them to a near inspection, he views them through a proper medium; adverts to the circumftances which gave them rife; dwells upon the tenets they convey; and, finding them replete with useful information, adopts them as keys to the privileges of his art, and prizes them as facred. Thus convinced of their propriety, he estimates the value from their utility.

Many perfons are deluded by their vague fuppofition that our myfteries are merely nominal; that the practices established among us are frivolous; and that our ceremonies might be adopted, or waved, at pleasure. On this falfe foundation, we have found them hurrying through all the degrees, without adverting to the propriety of one ftep they purfue, or poffeffing a fingle qualification requifite for advancement. Paffing through the ufual formalities, they have accepted offices, and affumed the government of lodges, equally unacquainted with the rules of the inftitution they pretended to support, or the nature of the truft repofed in them. The confequence is obvious; wherever fuch practices have been allowed, anarchy and confufion have enfued, and the fubftance has been loft in the fhadow.

Were the brethren, who prefide over lodges, properly inftructed previous to their appointment, and regularly apprised of the importance of their respective offices, a general reformation would fpeedily take place. This would evince the propriety of our mode of government, and lead men to acknowledge, that our honours were defervedly conferred. The ancient confequence

of the order would be reftored, and the reputation of the fociety preferved.

Such conduct alone can fupport our character. Unless prudent actions shall distinguish our title to the honours of masonry, and regular deportment difplay the influence and utility of our rules, the world in general will not easily be led to reconcile our proceedings with the tenets of our profeffion.

CHAPTER IV.

GENERAL REMARKS.

MASONRY is an art equally useful and extenfive. In every art there is a mystery, which requires a gradual progreffion of knowledge to arrive at any degree of perfection in it. Without much inftruction, and more exercise, no man can be skilful in any art; in like manner, without an affiduous application to the various fubjects treated of in the different lectures of mafonry, no person can be fufficiently acquainted with its true value.

It must not, however, be inferred from this remark, that persons, who labour under the difadvantages of a confined education, or whofe fphere of life requires a more intense application to bufinefs or ftudy, are to be difcouraged in their endeavours to gain a knowledge of mafonry.

To qualify an individual to enjoy the benefits of the fociety at large, or to partake of its privileges, it is not abfolutely neceffary that he fhould be acquainted with all the intricate parts of the science. These are only intended for the diligent and affiduous mafon, who may have leifure and opportunity to indulge fuch pursuits.

Though fome are more able than others, fome more eminent, fome more useful, yet all, in their different spheres, may prove advantageous to the community. As the nature of every man's profeffion will not admit of that leifure which is neceffary to qualify him to become an expert mason, it is highly proper that the official duties of a lodge fhould be executed by persons whofe education and fituation in life enable them to become adepts; as it must be allowed, that all, who accept offices and exercife authority, fhould be properly qualified to difcharge the task af figned them, with honour to themselves, and credit to their fundry ftations.

CHAPTER V.

The Ceremony of Opening and Closing a Lodge.

In all regular affemblies of men, who are convened for wife and useful purposes, the commencement and conclufion of bufinefs are accompanied with fome form. In every country of the world the practice prevails, and is deemed

effential. From the most remote periods of antiquity it may be traced, and the refined improvements of modern times have not totally abolished it.

Ceremonies, when fimply confidered, it is true, are little more than vifionary delufions; but their effects are fometimes important.When they imprefs awe and reverence on the mind, and engage the attention by external attraction, to folemn rites, they are interesting objects. These purposes are effected by judicious ceremonies, when regularly conducted and properly arranged. On this ground they have received the fanction of the wifeft men in all ages, and confequently could not escape the notice of mafons. To begin well is the moft likely means to end well; and it is judiciously remarked, that when order and method are neglected at the beginning, they will be feldom found to take place at the end.

The ceremony of opening and closing a lodge with folemnity and decorum, is therefore univerfally admitted among mafons; and though the mode in fome lodges may vary, and in every degree muft vary, ftill an uniformity in the general practice prevails in every lodge; and the variation (if any) is folely occafioned by a want of method, which a little application might eafily remove,

To conduct this ceremony with propriety ought to be the peculiar ftudy of every mafon; efpecially of thofe who have the honour to rule in our affemblies. To perfons who are thus dignified, every eye is naturally directed for pro

priety of conduct and behaviour; and from them, other brethren, who are lefs informed, will naturally expect to derive an example worthy of imitation.

From a fhare in this ceremony no mason can be exempted. It is a general concern, in which all muft aflift. This is the first requeft of the mafter, and the prelude to all bufinefs. No fooner has it been fignified, than every officer repairs to his ftation, and the brethren rank açcording to their degrees. The intent of the meeting becomes the fole object of attention, and the mind is infenfibly drawn from thofe indifcriminate fubjects of converfation, which are apt to intrude on our lefs ferious moments.

This effect accomplished, our care is directed to the external avenues of the lodge, and the proper officers, whofe province it is to difcharge that duty, execute their truft with fidelity, and by certain myftic forms, of no recent date, intimate that we may fafely proceed. To detect impoftors among ourselves, an adherence to or der in the character of mafons enfues, and the lodge is either opened or closed in folemn form.

At opening the lodge, two purposes are wifely effected: the master is reminded of the dignity of his character, and the brethren, of the homage and veneration due from them in their fundry stations. These are not the only advantages refulting from a due obfervance of this ceremony; a reverential awe for the Deity is inculcated, and the eye fixed on that object from whofe radiant beams light only can be derived, Here we are taught to adore the God of heaven,