fore be improper to infert here a short explanation of them.

Grammar

Teaches the proper arrangement of words, according to the idiom or dialect of any particular people; and that excellency of pronunciation, which enables us to speak or write a language with accuracy, agreeably to reafon and correct ufage.

Rhetoric

Teaches us to speak copiously and fluently on any fubject, not merely with propriety, but with all the advantages of force and elegance; wifely contriving to captivate the hearer by ftrength of argument and beauty of expreffion, whether it be to entreat or exhort, to admonish or applaud.

Logic

Teaches us to guide our reafon difcretionally in the general knowledge of things, and directs our inquiries after truth. It confifts of a regu lar train of argument, whence we infer, deduce, and conclude, according to certain premises laid down, admitted, or granted; and in it are employed the faculties of conceiving, judging, rea- foning, and difpofing; all of which are naturally led on from one gradation to another, till the point in question is finally determined.

Arithmetic

Teaches the powers and properties of numbers, which is varioufly effected, by letters,

tables, figures, and inftruments. By this art, reasons and demonftrations are given, for finding out any certain number, whofe relation or affinity to another is already known or discovered.

Geometry

Treats of the powers and properties of magnitudes in general, where length, breadth, and thickness, are confidered, from a point to a line, from a line to a fuperficies, and from a fuperficies to a folid.

A point is a dimenfionless figure; or an indivisible part of space.

A line is a point continued, and a figure of one capacity, namely, length.

A fuperficies is a figure of two dimenfions, namely, length and breadth.

A folid is a figure of three dimenfions, namely, length, breadth, and thickness.

Of the Advantages of Geometry.

By this science, the archite& is enabled to conftruct his plans, and execute his designs; the general to arrange his foldiers; the engineer to mark out ground for encampments; the geographer to give us the dimenfions of the world, and all things therein contained, to delineate the extent of feas, and specify the divifions of empires, kingdoms and provinces; by it, alfo, the aftronomer is enabled to make his obfervations, and to fix the duration of times and feafons,years and cycles. In fine, geometry is the foundation of architecture, and the root of the mathematics.

Mufic

Teaches the art of forming concords, fo as to compofe delightful harmony, by a mathematical and proportional arrangement of acute, grave and mixed founds. This art, by a series of experiments, is reduced to a demonstrative science, with refpect to tones, and the intervals of found. It inquires into the nature of concords and difcords, and enables us to find out the proportion between them by numbers.

Aftronomy

Is that divine art, by which we are taught to read the wisdom, ftrength and beauty of the Almighty Creator, in thofe facred pages, the celef tial hemisphere. Affifted by aftronomy, we can obferve the motions, measure the diftances, comprehend the magnitudes, and calculate the periods and eclipfes of the heavenly bodies. By it we learn the use of the globes, the fyftem of the world, and the preliminary law of nature. While we are employed in the study of this science, we must perceive unparalleled inftances of wisdom and goodness, and, through the whole creation, trace the glorious Author by his works.

Of the Moral Advantages of Geometry.

"From this theme we proceed to illuftrate the moral advantages of Geometry; a subject on which the following obfervations may not be unacceptable.

Geometry, the first and noblest of sciences, is the bafis on which the fuperftructure of masonry

is erected. By geometry, we may curiously trace nature, through her various windings, to her moft concealed receffes. By it, we difcover the power, the wisdom, and the goodness of the Grand Artificer of the Universe, and view with delight the proportions which connect this vaft machine. By it, we difcover how the planets move in their different orbits, and demonftrate their various revolutions. By it, we account for the return of seasons, and the variety of fcenes which each season displays to the difcerning eye. Numberless worlds are around us, all framed by the fame Divine Artift, which roll through the vast expanfe, and are all conducted by the fame unerring law of nature.

A furvey of nature, and the obfervation of her beautiful proportions, first determined man to imitate the divine plan, and ftudy fymmetry and order. This gave rife to focieties, and birth to every useful art. The architect began to defign; and the plans which he laid down, being improved by experience and time, have produced works which are the admiration of every age.

The lapfe of time, the ruthless hand of ignorance, and the devaftations of war, have laid waste and deftroyed many valuable monuments of antiquity, on which the utmoft exertions of human genius have been employed. Even the Temple of Solomon, fo fpacious and magnificent, and conftructed by fo many celebrated artifts, escaped not the unfparing ravages of barbarous force. Freemasonry, notwithstanding, has ftill furvived. The attentive ear receives the found from the instructive tongue, and the myfteries of

mafonry are fafely lodged in the repofitory of faithful breasts. Tools and implements of architecture are selected by the fraternity, to imprint on the memory wife and ferious truths; and thus, through a fucceffion of ages, are tranfmitted unimpaired the excellent tenets of our inftitution.

Thus end the two fections of the second lecture; which, with the ceremony ufed at opening and closing the lodge, comprehend the whole of the fecond degree of mafonry. This lecture contains a regular fyftem of science, demonftrated on the clearest principles, and established on the firmeft foundation.

Charge at Initiation into the Second Degree. "BROTHER,

"Being advanced to the fecond degree of mafonry, we congratulate you on your preferment. The internal, and not the external, qualifications of a man, are what mafonry regards. As you increase in knowledge, you will improve in focial intercourse.

"It is unneceffary to recapitulate the duties which, as a mason, you are bound to discharge; or enlarge on the neceffity of a ftrict adherence to them, as your own experience must have eftablished their value.

“Our laws and regulations you are ftrenuoufly to fupport; and be always ready to affift in feeing them duly executed. You are not to palliate, or aggravate, the offences of your brethren; but in the decifion of every trefpafs