our expectations will not be frustrated, nor we hurried unprepared into the presence of an all-wise and powerful Judge, to whom the secrets of all hearts are known.

"Let us, while in this state of existence, support with propriety the character of our profession, advert to the nature of our solemn ties, and pursue with assiduity the sacred tenets of our order. Then, with becoming reverence, let us seek the favor of the ETErnal God, so that when the awful moment of death arrives, be it soon or late, we may be enabled to prosecute our journey without dread or apprehension, to that far distant country, whence no traveller returns."

The following invocations are then made by the Master:

Master.

May we be true and faithful, and may

we live and die in love!"

Response. "So mote it be.”

Master. "May we profess what is good, and always act agreeably to our profession!"

Response. "So mote it be."

Master. "May the Lord bless us and prosper us, and may all our good intentions be crowned with success!"

Response. "So mote it be."

Master. "Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace! good will towards men!”

Response. "So mote it be, now, from henceforth, and for evermore. Amen.

The apron is taken off from the coffin and handed to the Master-the coffin is deposited in the grave-and the Master says:

This Lamb skin, or white Apron, is an emblem of Innocence and the badge of a Mason, more ancient than the golden fleece or Roman eagle; and when worthily worn, more honorable than the star and garter. [The Master then deposits it in the grave.] This emblem I now deposit in the grave of our deceased Brother. By this we are reminded of the universal dominion of Death. The arm of friendship cannot oppose the King of Terrors, nor the charms of innocence elude his grasp. This grave, that coffin, this circle of mourning friends, remind us that we too are mortal: soon shall our bodies moulder to dust. Then how important for us that we should know that our REDEEMER liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth. [The Master, holding the evergreen in his hand, continues.] This evergreen is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul. By this we are reminded that we have an immortal part within us which shall survive the grave, and which shall never, never, never die. Though like our Brother, whose remains now lie before us, we shall soon be clothed in the habiliments of DEATH and be deposited in the silent tomb, yet through the mediation of a divine and ascended Saviour, we may confidently hope that our souls will bloom in Eternal Spring.

The brethren then move in procession round the place of interment, and severally drop the sprig of evergreen into the grave; after which, the public grand honors are given.

The Master then continues the ceremony at the grave, in the following words:

"FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS:-From time immemorial it has been the custom among the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, at the request of a brother, to accompany his corpse to the place of interment, and there to deposit his remains with the usual formalities.

"In conformity to this usage, and at the special request of our deceased brother, whose memory we revere, and whose loss we now deplore, we have assembled in the character of Masons, to resign his body to the earth whence it came, and to offer up to his memory, before the world, the last tribute of our affection; thereby demonstrating the sincerity of our past esteem, and our steady attachment to the principles of the Order.

The Great Creator having been pleased, out of his mercy, to remove our brother from the cares and troubles of a transitory existence, to a state of eternal duration, and thereby to weaken the chain by which we are united man to man; may we who survive him, anticipate our approaching fate, and be more strongly cemented in the ties of union and friendship; that, during

the short space allotted to our present existence, we may wisely and usefully employ our time; and, in the reciprocal intercourse of kind and friendly acts, mutually promote the welfare and happiness of each other.

"Unto the grave we resign the body of our deceased friend, there to remain until the general resurrection, in favorable expectation that his immortal soul may partake of joys which have been prepared for the righteous from the beginning of the world. And may Almighty God, of his infinite goodness, at the grand tribunal of unbiassed justice, extend his mercy towards him, and all of us, and crown our hope with everlasting bliss in the expanded realms of a boundless eternity! This we beg, for the honor of his name; to whom be glory, now and forever. Amen." So mote it be.

The procession then returns in form to the place whence it set out, where the necessary duties are complied with, and the Lodge is closed in the third degree.

NOTE. If the Grand Master attends, and presides at any ceremony, it is said to be performed in AMPLE FORM; if a subordinate officer in the Grand Lodge, in DUE FORM; if vested in the Master of a subordinate Lodge, in FORM.

CHAPTER III.

MOST EXCELLENT MASTER'S DEGREE.

NONE but the meritorious and praiseworthy, none but those who, through diligence and industry, have progressed far toward perfection, and passed the chair, can be admitted to this degree of Masonry.

When the Temple of Jerusalem was finished, and the cap-stone celebrated with great joy, King Solomon admitted to this degree only those who had proved themselves worthy, by their virtue, skill, and inflexible fidelity to the Craft. The duties incumbent on a Most Excellent Master are such, that he should have a perfect knowledge of all the preceding degrees.

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord 9 or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob: Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates: and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in