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As no man can have a jufter or higher opinion of the excellency and utility of the fublime order of Free-masonry than I, fo no man has made it more his study to endeavour to qualify himfelf for the high and important office, which the worthy brethren of the Lodge of Unanimity, No. 238, at Wakefield, have out of partiality honoured me with, by appointing me, for many years, Mafter of the Lodge. And as feveral of the brethren have frequently intreated me to put in writing the remarks I had made, I here fubmit them to the candour of my brethren; and if what I have communicated can be of the leaft benefit to my brothers, I fhall efteem it as one of the greatest happineffes of my life, to have added my mite to the incitimable treasure of Free-Masonry.

Strictures

Strictures on Free - Mafonry.

HAT the antiquity of Free-Masonry is co

TH

eval with Adam, is not only confirmed by Oral tradition, but by Sacred and Prophane Hiftory. As this divine knowledge was communicated by the Almighty Creator to our first Parent in Paradife; it has been facredly preferved, and inviolably concealed and brought down to us by Oral tradition; and by Hieroglyphics, by Allegory, Symbols, and Types, which Masons alone can explain.

As there are many who object and cavil at our having received our fublime mysteries from Oral tradition, in a fucceffion of ages to this day, let me tell them, there are many inftances in the New Testament of facts alluded to, which we do not find in the Bible. The names of the Egyptians in the third chapter of the fecond epifle of St. Paul to Timothy, 8th verfe. Jannes and Jambres, are fet down, though they are no where to be found in Mofes's hiftory. And the contest between St. Michael and the Devil, is mentioned as if the Jews had fome way or other a full ac

count

count of it. There are alfo the feven holy precepts, that were given by Noah to his fons when they quitted the ark after the flood, and which all the Jewish Rabbies are mafters of by Oral tradition. And St. Paul tells us in the twelfth chapter of the epiftle to the Hebrews, in the 21ft verfe, That Motes exceedingly quaked and feared on Mount Sinai. But we do not find it fo recorded in the Old Teftament. These and many more inftances might be produced, if neceffary, to confirm us in our belief of Oral tradition.

Our myfterious knowledge may be faithfully traced from Adam to the flood, by many public teftimonies, well known amongst Masons. From the deluge to the building of the temple by King Solomon, at Jerufalem, there is a full hiftory, in the firft great light of Mafonry. As a regular organized body of Free Mafons, they date their origin no farther back, than the building of the temple. Then were Mafons first formed into Lodges, to prevent confufion. Having mafters and wardens appointed over each. The Royal art was at that time at its zenith of glory! Solomon, the wifeft of Kings and men, was grand mafter-the King of Tyre, fenior warden-and the junior warden, a man unparallel'd for his excellency in the liberal arts and fciences. There were at that time in Jerufalem, three thoufand three hundred princes or great men, as mafters of fo many Lodges. There were eighty thoufand

fand fellow crafts, and feventy thousand entered apprentices. Under the guidance and direction. of fuch able mafters, and experienced workmen, that fplendid and glorious temple was built in the short space of seven years and fix months. Aftonishing this when we read that the temple of Diana at Ephefus, (a ftructure not to be compared to the temple at Jerufalem) was two hundred and twenty years in building.

The expence of erecting the temple at Jerufalem, amounted to four hundred thousand, eight hundred and forty eight millions of money! Its walls were feven thoufand feven hundred feet in circumference-the courts and apartments would contain three hundred thousand perfons-it was adorned with one thoufand four hundred and fifty-three columns of Parian marble; and with two thousand nine hundred and fix pilafters, that were decorated with magnificent capitals-with double the number of windows.

The Oracle and Sanctuary were lined with pure gold, and embellifhed with rich fculpture, and inlaid with diamonds and all kind of precious ftones.

No structure was ever to be compared to this temple, for its perfect and beautiful dimenfions, from the magnificent Portico, to the Sanctum Sanctorum. The profpect of this temple was fuperior to all we can imagine at prefent. And it was efteemed the wonder and admiration of the world!

The outer courts were for the Gentiles, it being a house of prayer for all nations. Adoniram, grand warden, was the mafter who fuperintended the workmen who wrought in Mount Lebanus, getting timber, and huge and coftly ftones, for the building of the temple. That were squared and moulded in fo excellent a manner, that when joined, their feams could scarcely be perceived.

There was no avenue to this temple but from the Eaft; fo that during the time of adoration, men conftantly had their faces towards the weft.

The temple was built due east and west, to excite in the Jews a firm reliance on the omnipotence of that God, who had wrought fo great a miracle in their favour, by caufing a wind to blow eaft and weft, whereby they paffed on dry land, through the midft of the Red Sea. So that as often as they looked toward the temple, their faith might be ftrengthened.

Within the most holy place was the ark of the covenant, with the mercy feat, from whence the divine oracles were given out, as often as God was confulted. The Schekiná, or Divine Prefence, was manifefted by a vifible cloud refting over the mercy feat; which contained the tables of the law-the urim and thummim-holy fire(which came down from heaven upon the altar of confecration) the pot of manna and Aaron's rod. Thefe indeed were excellencies, diftinguishing this facred ftructure above all others!