ed to, and settled in your own country, take care that the progress of friendship be not confined to the narrow circle of national connexions, or particular religions; but let it be universal, and extend to every branch of the human race. At the same time, remember, that, besides the common ties of humanity, you have this night entered into obligations which engage you to kind and friendly actions to your brother masons, of whatever station, country, or religion,

At the Initiation of a Soldier.

Our institution breathes a spirit of general philanthropy. Its benefits, considered in a social view, are extensive. In the most endearing ties, those of brotherhood and charity, it unites all mankind. It in every nation opens an asylum to virtue distressed, and grants hospitality to the necessitous and unfortunate. Those sublime principles of universal goodness, and love to all mankind, which are essential to it, cannot be controlled nor extinguished by national distinctions, prejudices and animosities. The rage of contest it has abated, and substituted in its stead the milder emotions of humanity. It has even taught the pride of victory to give way to the dictates of an honorable connexion.

Should your country demand your services in foreign wars, and captivity should be your portion, you find affectionate brethren, where others would only find bitter enemies.

In whatever nation you travel, when you meet a mason, you will find a brother and a friend, who will do all in his power to serve you, without having the least view of selfinterest; and who will relieve you, should you be poor, or in distress, to the utmost of his ability, and with ready cheerfulness.

CHAPTER IX.

SECOND, OR FELLOW-CRAFT'S DEGREE,

Remarks on the Second Degree.

Masonry is a progressive science, and is divided into dif ferent classes, or degrees, for the more regular advancement in the knowledge of its mysteries. According to the progress we make, we limit or extend our enquiries; and, in proportion to our capacity, we attain to a less or greater degree of perfection.

Masonry includes within its circle almost every branch of polite learning. Under the veil of its mysteries, is comprehended a regular system of science. Many of its illustrations, to the confined genius, may appear unimportant; but the man of more enlarged faculties will perceive them to be, in the highest degree, useful and interesting. To please the accomplished scholar, and ingenious artist, masonry is wisely planned; and, in the investigation of its latent doctrines, the philosopher and mathematician may experience equal delight and satisfaction.

To exhaust the various subjects of which it treats, would transcend the powers of the brightest genius; still, however, nearer approaches to perfection may be made; and the man of wisdom will not check the progress of his abilities, though the task he attempts may at first seem insurmountable. Perseverance and application remove each difficulty as it occurs; every step he advances, new pleasures open to his view, and instruction of the noblest 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 first degree is well calculated to enforce the duties of morality, and imprint on the memory the noblest principles which can adorn the human mind. It is therefore the best introduction to the second degree, which not only extends the same plan, but comprehends a more diffusive system of knowledge. Here, practice and theory join, in qualifying the industrious mason to share the pleasures which an advancement in the art must necessarily afford. Listening with attention to the wise opinions of experienced craftsmen, on important subjects, he gradually familiarizes his mind to useful instruction, and is soon enabled to investigate truchs of the utmost concern in the general transactions of life.

From this system proceeds a rational amusement; while the mental powers are fully employed, the judgment is properly exercised. A spirit of emulation prevails; and all are induced to vie, who shall most excel in promoting the valuable rules of the institution.

The First Section.

The first section of the second degree accurately clucidates the mode of introduction into that particular class; and instructs the diligent craftsman how to proceed in the proper arrangement of the ceremonies used on the occasion. It qualifies him to judge of their importance, and convinces him of the necessity of strictly adhering to every established usage of the order. Here he is entrusted with particular tests, to enable him to prove his title to the privileges of this degree, while satisfactory reasons are given for their origin.*

The following passages from the first great light in masonry, are here opened and explained:

"Then Jepthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped, said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said Nay; then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said, Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passage of Jordan. And there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand."-Judges, c. 12. v. 4, 5, 6.

