superior, to that of reading for my degree at the university. I soon became thoroughly master of the Prestonian Lectures in all the degrees, and capable of going through the ceremonies of making, passing, and raising with equal promptitude and precision.'

you

66 6 And had sufficient resolution to persevere in this dry study?' said Bro. Lambert, inquiringly. "Resolution!' the R. W. M. responded. 'To be sure I had. And so far from finding it what you term a dry study, I became enthusiastically fond of it; and in about four years after my initiation, I found myself in circumstances of great popularity with the Craft, and became Master of the Lodge in which I had been admitted a Mason.'

"I should like to know,' said Bro. Lambert, 'whether you had any extraneous assistance I mean, whether you had the advantage of printed publications to facilitate the acquirement of the Lodge Lectures?'

"In answer to this home question,' the R. W. M. said, 'the truth is-and I name it by way of caution -that immediately after receiving my first degree I was invited to spend a few weeks in Leicestershire; and a Masonic friend, perceiving my eagerness to acquire information in the Lectures and Ceremonies, placed in my hands a pamphlet, called "Jachin and Boaz.'

"""Jachin and Boaz!" exclaimed Bro. Lambert, eagerly; 'aye, I have seen the book-I have read it. But surely that work does not contain a correct portraiture of Freemasonry?'

"You shall hear,' replied Bro. Inwood. 'Did you ever read about the mirage in the arid steppes of the desert, which mocks the thirsty traveller with hopes that are destined to be disappointed? Well ; thus it was with me. At first, the possession of this pamphlet appeared to be a God-send; and I felt as much gratified by its acquisition as Gil Blas, when he was constituted critic in ordinary to the archbishop of Grenada. I applied myself to its study with great earnestness, and read it for whole days together under the umbrageous shade of trees-recubans sub tegmine fagi-with the full determination of making myself perfectly master of its contents. Professing to be a complete exposition of the Lectures and ceremonies, instead of consulting my father, as I ought to have done, I entered heart and soul into its merits, and ultimately succeeded in fixing every line tenaciously in my memory. I liked the excitement. It was a rich treat. I had as great an affection for this trumpery book as a young mother for her first child, and always carried it in my bosom. I was delighted with the possession of such an easy means of becoming acquainted with the details of the Order. But, alas! it was all a delusion; and I have frequently had occasion to lament the sacrifice of so much valuable time to so little purpose.'

66 6

asked.

Well, and how did it end?' Bro. Lambert

"The result may be a useful lesson to you,' replied the R. W. M., and to all others who seek for a royal road to the knowledge of Masonry; or, in

other words, who are desirous of becoming learned Masons without a devoted application of the adjuncts of time, labour, and serious meditation. When I received the Third Degree of Masonry, I found that all my pains and anxiety had been wasted, and that the pretended revelations, like the forgeries of poor Chatterton, were a gross imposition. Nay, it was worse than leisure misapplied, for the impressions already produced interfered materially with the subsequent study of our legitimate Lectures; and I found the task of obliterating from my memory that which is false, more difficult than acquiring a perfect knowledge of that which is true. It was a work of retrogression, and mortified me exceedingly. I had been deceived on the threshold of Masonry, and the wonder is, that I did not relinquish the pursuit in disgust, as numbers do every day from causes infinitely less influential.'

“But you persevered ?'

"I did; for there is a springiness in the ardent nature of youth which is not easily discouraged. On a reference to my venerated father, I found I had been duped; but I did not allow the imposition to quench the spirit of inquiry which had been excited in my bosom. I made the best use of the means at my disposal, and by dint of severe application, I became at length fully indoctrinated in the ceremonies, rituals, and genuine Lectures of the Order. And if you will pursue the same process, I doubt not but your exertions will be rewarded with the same success.'

"Then huzza for a tough spell of Masonic study without the assistance of " Jachin and Boaz!"' Bro. Lambert exclaimed, for I am determined to be, in the strictest sense of the word, a Mason.'

"You will at once conclude, from this description," the Square continued, "that Bro. Inwood was an assiduous Mason; and he permitted no opportunity to pass unimproved of storing his mind with useful knowledge, or of imparting instruction to those who needed it. At his first quarterly supper, a remarkable instance of this disposition occurred. Amidst the intervals of song and toast, a private conversation was going on between Bro. Dent and a visiting Brother from the country, by which the former seemed greatly interested. At length, during the brief silence which succeeded a song, Bro. Dent was heard to say-Are you really in earnest, when you tell me that such a belief prevails extensively in the provinces ?'

"This was heard by the Chair, who immediately said- Bro. Dent, have you forgot that excellent Charge, which forbids you to hold separate conversations, without leave from the Master? If your communication with our visiting Brother be on the subject of Masonry, I am sure you will not deprive us of any benefits which may be derived from it. If important, let us hear it; if not, I call on you for a song.'

"On this challenge from the Chair," the Square continued, "Bro. Dent rose and said- R. W. Sir, whether the conversation between myself and friend,

whom I have already introduced to you by the name of Bro. the Rev. Samuel Oliver, from Leicester,' (your respected parent,)" said the Square, parenthetically; "but it happened before you were initiated, and therefore you are probably ignorant of the circumstance."

I gave a nod, to signify that it might be new to me, but I thought it scarcely probable, as, indeed, it proved when the Revelation was made, for I had heard the greater part of it from my father's own lips.

The Square, however, went on with Bro. Dent's reply-"Whether Bro. Oliver's communication be or be not worthy of your attention, is not for me to determine. I can only say that he was detailing a series of facts, if facts they be, which have astonished me not a little.'

"Let us hear, let us hear,' said the R. W. M. If the matter be interesting, as you represent, we can afford to suspend our convivialities for a few minutes to share in your surprise.'

"Nay,' Bro. Dent responded, 'I have only heard the commencement of the strange recital; but it appears that there are some mysteries in each of the Three Degrees, of which we Metropolitan Masons are profoundly ignorant.'

At this point the Square, with one of his quaint twirls on the point of his dexter limb, interrupted himself by a reference to a remark of the witty Dean of St. Patrick's, who said that some people are much more dexterous at pulling down and setting up,