SECTION SECOND.

The second section rationally accounts for the ceremony of initiating a candidate into our ancient institution

The Badge of a Mason.

Every candidate, at his initiation, is presented with a lamb-skin or white leather apron.

The lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence: the lamb-skin is therefore to remind him of that purity of life and conduct, which is so essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe presides.

SECTION THIRD.

The third section explains the nature and princi ples of our Constitution. Here also we receive in structions relative to the form, supports, covering, furniture, ornaments, lights and jewels of the Lodge, how it should be situated, and to whom dedicated.

From East to West, and between North and South, Free-Masonry extends; and in every clime are masons to be found.

Our institution is said to be supported by Wisdom, Strength and Beauty; because it is necessary that here should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn, all great and important undertakings.

Its covering is no less than a clouded canopy, or a starry-decked Heaven, where all good masons hope at last to arrive, by the aid of the theological ladder, which Jacob, in his vision, saw ascending from earth to heaven; the three principal rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity; and which admonish us to have faith in God, hope in immortality, and charity to all mankind.

The greatest of these is Charity; for our Faith may be lost in sight; Hope ends in fruition; but

Charity extends beyond the grave, through the bound. less realms of eternity.

Every well-governed Lodge is furnished with the Holy Bible, the Square, and the Compasses.

The Holy Bible is dedicated to God; the Square, to the Master; and the Compasses, to the Craft.

The Bible is dedicated to God, because it is the inestimable gift of God to man; *** the square to the master, because it is the proper masonic emblem of his office; and the compasses to the craft, because, by a due attention to their use, they are taught to circumscribe their desires, and keep their passions within due bounds.

The Ornaments of a Lodge are the Mosaic pavement, the indented tessel, and the blazing star. The Mosaic pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's temple; the indented tessel, that beautiful tesselated border, or skirting, which surrounded it; and the blazing star in the centre, is commemorative of the Star which appeared, to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Saviour's nativity.

The Mosaic pavement is emblematical of human life, chequered with good and evil; the beautiful border which surrounds it, those manifold blessings and comforts which surround us, and which we hope to enjoy by a faithful reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by the blazing star in the centre.

The moveable and immoveable Jewels also claim our attention in this section.

The rough ashler is a stone as taken from the quarry in its rude and natural state.

The perfect ashler is a stone made ready by the hands of the workmen, to be adjusted by the working tools of the Fellow Craft. The trestle-board is for the master workman to draw his designs upon.

By the rough ashler, we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature; by the perfect ashler

that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors, and the blessing of God; and by the trestle-board, we are also reminded, that as the operative workman erects his temporal building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the master, on his trestle-board, so should we, both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the universe, in the great Books of nature and revelation, which is our spiritual, moral and masonic trestle-board.

Lodges were anciently dedicated to King Solomon, as it is said he was the first Most Excellent Grand Master: Yet masons professing Christianity dedicate theirs to St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist, who were two eminent Christian patrons of masonry; and since their time, there is represented, in every regular and well-governed Lodge, a certain point within the circle,* embordered by two perpendicular parallel lines, representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist; and upon the top rests the Holy Scriptures. In going round this circle, we necessarily touch upon these two lines, as well as the Holy Scriptures; and while a mason keeps himself circumscribed within their precepts, it is impossible that he should materially err.

Of Brotherly Love.

By the exercise of brotherly love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family; the high and low, the rich and poor; who, as created by one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support, and protect each other. On this principle, masonry unites men of every country, sect and opinion, and conciliates true friendship

*The point represents an individual brother, the circle of the boundary line, beyond which he is never to suffer his prejudices or passions to betray him.

among those who might otherwise have remained at & perpetual distance.

Of Relief.

To relieve the distressed, is a duty incumbent on all men; but particularly on masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy; to sympathize with their misfortunes; to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view. On this basis, we form our friendships and establish our connections.

Of Truth.

Truth is a divine attribute, and the foundation of very virtue. To be good and true, is the first lesson we are taught in masonry. On this theme we contemplate, and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct: hence, while influenced by this principle, nypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us; and the heart and tongue join in promoting each other's wel fare, and rejoicing in each other's prosperity.

An Explanation of the four CARDINAL VIRTUES which are TEMPERANCE, FORTITude, Prudence and JUSTICE.

Of Temperance.

Temperance is that due restraint upon our affections and passions, which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from the allurements of vice. This virtue should be the constant practice of every mason; as he is thereby taught to avoid excess, or contracting any licentious or vicious habit, the indulgence of which might lead him to disclose some of those valuable secrets, which he has promised to conceal and never reveal, and which would consequently subject him to the contempt and detestation of all good masons. * * * *

Of Fortitude.

Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind, whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril, or danger, when prudentially deemed expedient. This virtue is equally distant from rashness and cowardice; and, like the former, should be deeply impressed upon the mind of every mason, as a safe-guard or security against any illegal attack that may be made by force or otherwise, to extort from him any of those valuable secrets with which he has been so solemnly intrusted, and which were emblematically represented upon his first admission into the Lodge. ***** Of Prudence.

Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason, and is that habit by which we wisely judge, and prudentially determine, on all things relative to our present as well as to our future happiness. This virtue should be the peculiar characteristic of every mason, not only for the government of his conduct while in the Lodge, but also when abroad in the world. It should be particularly attended to, in all strange and mixed companies, never to let fall the least sign, token, or word, whereby the secrets of masonry might be unlawfully obtained. * * * * *

Of Justice.

Justice is that standard, or boundary of right, which enables us to render to every man has just due, without distinction. This virtue is not only consistent with divine and human laws, but is the very cement and support of civil society; and as justice in a great measure constitutes the real good man, so should it be the invariable practice of every mason, never to deviate from the minutest principles thereof. *****

The illustration of these virtues is accompanied with some general observations peculiar to masons. Due veneration is also paid to our ancient patrons.