The two magnificent pillars that were fet up in the porch of the temple, were of molten brafs. The bafis or pedestals of the pillars were seventeen cubits, the fhaft eighteen cubits, and the chapiter five cubits, in all forty cubits high.Thele pillars were erected by Solomon, to remind the Jews of the pillar of fire, and pillar of clouds, by which God had conducted them from Egypt to the promised land. And they were also a type of the two-fold office of the apostles, who were called the Pillars of the Church, and were sent forth to preach the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles.

The junior warden, who was the principal manager and undertaker of the fuperb and glorious building, the Temple; whofe memory will be revered and honoured whilft masonry shall fubfift; that is, till time shall be no more, (for fo long will masonry continue,) was a man, whose perfect knowledge of the liberal arts and fciences was never equalled. The wifeft of men chofe him to fuperintend his great works, the Temple and palaces. It was be that planned that famous city, called in fcripture Tadmor in the Wilderness, but by moderns it is named Palmyra; the fame of which has excited our greateft painters, architects, fculptors, &c. to vifit thofe noble remains, whofe researches now adorn the cabinets of the great and curious. Every grace, every virtue that could add a luftre to human nature, was centered in him!

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him! The great, the exalted character, he fo justly acquired in his life-time, was confirmed by the manner of his death. In which there appeared that firmness of mind, that magnanimity, that integrity of heart, with an unparalleled refolution peculiar to himfelf! which character he fealed with his blood; for fooner than he would act unworthily, or betray his truft, he fuffered himfelf to be affaffinated in the temple of his God!

Bending the knees, and proftrating the body before the deity, is one of the most ancient cuftoms, and is a proper mark of humiliation.

Joining the right hands is a pledge of fidelity. There was formerly a deity they called Fides; and when they promised any thing of old, they gave their right hand upon it, meaning that the proper refidence of faith and fidelity was thought by the ancients, to be in the right hand; fometimes by two right hands joined together.

At the east of every fynagogue, the Jews have an ark or cheft, wherein is locked up the Pentateuch in fquare characters, which is fhewn to none but fuch as are thought worthy and wife among

them.

We are called free-mafons, as none but the free-born are permitted to be taught the fublime

art.

Why we take upon us to be called free and accepted masons, I fhall endeavour to explain. Some have imagined that this title was given at

the

the time of the crufades; but I was taught, and believe it commenced when the Temple at Jerufalem was building; for when the kings, princes, and great men of the neighbouring nations, faw fuch magnificent and glorious works carried on with fuch wisdom, strength, and beauty, by Solomon and his wife and enlightened fuperintendant, with the other mafters, wardens, and workmen, who were called free-mafons, they folicited to be admitted into the honourable and fublime myfteries of the royal art. But as they were aliens, they were first (if they were found to be worthy) made free of the city of Jerufalem, and initiated, and were then called free, and accepted as mafons.

From Solomon's time all lodges were dedicated to him, until the building of the fecond temple, by Zerubbable, after the Babylonifh captivity. Then Zerubbable continued patron of masonry until the destruction of Jerufalem, by Titus.Lodges were then broke up, and the masons were difperfed, and it was fome time before a fufficient number could affemble to form a lodge; at last they met in a city of Benjamin; when they deputed five of the most eminent brethren to go to St. John the Evangelift, who was then Bishop of Ephefus, to entreat him that he would honor them with his patronage. St. John told them, he was very old, being then turned of ninety; but to support so good and ancient an institution,

he

he would undertake the charge-and from that time, all lodges are dedicated to him.

We also keep St. John the Baptift's day-that as he was the harbinger of our bleffed Saviour, who came down from heaven for our falvation. So we hope and truft, that if we do our duty here, and act up to the ftrict rules of masonryto do juftice-love mercy- and walk humbly with our God! Whofe wifdom is infinite-whofe strength, omnipotence-and beauty is fhewn in all his works of creation! That our having entered into the lodge on earth, will be the prelude of our entering into the heavenly lodge hereafter.

Free-mafonry is a fcience not to be attained but by patience, time and application. It is not meant or to be confidered that the name of mafon, is as a mere builder of houfes, &c. But figuratively, a mason gradually advances to fublime truths, and a thorough knowledge of the liberal arts and sciences, and by that means arrives to fuch a degree of perfection, as to be replete with happiness himself, and of communicating that happiness to others.

The hieroglyphics and fymbols, on the table and chairs of a lodge, are the three great lights of masonry. The three leffer lights, the twenty four inch gage, the common mallet, the pillars, &c. which the brethren are early taught to explain; alfo the rough afhler, which is a ftone, as taken out of the quarry, which by the care

and

and skill of the workman, is brought to due form. This is emblematical of the mind of man in his primitive state, which is rude and unimproved like that ftone, 'till by the grace of God, a virtuous education, and pious example, his mind is enlightened.

The perfect afhler, is a well wrought stone, a regular cube, tried by the fquare and compafs. Which should teach and excite us to try and prove ourselves whether we have a confcience void of offence towards God and towards man.

The treffel-board, is what the mafter draws his defigns on, the better to inftruct the younger brothers. The Holy Bible is the treffel of the great architect of the univerfe, wherein are laid down fuch good and certain inftructions, that if we faithfully attend to them, we fhall be enabled to build a house, without hands, eternal in heaven!

By the inftructions of the mafter, the brethren are taught the fundamentals of the most fublime fpeculative philofophy, tending to the glory of God to fecure to themfelves temporal bleffings here, and everlasting life hereafter 1

Taciturnity is an excellence, which renders mafons famous, and in a peculiar manner is inculcated by them. By this method they conceal from the unworthy, what few are qualified to be taught, and fewer to teach.

The