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"The fituation to which you are now promoted will draw upon you not only the fcrutinizing eyes of the world at large, but those alfo of your brethren, on whom this degree of mafonry has not been conferred: all will be justified in expecting your conduct and behaviour to be fuch as may with fafety be imitated.

"In the honourable character of mark mafter mafon, it is more particularly your duty to endeavour to let your conduct in the lodge and among your brethren be fuch as may ftand the teft of the Grand Overfeer's fquare, that you may not, like the unfinished and imperfect work of the negligent and unfaithful of former times, be rejected and thrown aside, as unfit for that fpiritual building, that houfe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

"While fuch is your conduct, fhould misfortunes affail you, fhould friends forfake you, fhould envy traduce your good name, and malice perfecute you; yet may you have confidence, that among mark mafter mafons you will find friends who will adminifter relief to your dif treffes, and comfort your afflictions; ever bearing in mind, as a confolation under all the frowns of fortune, and as an encouragement to hope for better prospects, that the ftone which the builders rejected (poffeffing merits to them unknown) became the chief tone of the corner."

Previous to clofing the lodge, the following parable is recited.

MATTHEW xx. 1--16.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early

in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he fent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and faw others ftanding idle in the market place, and faid unto them, Go ye alfo into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went about the fixth and ninth hour, and did likewife. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others ftanding idle, and faith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They fay unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He faith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that fhall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard faith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the laft unto the firft. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the firft came, they fuppofed that they fhould have received more, and they likewife received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, faying, Thefe laft have wrought but one hour, and thou haft made them equal unto us, which have borne the burthen and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didft thou not agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am

good? So the laft fhall be firft, and the first last: for many be called, but few chofen."

The ceremony of clofing a lodge in this degree, when properly conducted, is peculiarly interefting. It affifts in ftrengthening the focial affections; it teaches us the duty we owe to our brethren in particular, and the whole family of mankind in general; by afcribing praise to the meritorious, and difpenfing rewards to the diligent and induftrious.

SONG, during the Closing Ceremony.

BY BROTHER T. S. WEBB.

MARK MASTERS, all appear
Before the Chief O'erseer;
In concert move;
Let him your work inspect,
For the Chief Architect,
If there is no defect,

He will approve.

Those who have pass'd the Square,
For your rewards prepare,

Join heart and hand;
Each with his mark in view,
March with the just and true;
Wages to you are due,
At your command.

Hiram, the widow's son,
Sent unto Solomon

Our great key-stone,

On which appears the name
That raises high the fame
Of all to whom the same
Is truly known.

Now to the westward move,

Where, full of strength and love,

Hiram doth stand;

But if impostors are

Mix'd with the worthy there,

Caution them to beware

Of the right hand.

Now to the praise of those
Who triumphed o'er the foes
Of masons' arts;

To the praiseworthy three,
Who founded this degree:
May all their virtues be
Deep in our hearts.

CHAPTER XII.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEGREE OF PRESENT OR PAST MASTER.

THIS degree fhould be carefully ftudied, and well understood, by every mafter of a lodge. It treats of the government of our fociety; the difpofition of our rulers; and illuftrates their requfite qualifications. It includes the ceremony of opening and clofing lodges in the feveral preceding degrees; and alfo the forms of inftallation and confecration, in the grand lodge, as well as private lodges. It comprehends the ceremonies at laying the foundation stones of public buildings, and alfo at dedications and at funerals, by a variety of particulars explanatory of thofe cermonies.

REMARKS ON THE FIFTH LECTURE.

THE FIRST SECTION.

Of the manner of Conftituting a Lodge of Master Mafons.

Any number of mafter masons, not under feven, defirous of forming a new lodge, muft

apply, by petition, to the grand lodge of the ftate in which they refide, fetting forth,

"That they are free and accepted master masons; that they are at present, or have been, members of regular lodges; that, having the prosperity of the fraternity at heart, they are willing to exert their best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of masonry; that, for the conveniency of their respective dwellings, and for other good reasons, they are desirous of forming a new lodge, in the town of to be named ...........; that, in consequence of this desire, they pray for letters of dispensation, or a warrant of constitution, to empower them to assemble, as a legal lodge, to discharge the duties of masonry, in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the order, and the regulations of the grand lodge. That they have nominated and do recommend A B to be the first master; CD to be the first senior warden, and EF to be the first junior warden, of the said lodge: that, if the prayer of the petition should be granted, they promise a strict conformity to all the constitutional laws and regulations of the grand lodge."

This petition, being figned by at least feven regular mafons, and recommended by a lodge or lodges adjacent to the place where the new lodge. is to be holden, is delivered to the grand fecretary, who lays it before the grand lodge.

If the petition meets the approbation of the grand lodge, they generally order a difpenfation to be iffued, which is figned by the grand or deputy grand mafter, and authorizes the petitioners to affemble as a legal lodge, for a certain specified term of time.

In fome jurisdictions, the grand and deputy grand mafters, refpectively, are invefted with authority to grant difpenfations, at pleasure, during the recefs of the grand lodge; in others, they are never iffued without the fpecial direction of the grand lodge.

Lodges working under difpenfations are confidered merely as agents of the grand lodge;

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