OF THE SEVEN LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES.

The seven liberal arts and sciences are illustrated in this section, which are Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy.

GRAMMAR.

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 reason and correct usage.

RHETORIC.

Rhetoric teaches us to speak copiously and fluently on any subject, not merely with propriety alone, but with all the advantage of force and elegance; wisely contriving to captivate the hearer by strength of argument and beauty of expression, whether it be to entreat and exhort, to admonish or approve.

LOGIC.

Logic teaches us to guide our reason discretionally in the general knowledge of things, and directs our inquiries after truth. It consists of a regular train f 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, reasoning and disposing; all of which are naturally led on from one gradation to another, till the point in question is finally determined.

ARITHMETIC.

Arithmetic teaches the powers and properties of numbers, which is variously effected-by letters, tables, figures and instruments. By this art, reasons and demonstrations are given for finding out any certain numbers, whose relation or affinity to another is already known or discovered.

GEOMETRY.

Geometry treats of the powers and properties of magnitudes in general, where length, breadth and thickness are considered, from a point to a line, from a line to a superfices, and from a superfices to a solid. A point is a dimensionless figure, or an indivisible part of space.

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

A superfices is a figure of two dimensions, namely, length and breadth.

A solid is a figure of three dimensions, namely, length, breadth and thickness.

By this science the architect is enabled to conduct his plans, and execute his designs-the general to

arrange his soldiers-the engineer to mark out ground for encampments-the geographer to give us the dimensions of the world, and all things therein contained; to delineate the extent of seas, and specify the divisions of empires, kingdoms and provincesby it, also, the astronomer is enabled to make his observations, and to fix the duration of seasons, years and cycles. In fine, geometry is the foundation of architecture and the root of the mathematics.

MUSIC.

Music teaches the art of forming concords, so as to compose delightful harmony, by a mathematical and proportional arrangement of acute, grave and mixed sounds. This art, by a series of experiments, is reduced to a demonstration with respect to tones and the intervals of sounds; inquires into the nature of concords and discords, and enables us to find out the proportion between them by numbers.

ASTRONOMY.

Astronomy is that divine art by which we are taught to read the wisdom, strength and beauty of the Almighty Creator, in those sacred pages, the celestial hemisphere. Assisted by astronomy, we can observe the motions, measure the distances, comprehend the magnitudes, and calculate the periods and eclipses of the heavenly bodies. By it we learn the

use of the globes, the system of the world, and the preliminary law of nature. While we are employed in the study of this science, we must perceive unparalleled instances of wisdom and goodness, and, through the whole creation, trace the glorious Author by his works.

Here an emblem of plenty is introduced and explained.

G

OF THE MORAL ADVANTAGES OF GEOMETRY.

Geometry is the first and noblest of all sciences, and is the basis upon which the superstructure of Masonry is erected. By geometry we can explore the hidden arcana of nature, and trace them up through her intricate windings to her most concealed recesses. By it we are taught the power, the wisdom, the omnipotence and the unmeasured goodness of the Great Architect of all things. By it we are enabled to comprehend the nice arrangement of all its parts, and the wonderful propositions which connect together the stupendous machinery of the universe. By it we can climb above the canopy of the heavens, measure the distances of the most remote planets, detect in its passage a ray of light, and marshal into perfect order the multitudinous groups of worlds that are scattered over infinite space. By it