When girded with care, The emblem of truth and of reason, The mysteries of a Free Mason. Then full in his sight MASONI To illumine the works which we trace on; And now, as his due, With the badge of an accepted Mason. Now hark! we enlarge Where his conduct and walk he must place on; Then our rites we'll fulfil, And show our good will To a free and accepted Mason. ANOTHER. [TUNE-God save the king.] Let Masons' fame resound See what felicity, Runs through the whole. Such sweet variety, Faith, Hope, and Charity, Charm more and more. When in the lodge we're met, But always free. Scorn all their spite; Masons have long been free, Till time's no more. CHORUS. Hail, mysterious-hail, glorious Masonry That makes us ever great and free. In vain mankind for shelter sought, In vain from place to place did roam, Until from Heaven, from Heaven he was taught, To plan, to build, to fix his home. Illustrious hence we date our Art, And now in beauteous piles appear, We shall to endless, to endless time impart, How worthy and how great we are. Nor we less fam'd for every tie, By which the human thought is bound; Love, truth, and friendship, and friendship socially, Join all our hearts and hands around. Our actions still by virtue blest, MASTER MASON'S DEGREE. The lecture on this most beautiful and sublime degree, is divided by Mr. Preston into twelve sections. "To a complete knowledge of this lecture few attain; but it is an infallible truth, that he who acquires by merit the mark of pre-eminence to which this degree entitles him, receives a reward which amply compensates for all his past diligence and assiduity. "From this class of the Order the rulers of the craft are selected; as it is only from those who are capable of giving instruction, that we can properly expect to receive it." THE THIRD LECTURE. THE FIRST SECTION. "The ceremony of initiation into the third degree is particularly speci fied in this branch of the lecture, and many useful instructions are given "Such is the importance of this section, that we may safely aver, whoever is unacquainted with it, is ill-qualified to act as a ruler or governor of the work of Masonry." Prayer at Initiation in the Third "O Lord, direct us to know and serve thee aright! prosper our laudable undertakings! and grant that, as we increase in knowledge, we may improve in virtue, and still farther promote thy honour and glory!AMEN." "The Second Section is an introduction to the proceedings of a lodge of Master Masons, and illustrates several points which are well known to experienced craftsmen. It investigates in the ceremony of opening the lodge, the most important circumstances in the two preceding degrees. "The Third Section commences the historical traditions of the Order; which are chiefly collected from sacred record, and other authentic docu ments. "The Fourth Section farther illustrates the historical traditions of the Order; and presents to view a finished picture of the utmost consequence to the fraternity. "The Fifth Section continues the explanation of historical traditions of the Order. "The Sixth Section concludes the historical traditions of the Order. "The Seventh Section illustrates the hieroglyphical emblems restricted to the third degree, and inculcates many useful lessons, in order to extend knowledge, and promote virtue. "This section is indispensably necessary to be understood by every Master of the Lodge. "The Eighth Section treats of the government of the society, and the disposition of our rulers, supreme and subordinate. It is therefore generally rehearsed at installations. "The Ninth Section recites the 335 qualification of our rulers, and illustrates the ceremony of installation, in the Grand Lodge, as well as in private assemblies of Masons. "The Tenth Section comprehends the ceremonies of constitution and consecration, with a variety of particulars explanatory of those ceremonies. "The Eleventh Section illustrates the ceremonies used at laying the foundation stones of public edifices, and the ceremonies observed at the dedication of the lodge, and at the interment of Master Masons. "The Twelfth Section contains a the lectures in all the degrees, and correcapitulation of the essential points of roborates the whole by infallible testimony. "Having thus given a general sumdifferent degrees of Masonry, and mary of the lectures restricted to the made such remarks on each degree, as little farther can be wanted to encourtend to illustrate the subjects treated, age the zealous Mason to persevere in his researches. He who has traced the Art in a regular progress, from the commencement of the first to the con clusion of the third degree, according Charge at Initiation in the Third "BROTHER, "Your zeal for the institution of Free-Masonry, the progress which you have made in the art, and your conformity to all the general regulations, have pointed you out as a proper object of our favour and esteem. "In the character of a Master-Ma son, you are henceforth authorised to correct the errors and irregularities of your brethren and fellows, and guard them against a breach of fidelity. To improve the morals and manners of men in society, must be your constant care; with this view, therefore, you : are to recommend to your inferiors, obedience and submission; to your equals, courtesy and affability; to your superiors, kindness and condescension. Universal benevolence you are always to inculcate; and by the regularity of your behaviour, afford the best example for the conduct of others. The ancient landmarks of the order, which are now intrusted to your care, you are to preserve sacred and inviolable, and never suffer by any infringement of our rites, a deviation from established usage and custom. "Duty, honour, and gratitude, now bind you to be faithful to every trust; to support with becoming dignity your new character; and to enforce by example and precept, the tenets of our system. Let no motive, therefore, make you swerve from your duty, violate your vows, or betray your trust; but be true and faithful, and imitate the example of that celebrated artist whom you have once represented.Thus your exemplary conduct will convince the world, that merit has been the title to our privileges; and that, on you, our favours are not undeservedly bestowed." MASTER'S SONG. BY BROTHER T. S. WEBE. [TUNE-Greenwich Pensioner.] I sing the Mason's glory, To eat and drink their fill, Hear lectures 'gainst their will: CHORUS. But only those whose pleasure, Hail! glorious Masonry. The faithful, worthy brother, "That such as were to be admitted Master Masons, or Masters of work, should be examined whether they be able of cunning to serve their respective Lords, as well the lowest as the highest, to the honor and worship of the aforesaid art, and to the profit of their Lords; for they be their Lords