THE ANCHOR AND ARK

Are emblems of a well-grounded hope, and a wellspent life. They are emblematical of that divine ark which safely bears us over this tempestuous sea of troubles, and that anchor which shall safely moor us in a peaceful harbor, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary shall find rest.

THE FORTY-SEVENTH PROBLEM OF EUCLID.

This was an invention of our ancient friend and brother, the great Pythagoras, who, in his travels through Asia, Africa, and Europe, was initiated into several orders of priesthood, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. This wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of things, and more especially in geometry or Masonry. On this subject he drew out many

*THEOREM.—In any right-angled triangle, the square which is described upon the side subtending the right angle, is equal to the squares described upon the sides which contain the right angle.

problems and theorems, and amongst the most distinguished he erected this, which in the joy of his heart he called Eureka, in the Grecian language signifying I have found it; and upon the discovery of which he is said to have sacrificed a hecatomb. It teaches Masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences.

THE HOUR-GLASS

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Is an emblem of human life. Behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close. We cannot without astonishment behold the little particles which are contained in this machine; how they pass away almost imperceptibly, and yet, to our surprise, in the short space of an hour they are all exhausted. Thus wastes man! To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; tomorrow blossoms, and bears his blushing honors thick upon him; the next day comes a frost, which nips the shoot, and when he thinks his greatness still aspiring, he falls, like autumn leaves, to enrich our mother earth.

THE SCYTHE

Is an emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity. Behold! what havoc the scythe of time makes among the

human race; if by chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to childhood and youth, and with health and vigor arrive at the years of manhood, yet withal we must soon be cut down by the all-devouring scythe of time, and be gathered into the land where our fathers have gone before us.

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Then let us imitate the * * *: tuous and amiable conduct; in his unfeigned piety to God; in his inflexible fidelity to his trust; that when the summons for our departure may arrive, we may welcome the grim tyrant Death, and receive. him as a kind messenger sent to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect, glorious and celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe presides.

CHARGE TO A MASTER MASON.

Brother :-Having explained to you the ceremonies attendant upon your initiation into the sublime degree just conferred upon you, we offer you our sincere congratulations that zeal for our institution, your worthy conduct and laudable perseverance, have gained for you this distinguished mark of favor and respect.

You are now bound by every tie of honor, duty and gratitude to be faithful to your trust; to support the dignity of your new character upon every occasion, and to enforce both by precept and example, obedience to the tenets of our Order. No one can become a trusty and skillful Master over others, who cannot be a master over himself.

The lectures of this degree are to you particularly important. They illustrate some of the most striking hieroglyphical emblems of Masonry, and in them many necessary details relative to King Solomon's Temple are considered and made known.

"In the midst of life we are in death." They will admonish you that it is an imperative duty to be always prepared for that solemn event; so that when "the silver cord shall be loosed, and the golden bowl be broken," the dust may return to its mother dust; but the untrammeled and glorified spirit go up to God who gave it.

They will teach you the great practical utility of those eminent Masonic virtues, SILENCE and CIRCUM

SPECTION; they will recommend to you the observance of INDUSTRY, which the Creator has enjoined upon every living creature, from the highest seraph in the heavens to the most humble reptile of the dust. The exercise of industry is the great law of our nature; man was created to be an active and social being, and is so constituted that his happiness is in proportion as he meets the requirements and discharges his social duties.

We assure you that an intimate acquaintance with these lectures is indispensable; as, in the character of a Master Mason, you are expected to communicate information to others; to correct the errors, reprobate the irregularities, of your uninformed brethren, and guard them by your counsel against every breach of fidelity.

To preserve the reputation of the Fraternity unsullied, must now be your constant care; and for this purpose, it is your province to recommend to your inferiors obedience and submission, to your equals courtesy and affability, and to your superiors kindness and condescension.

Universal benevolence you are always to inculcate. We say universal, because the radiant arch of Masonry spans the whole habitable globe; and every true and worthy brother of the Order-no matter in what language he speaks, or in what country he lives— no matter what may be his religion or his creed, be it the old or the new dispensation-no matter what may be his opinions or his politics-no matter whether he