5 is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and, as this glows with fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great and beneficent Author of our existence, for the manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy. THE BEE HIVE Is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in Heaven, to the lowest reptile of the earth. It teaches us that, as we came into the world rational and in telligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting down contented while our fellow-creatures around us are in want, when it is in our power to relieve them, without inconvenience to ourselves. When we take a survey of nature, we view man, in his infancy, more helpless and indigent than the brutal creation; he lies languishing for days, months, and years, totally incapable of providing sustenance for himself, of guarding against the attack of the wild beasts of the field, or sheltering himself from the inclemencies of the weather. It might have pleased the great Creator of heaven and earth to have made man independent of all other beings; but, as dependence is one of the strongest bonds of society, mankind were made dependent on each other for protection and security, as they thereby enjoy better opportunities of fulfilling the duties of reciprocal love and friendship. Thus was man formed for social and active life, the noblest part of the work of God; and he that will so demean himself as not to be endeavouring to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, or useless member of society, and unworthy of our protection as Masons. THE SCYTHE Is an emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches as into eternity. Behold! what havoc The steps which lead mankind to Heaven, While we have HOPE we mount up four, * 1 Corinthians, xiii. 8, 13. MARK MASTER'S DEGREE. In this degree the candidate is introduced to beauties far exceeding any he has before discovered, and is particularly taught his dependence on an overruling Providence, with an assurance, that all who diligently and faithfully "seek, shall find." He is most solemnly impressed with the great obligations he is under to relieve a brother in distress. It shows him in a very striking manner the punishment that awaits the unfaithful and negligent, and has a powerful tendency to influence the mind of every reflecting brother, to the performance of the various religious and moral obligations. "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 "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 disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the of maliciousness, but as the servants Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God." of God. FOURTH LECTURE. 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. SECOND SECTION. In the second section, the markmaster 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 ex tent. 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 corner. Matt. xxi, 42. Did you 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 head 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; hath entered in by it, therefore it shall because the Lord, the God of Israel, 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 say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. THE WORKING TOOLS Of a mark-master are the CHISEL and MALLET. The CHISEL Morally demonstrates the advantages of discipline and education. The mind, like the diamond in its original state, is rude and unpolish ed; but, as the effect of the chisel on the external coat soon presents to view the latent beauties of the diamond, so education discovers the latent virtues of the mind, and draws them forth to range the large field of matter and space, to display the summit of human knowledge, our duty to God and to man. The MALLET morally teaches to correct irregularities, and to reduce man to a proper level; so that, by quiet deportment, he may, in the school of discipline, learn to be content. What the mallet is to the workman, enlightened reason is to the passions: it curbs ambition, depresses envy, it moderates anger, and it encourages good dispositions; whence arises, among good Masons, that comely order, "Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy "The soul's calm sunshine, and the heart- Charge to be delivered when a candi- "I congratulate you on having been thought worthy of being promoted to this honourable degree of Masonry. Permit me to impress it on your mind, that your assiduity should ever be commensurate with your duties, which become more and more extensive as you advance in Masonry. the Grand Overseer's square, that you may not, like the unfinished and imperfect work of the negligent and unfaithful of former times, be rejected and thrown aside, as unfit for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. "While such is your conduct, should misfortunes assail you, should friends forsake you, should envy traduce your good name, and malice persecute you; yet may you have confidence, that among mark-master Masons, you will find friends who will administer relief to your distresses, and comfort your afflictions; ever bearing in mind, as a consolation under all the frowns of fortune, and as an encouragement to hope for better prospects, that the stone which the builders rejected (possessing merits to them unknown) became the chief stone of the corner." Previous to closing the lodge, the following parable is recited. MATTHEW XX, 1—16. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever "In the honourable character of is right, that shall ye receive. So mark-master Mason, it is more parti- when even was come, the lord of the cularly your duty to endeavour to let vineyard saith unto his steward, Call your conduct in the world, as well as the labourers, and give them their in the lodge and among your breth-hire, beginning from the last unto the ren, be such as may stand the test of first. And when they came that were "The situation to which you are now promoted, will draw upon you, not only the scrutinizing eyes of the world at large, but those also of your brethren, on whom this degree of Masonry has not been conferred: all will be justified in expecting your conduct and behaviour to be such as may with safety be imitated. MASONIC But hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more, and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burthen and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, "Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last Is it not lawful for even as unto thee. me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine evil because I am good? eye So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen." The ceremony of closing a lodge in this degree, when properly conducted, is peculiarly interesting. It assists in strengthening the social affections; it teaches us the duty we owe to our brethren in particular, and the whole family of mankind in general; by ascribing praise to the meritorious, and dispensing rewards to the diligent and industrious. The following is sung during the closing ceremony. MARK MASTER'S SONG. In concert move; Let him your work inspect, If there is no defect, He will approve. Those who have pass'd the square, Join heart and hand; At your command. Our great key-stone ; Of all the professions, that of the Law, has, in this country, the most absurd and extravagant preponderance; and it indeed would seem, in the opinion of the multitude, that no person was fitted for a respectable station in the community, unless he has at some period of his life, had the good fortune to have been chained to the desk of an attorney. We feel no disposition to inquire into the cause of a belief so ridiculous and unwarrantable, but shall proceed at once to show its utter fallacy. In order to prove that we have committed no exaggeration in the position which we have assumed, we shall preface our remarks with the relation of a single instance, of the ludicrous excesss to which this prejudice has been carried, within the recollection of our readers. On the destruction of the Richmond Theatre, the proprietors of similar establishments throughout the country, with a view of restoring public confidence, as to the facilities of escape in cases of danger, augmented the number |