that employ and pay them for their service and travel." The following particulars are also contained in a very old manuscript, of which a copy was in the possessson of the late GEORGE PAYNE, Esq. Grand Master in 1718. "That when the Master and Wardens meet in a Lodge, if need be, the Sheriff of the county, or the Mayor of the city, or Alderman of the town, in which the congregation is held, should Gulielmi Prioris Ecclesiæ Christi Cantuari ensis, erga Fastum Natalis Domini 1429," informs us, that, in the year 1429, during the minority of Henry VI, a respectable lodge was held at Canterbury, under the patronage of Henry Chicheley, the Archbishop: At which were present Thomas Stapylton, the master; John Morris, custos de la lodge lathomorum, or warden of the lodge of Masons; with fifteen fellow crafts, and three entered apprentices, all of whom are particularly named. A record of that time says, that "The company of Masons, being otherwise termed Free Masons, of auntient staunding and gude reckoning, by means of affable and kind meetings dyverse tymes, and as a loving brotherhood use to do, did frequent this mutual assembly in the time of Henry vi, in the 12th year of his reign, A. D. 1434." See also Stowe's Survey, ch. v. p. 215. "That the charges and laws of the Free Masons have been seen and perused by our late Soveraign King Henry vi, and by the Lords of his most honourable council, who have allowed them, and declared, That they be right good and reasonable to be holden, as they have been drawn out and collected from the records of auntient tymes," &c. &c. NO. V. be made fellow and sociate to the Master, in help of him against rebels, and for upbearing the rights of the realm. "That entered prentices, at their making, were charged not to be thieves or thieves maintainers; that they should travel honestly for their pay, and love their fellows as themselves, and be true to the King of England, and to the realm, and to the Lodge. "That at such congregations it shall be inquired, whether any master or Fellow has broke any of the articles agreed to; and if the offender, being duly cited to appear, prove rebel, and will not attend, then the Lodge shall determine against him, that he shall forswear (or renounce) his Masonry, and shall no more use this Craft, the which if he presume for to do, the Sheriff of the county shall prison him, and take all his goods into the King's hands, until his grace be granted him and issued. For this cause principally have these congregations been "Ye shall ordain the wisest to be ordained, that as well as the lowest as. Master of the work; and neither for the highest should be well and truly love nor lineage, riches nor favor, set served in this art aforesaid, throughone over the work who hath but little out all the kingdom of England. be evil served, and ye ashamed. And knowledge; whereby the Master would Amen, so mote it be." NO. IV. 1 The Latin Register of William Molart, ANCIENT CHARGES. the Master ye serve, and to the fellow"Ye shall be true to the King, and ship whereof ye are admitted. Ye shall be true to and love eidher odher. "Ye shall call either odher Brother or Fellow, not slave, nor any unkind name. also ye shall call the governour of the work Master in the time of working with him: And ye shall truly deserve your reward of the Master ye serve. "All the Freres shall treat the pe- || other) went hand in hand. Wilson culiarities of eidher odher with the gentleness, decencie, and forbearance he thinks due to his own. "Ye shall have a reasonable pay, and live honestly. "Once a year ye are to come and assemble together, to consult how ye may best work to serve the Craft, and to your own profit and credit." To the Editor of the Masonic Register. Can, or ought a lodge, during working hours, on pretence of "not having time," or any other pretence, refuse to examine and admit a visiting brother who presents himself at its door, ready, able, and willing to work his way in. Probably this query may not be deemed unworthy of an answer from the G. L. or some of its leading members, and may serve to remind other lodges of their duty. A BROTHER. MISCELLANEOUS. THE CONVICT. was well situated for passing his life comfortably, and rationally, his garden being just far enough out of London to render inconvenient his mixing in the squalid profligacies of towr, had he so inclined; and yet he was not so entirely in the country as to harden him into the robust callousness and ignorant vices of a village life. He could just hear enough of the "stir of great Babel," to interest him in it, and to keep his faculties alive and awake to the value of his own quiet, and to the unaffected caresses of his dear wife and children, which always appeared more and more precious after he had been hearing, in his weekly visits to town, some instances of mercenary hypocrisy and false heartedness. I lodged two years in his house, and have often seen him on a summer's evening sitting in an open part of his garden surrounded by his family, in unconscious enjoyment of the still and rich sun-set. I was his guest the last time I saw him, poor fellow, in this placid happiness. We drank tea in the open air, and amused ourselves afterwards, I recollect, with reading the preceding day's news paper, which Wilson used to hire for the evening. We sat out of doors later than usual, owing to the deliciousness of the night. which, instead of deepening into darkness, kept up a mellow golden radiance, sweeter than the searching daylight; for before the colours of the sun had entirely faded in the west, the moon came up over the eastern horizon, and the effect was divine. My poor host, however, did not seem so happy as usual. He had been thought Robert Wilson, was a market gardener. Early in life he married a deserving young woman whom he loved with entire tenderness, and by whom he had several children. No man on earth could be more fond of his little offspring than Wilson; and they on the other hand almost worshipped their father, taking delight in nothing so much as in doing what he wished. Wilson was not very wise, nor was he ful the whole evening, and now beat all learned; but his heart, which as I have said was all of tenderness, told him with unerring instinct that his children would be governed more per- daughter, fectly and with more wholesome effect, under the dominion of love than under that of fear, and his was indeed a happy family; where affection, pleasure, obedience, and faith (faith in each a came more pensive, and nothing roused him even into momentary cheer, except the playfulness of his eldest merry little girl of about four or five years of age. It was sad to see him, with his dejected face striving to laugh and romp with the child, who in a short time began to perceive the alteration in her father's manner, |