The erudite Brother Wm. Hutchinson, to whom I am indebted for most of my remarks on the writings of Brothers Preston and Webb, on the several degrees most in use, adds, by way of note, as follows:

The application which is made of certain words among masons, is as a testimony of their retaining their original vow uninfringed, and their first faith with the brotherhood uncorrupted. And to render their words and phrases more abstruse and obscure, they selected such as by acceptation in the scriptures, or otherwise, might puzzle the ignorant by a double implica. tion-Thus Sibboleth, should we have adopted the Elusimian mysteries, would answer as an avowal of our profession, the same implying, Ears of Corn; but it has its etymology, or derivation, from the following compounds in the Greek tongue, as it is adopted by masons, viz: E.Co, Colo, and Albos, Lapis; so Coxidov, Sibbolithon, Colo Lapidem, implies, that they retain and keep inviolate their obligations, as the Juramentum per Jovem Lapidem, the most obligatory oath held amongst the heathen-"The name Lapis, or as "others write, Lapideus, was given to Jupiter by the Romans, who conceived "that Juramentum per Jovem Lapidem, an oath by Jupiter Lapis, was the "most obligatory oath; and it is derived either from the stone which was "presented to Saturn by his wife Ops, who said that it was Jupiter, in "which sense Eusebius says that Lapis reigned in Crete: or from lapide si"lice, the flint stone, which, in making bargains, the swearer held in his hand "and said, "If knowingly I deceive, so let Diespiter, saving the city and the "capital, cast me away from all that's good, as I cast away this stone." "Whereupon he threw the stone away."

Pantheon.

Many duties, which cement, in the firmest union, well informed brethren, are illustrated in this section; and an opportunity is given to make such advances in masonry, as will always distinguish the abilities of those who have arrived at preferment.

The knowledge of this section is absolutely necessary for all craftsmen, and as it recapitulates the ceremony of initiation, and contains many other important particulars, no officer, or member of a lodge, should be unacquainted with it.

The plumb, square, and level, those noble and useful implements of a fellow-craft, are here introduced and moralized, and serve as a constant admonition to the practice of virtue and morality.

The plumb is an instrument made use of by operative masons, to raise perpendiculars; the square, to square the 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 stations before God and man, squaring 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.

The second section of this degree has recourse to the origin of the institution, and views masonry under two denominations, operative and speculative. These are separately considered, and the principles on which both are founded, particularly explained. Their affinity is pointed out, by allegorical figures, and typical representations. The period stipulated for rewarding merit is fixed, and the inimitable moral, to which that circumstance alludes, is explained; the creation of the world is described, and many particulars recited, all of which have been carefully preserved among masons, and transmitted from one age to another, by oral tradition.

Circumstances of great importance to the fraternity are here particularized, and many traditional tenets and customs confirmed by sacred and profane record. The celestial and terrestrial globes are considered; and here the accomplished gentleman may display his talents to advantage, in the elucidation of the Orders of Architecture, the Senses of human nature, and the liberal Arts and Sciences, which

are severally classed in a regular arrangement. In short, this section contains a store of valuable knowledge, founded on reason and sacred record, both entertaining and instructive.

Masonry is considered under two denominations; operative, and speculative.

Operative Masonry.

By operative masonry we allude to a proper application of the useful rules of architecture, whence a structure will derive figure, strength, and beauty; and whence will result a due proportion, and a just correspondence in all its parts. It furnishes us with dwellings, and convenient shelters from the vicissitudes and inclemencies of seasons; and, while it displays the effects of human wisdom, as well in the choice, as in the arrangement, of the sundry materials of which an edifice is composed, it demonstrates that a fund of science and industry is implanted in man for the best, most salutary and beneficent purposes.

Speculative Masonry.

By speculative masonry, we learn to subdue the passions, act upon the square, keep a tongue of good report, maintain secresy, and practise charity. It is so far interwoven with religion, as to lay us under obligations to pay that rational homage to the Deity, which at once constitutes our duty and our happiness. It leads the contemplative to view with reverence and admiration the glorious works of the creation, and inspires him with the most exalted ideas of the perfections of his divine Creator.

In six days God created the heavens and the earth, and rested upon the seventh day; the seventh, therefore, our ancient brethren consecrated as a day of rest from their labors, thereby enjoying frequent opportunities to contemplate the glorious works of the creation; and to adore their great Creator.

The doctrine of the spheres is included in the science of astronomy, and particularly considered in this section.

Of the Globes.

The globes are two artificial spherical bodies, on the convex surface of which are represented the countries, seas, and various parts of the earth, the face of the heavens, the planetary revolutions, and other particulars.