you

IF, instead of entering into this plain edifice, we had been privileged to ascend the magnificent steps of the TEMPLE OF SOLOMON, what a profusion of objects would have engaged our attention, and assisted our devotion! Had honored me with your appointment as a guide on such an occasion, as you have now done, to assist you in the public service of this day; to what subject could I most happily have directed your attention? For, from the hallowed floor to the roof, a vast variety exists. Should I point you to the altar of burnt-offering,-there were displayed the justice and the mercy of God, in pardoning transgressors through the blood of the promised Messiah.Were I to name the golden table of shew-bread,-there you would learn, how God daily supplies and nourishes the bodies and the souls of his people.-Could I draw aside the vail, and show you the ark, the mercy-seat, the cherubims of glory, and the symbol of the divine presence resident between them; each would create within your breast the most solemn reverence of the Almighty! Aaron, the high-priest, in his sacerdotal robes, certainly would exhibit a character so truly sublime as to demand your most profound attention. Every part of his apparel, from his shoes to the holy mitre, the bells, the pomegranates, the superb girdle,

and the brilliant breast-plate, announce the importance of his office, and the dignity of his person; the recital of which, I presume, cannot fail to afford the most 1 charming pleasure to every MASON present. But, which of those subjects shall employ your contemplation, on the present anniversary? Some one becomes necessary to aid the duties of the day. As you have consigned the selection wholly to myself, I shall name

THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM.

For information on this ancient subject, I must direct your attention to

EXODUS XXVIII, 30.

AND THOU SHALT PUT IN THE BREAST-PLATE OF JUDGMENT THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM; AND THEY SHALL BE UPON AARON'S HEART, WHEN HE GOETH IN BEFORE THE LORD.

MANY writers and expositors have confessed that the subject of THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM was involved in so much obscurity, that they entertained a belief, very little could be said with correctness concerning them. But, in my estimation, this is not a sufficient apology; for, God has not communicated and appointed any thing unworthy of himself, or without a design for the benefit of his creatures. It is certain, that as THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM were immediately given by the hand of the Lord to Moses, they were necessary to the communication of his mind and will to the Hebrews; and, of course, made a considerable part of the glory of Israel: and were emblems of better things to come in after ages. These form a suffiour attempting, with

cient and justifiable reason for

care and seriousness, to examine this ancient subject, and thence to derive some useful information. How

ever, should the observations I may now offer, not prove masonic, you GENTLEMEN, have yourselves to blame for appointing me to the service of the day.

I. The first necessary inquiries are, of what were the URIM AND THE THUMMIM formed?-And, where were they placed? It is also necessary to bear in remembrance, that our text is the first place in which these names are mentioned. Let us inquire-were they formed of stones, or jewels? This point is controverted. Some writers are of opinion, they were no other than a plate of pure gold, connected with the breast-plate, with the same name engraven upon it, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, as was written upon the mitre of Aaron.-Others of the Jewish Doctors say, that upon this plate was engraven the august and ineffable name, JEHOVAH. There are not a few, who have supposed that the URIM AND THE THUMMIM were two small images of gold; so formed as to be capable of giving responses. But this opinion bears so little of the color and complexion of truth, and also savors so much of the magic of Egypt, I cannot but immediately discard it as visionary.-The more popular opinion is, that the URIM AND THE THUMMIM were the twelve stones which were set in the breast-plate; and which bore the names, or the initials, of the tribes of Israel. From this opinion I am compelled to dif fer; and, possibly, I may convince you, that they were entirely independent of the twelve jewels, and likewise designed for a very different purpose. If you examine the chapter from whence I have selected the text, from the fifteenth verse, you will immediately perceive, that agreeably to the most minute directions, the breastplate was completed, before any mention was made of

the URIM AND THE THUMMIM. Turning to Leviticus, the eighth chapter and the eighth verse, you will be informed, that after Moses had put the breast-plate upon Aaron, he put into it the URIM AND THE THUMMIM; so that whatever they were, they must have been entirely distinct from the twelve jewels. Besides, these could not have been placed upon the breastplate; for, the position of the twelve jewels set therein, formed twelve squares, which could not possibly admit either of a centre, or any space for their reception. The 15th and 16th verses of this chapter, will inform you of the materials, the size, and the construction of the breast-plate. It was not to be made of gold, or any other metal, but of fine twined linen, embroidered work of fine colors; and therefore might properly be called a BREAST-PIECE. Four square it shall be, being doubled, a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. A span is 10 inches 944, which is the estimated size of the breast of a man of an ordinary stature. The length was double; so' that being folded, in the interior, it formed a sort of purse, or pocket, into which the URIM AND THE THUMMIM might be deposited; and, as easily taken out for the intended. I will offer one other reason, purposes why there is a distinction between these two. The breast-plate, with its jewels, was necessary to be worn on the breast of Aaron, as the representative and high priest, whenever, in his official character, he' went in to appear before the Lord; whereas the URIM AND THE THUMMIM, were the appointed means by which answers were received from the Lord.-That the URIM AND THE THUMMIM were two jewels, or stones, we may call in the testimony of Josephus. He