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from the established usages and customs of the fraternity.

Your virtue, honour, and reputation, are concerned in supporting with dignity the character you now bear. Let no motive, therefore, make you swerve from your duty, violate your vows, or betray your trust; but be true and faithful, and imi

tate the example of that celebrated artist whom

Thus you will render

you this evening represent. yourself deserving of the honour which we have conferred, and merit the confidence that we have reposed.

CHAPTER XI.

Remarks on the Fourth, or Mark Master Mason's Degree.

THIS degree of masonry was not less useful in its original institution, nor are its effects less beneficial to mankind, than those which precede it.

By the influence of this degree, each operative mason, at the erection of the temple of Solomon, was known and distinguished by the Senior Grand Warden.

By its effects the disorder and confusion that might otherwise have attended so immense an undertaking was completely prevented; and not

only the craftsmen themselves, who were eighty thousand in number, but every part of their workmanship, was discriminated with the greatest nicety, and the utmost facility. If defects were found, by the help of this degree the overseers were enabled without difficulty to ascertain who was the faulty workman: so that all deficiencies might be remedied, without injuring the credit, or diminishing the reward, of the industrious and faithful of the craft.

Charge to be read at Opening the Lodge. "Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice, and guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil -speakings.

"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious; ye also, as living stones, be ye built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God.

"Wherefore, also, it is contained in the scriptures, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste to pass it over. Unto you, therefore, which believe, it is an honour; and even to them which be dis

H

obedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.

"Brethren, this is the will of God, that with well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God."

REMARKS ON THE FOURTH LECTURE.

The First Section.

The first section explains the manner of convocating and opening a mark-master's lodge. It teaches the stations and duties of the respective officers, and recapitulates the mystic ceremony of introducing a candidate.

In this section is exemplified the regularity and good order that was observed by the craftsmen on Mount Libanus, and in the plains and quarries of Zeredathah, and ends with a beautiful display of the manner in which one of the principal events originated, which characterises this degree.

The Second Section.

In the second section the mark-master is particularly instructed in the origin and history of this degree, and the indispensable obligations he is under to stretch forth his assisting hand to the relief of an indigent and worthy brother, to a certain and specified extent.

The progress made in architecture, particularly in the reign of Solomon, is remarked; the number of artists employed in building the temple of Jerusalem, and the privileges they enjoyed, are specified; the mode of rewarding merit, and of punishing the guilty, are pointed out; and the marks of distinction, which were conferred on our ancient brethren, as the rewards of excellence, are named.

In the course of the lecture, the following texts of scripture are introduced, and explained, viz. Rev. of St. John, ii. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving him that receiveth it.

2 Chron. ii. 16. And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa, and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.

Psalm cxviii. 22. - The stone which the builders refused, is become the head stone of the cor

ner.

Matt. xxi. 42. - Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, is become the head of the corner ?

Mark xii. 10.-And have ye not read this scripture, The stone which the builders rejected, is become the head of the corner ?

Luke xx. 17.- What is this, then, that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, is become the head of the corner ?

Acts iv. 11. This is the stone which was set at nought of you, builders, which is become the bead of the corner.

Rev. iii. 13. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.

Ezekiel xliv. 1-3 & 5.-Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looketh toward the east, and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same. And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the

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