honourable than the star and garter, or any other order that could be conferred upon the candidate at the time of his initiation, or at any time thereafter, by king, prince, potentate, or any other person, except he be a mason; and which every one ought to wear with equal pleasure to himself, and honour to the fraternity.

This section closes with an explanation of the working tools and implements of an entered apprentice, which are, the twenty-four inch gauge, and the common gavel.

The twenty-four inch gauge is an instrument made use of by operative masons, to measure and lay out their work; but we as free and accepted masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of dividing our time. Its being divided into twenty-four equal parts is emblematical of the twenty-four hours of the day, which we are taught to divide into three equal parts, whereby we find eight hours for the service of God and a distressed worthy brother; eight hours for our usual avocations: and eight for refreshment and sleep.*

The common gavel is an instrument made use of by operative masons, to break off the corners of rough stones, the better to fit them for the builder's use; but we, as free and accepted masons, are taught to make use of it for the more

The most effectual expedient employed by Alfred the Great, for the encouragement of learning, was his own example, and the constant assiduity with which he employed himself in the pursuit of knowledge. He usually divided his time into three equal portions; one was employed in sleep and the refection of his body; another in the dispatch of business; and a third in study and devotion."

Hume's History of England.

noble and glorious purpose of divesting our minds and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting our bodies, as living stones, for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

THE SECOND SECTION

Rationally accounts for the origin of our hieroglyphical instruction, and convinces us of the advantages which will ever accompany a faithful observance of our duty: it maintains, beyond the the power of contradiction, the propriety of our rites, while it demonstrates to the most sceptical and hesitating mind their excellency and utility; it illustrates, at the same time, certain particulars, of which our ignorance might lead us into error, and which, as masons, we are indispensably bound to know.

To make a daily progress in the art, is our constant duty, and expressly required by our general laws. What end can be more noble than the pursuit of virtue? what motive more alluring than the practice of justice? or what instruction more beneficial than an accurate elucidation of symbolical mysteries which tend to embellish and adorn the mind? Every thing that strikes the eye more immediately engages the attention, and imprints on the memory serious and solemn truths: hence masons, universally adopting this method of inculcating the tenets of their order by typical figures and allegorical emblems, prevent their mysteries from

descending into the familiar reach of inattentive and unprepared novices, from whom they might not receive due veneration.

Our records inform us, that the usages and customs of masons have ever corresponded with those of the Egyptian philosophers, to which they bear a near affinity. Unwilling to expose their mysteries to vulgar eyes, they concealed their particular tenets and principles of polity under hieroglyphical figures; and expressed their notions of government by signs and symbols, which they communicated to their Magi alone, who were bound by oath not to reveal them. The Pythagorean system seems to have been established on a similar plan, and many orders of a more recent date. Masonry, however, is not only the most ancient, but the most moral institution that ever subsisted; every character, figure and emblem, depicted in a lodge, has a moral tendency, and inculcates the practice of virtue.

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 em. blem of innocence; he, therefore, who wears the lamb-skin as a badge of masonry, is thereby con. tinually reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe presides.

THE THIRD SECTION

Explains the nature and principles of our constitution, and teaches us to discharge with propriety the duties of our respective stations. Here, too, we receive instruction relative to the form, supports, covering, furniture, ornaments, lights. and jewels of a lodge, how it should be situated, and to whom dedicated. A proper attention is also paid to our ancient and venerable patrons.

From east to west, freemasonry extends; and between the north and south, in every clime and nation, are masons to be found.

Our institution is said to be supported by wisdom, strength, and beauty; because it is necessary that there should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn, all great and important undertakings. Its dimensions are unlimited, and it scovering no less than the canopy of heaven. To this object the mason's mind is continually directed, and thither he hopes 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,

Every well governed lodge is furnished with the Holy Bible, the Square and the Compass; the bible points out the path that leads to happiness, and is dedicated to God; the square teaches us

to regulate our conduct by the principles of morality and virtue, and is dedicated to the Master ; the compass teaches us to limit our desires in every station, and is dedicated to the Craft.

The Bible is dedicated to the service of God, because it is the inestimable gift of God to man; the square to the master, because, being the proper masonic emblem of his office, it is constantly to remind him of the duty he owes to the lodge over which he is appointed to preside; and the compass to the craft, because, by a due attention to its use, they are taught to regulate their desires, and keep their passions within due bounds.

The ornamental parts of a lodge, displayed in this section, 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 emblematic of human life, chequered with good and evil; the beautiful border which surrounds it, those blessings and comforts which surround us, and which we hope to obtain 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 per