usus rectumne trahat nos.

Thus translated by Francis.

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O nights, that furnish such a feast,
As even Gods themselves might taste
Each person there may drink and fill
As much or little as he will;
Exempted from the Bedlam rules
Of roaring prodigals and fools,
Whether in merry mood or whim,
He takes a bumper to the brim ;
Or better pleased to let it pass,
Grows mellow with a scanty glass,
Nor this man's house, nor that's estate
Becomes the subject of debate,
But what concerns more I trow,
And were a scandal not to know,
If happiness consist in store
Of riches, or in virtue more,

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