doors of the house, to wit, of the Temple. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he had made king Solomon for the house of the Lord.

REV. xxii. 12-14.

And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

1 KINGS vi. 27.

And he set the cherubims within the inner house; and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall; and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

It is said, and perhaps with much truth, that without a knowledge of this degree, that of the Royal Arch can neither be fully understood nor justly appreciated. It rationally accounts for the concealment and preservation of many essentials of the Craft, that were discovered and brought to light at the building of the second Temple, after they had laid buried in darkness for four hundred and seventy years. Several interesting particulars relative to the completion of the Temple, and the select few, who, for their superior skill and fidelity, were chosen to perform certain parts of the work, are given and explained. A beautiful exemplification of that justice and mercy for which King Solomon was distinguished is also presented in the course of the ceremonies.

The officers of a Council of Select Masters are as follows: 1. Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, as K. S., in the East. 2 Right Illustrious G. Master, as H., K. T., on the right, in the E. 3. Illustrious G. Master, as H. A., (Principal Conductor of the Work,) on the left. 4. Grand Treasurer. 5. Grand Recorder. 6. Grand Captain of the Guards, as Adoniram, in the West. 7. Grand Conductor of the Council, as Azariah, in the South. 8. Grand Marshal. 9. Grand Steward, as Achizar, Ahishar,) at the door.

The following Psalm is usually read at the opening of the Council:

PSALM IXXXvii.

“His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me. Behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her; and the Highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers, as the players on instruments, shall be there: all my springs are in thee."

The following passages of Scripture are introduced and explained:

1 KINGS iv. 1, 5 & 6.

"So king Solomon was king over all Israel. Azariah, the son of Nathan, was over the officers; and Zabud, the son of Nathan, was principal officer, and the king's friend; and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram, the son of Abda, was over the tribute."

1 KINGS V. 17, 18.

"And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone-squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house."

1 KINGS Vii. 13, 14.

"And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow's son, of the tribe of Napthali; and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker of brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass."

EZEKIEL Xxvii. 9.

"The ancients of Gebel, and the wise men thereof, were in thee thy calkers; all the ships of the sea, with their mariners, were in thee, to occupy thy merchandize."

DEUTERONOMY xxxi. 24-26.

'And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, which bore the Ark of the

Covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this Book of the Law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee."

EXODUS XVI. 33, 34.

"And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a Pot, and put an omer full of Manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the testimony to be kept."

NUMBERS XVii. 10.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's Rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token."

NUMBERS Vii. 89.

"And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat, that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubims; and he spake unto Him.”

EXODUS XXV. 40.

"And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount."

CHARGE то A SELECT

COMPANION:

MASTER.

Having been admitted to the degree, and enrolled as a Companion among Select Masters in Masonry, you cannot be insensible that higher obligations of fidelity and truthfulness rest upon you. Let it, then, be your constant care to prove yourself worthy of the confidence reposed in you, and of the high honor conferred, in admitting you to this select degree. Let uprightness and integrity attend your steps; Justice and Mercy mark your conduct, and Fervency and Zeal stimulate you in the discharge of the various duties incumbent upon you. Never suffer an idle or impertinent curiosity to lead you astray or betray you into danger. Be deaf to every insinuation which would have a tendency to weaken your resolution, or tempt you to an act of disobedience. Be voluntarily dumb and blind, when the exercise of those faculties would endanger the peace of your mind,

or the probity of your conduct; and let silence and secrecy, those cardinal virtues of a Select Master, on all necessary occasions, be scrupulously observed. By a steady adherence to the inportant instructions contained in this Degree, you will merit the approbation of the select number with whom you are associated, and will enjoy the high satisfaction of having acted well your part in the important enterprise in which you are engaged; and after having wrought your regular hours, may you be admitted to participate in all the privileges of a Select Master.

PRAYER AT OPENING A COUNCIL. May the Supreme Grand Master graciously preside over all our counsels, and direct us in all such things as he will be pleased to approve and bless. May our profession as Masons be the rule of our conduct as men. May our secret retreat ever continue to be the resort of the just and merciful; the seat of the moral virtues, and the home of the select. So mote it be.

CHARGE AT CLOSING A COUNCIL. COMPANIONS:

Being about to quit this sacred retreat, to mix again with the world, let us not forget, amid the cares and vicissitudes of active life, the bright example of sincere friendship, so beautifully illustrated in the lives of the founders of this degree. Let us take the lesson home with us; and may it strengthen the bands of fraternal love between us; incite our hearts to duty, and our desires to wisdom. Let us exercise Charity, cherish Hope, walk in Faith. And may that moral principle, which is the mystic cement of our fellowship, remain with and bless us. So mote it be,

CHAPTER VI.

INSTALLATION CEREMONIES,

FOR COUNCILS OF ROYAL AND. SELECT MASTERS.*

1. THE Most Puissant Grand Master of the Grand Council, or his representative; or a Past Master of a subordinate Council, will preside; and direct the Recorder to read so much of the record as pertains to the election of the Officers. After which he will say:

2. "Companions of

Council-Do you remain satis fied with the choice you have made in the selection of your officers for the ensuing year?"

3.. The answer being in the affirmative, the officers elect are arranged in due form; when the following declaration is proposed:

“I, A————— B- do solemnly promise, that I will faithfully, and to the best of my ability, discharge the duties of the office to which I have been elected; and that I will strictly conform to the requirements of the By-laws of this Council, and the Regulations of the Grand Council, under which the same is holden, so far as they may come to my knowledge."

4. The Grand Marshal then presents the Thrice Illustrious G. Master elect for installation, "as a companion well skilled in the Royal Mysteries; zealous in diffusing the select principles of our fathers, and in whose integrity and fidelity his Brethren repose the highest confidence."

5. The installing officer then addresses him as follows: THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS

I feel great satisfaction in receiving you as the Thrice Illustrious Master of this Council. It is a station highly honorable to him who diligently and faithfully performs the duties it de volves upon him. But, previously to investing you with the

In the case of new Councils, or where the Officers are installed by the Grand Council, the preliminary forms and ceremonies are similar to those used in Chapters.