trious degree which succeeds, and which derives its splendour from the circumstance, that it will fall to the lot of one of us to be recognised therein as a Grand Master. Approach and receive the marks of rank to which you are entitled, and to which alone your perseverance has elevated you. To distinguish ourselves as grand architects, there is a sign, a grip, and a word. The sign is to place the two hands on the head, to form a triangle with the thumb and fore finger of each hand. It is to be answered by the hands being in the same form above the head.

The grip is to take one another by the right-hand indiscriminately and to turn then thrice alternately above and below each other. The word is your name Moabon, to be pronounced by syllables, in making the turning of the hands.

This sash and this jewel are indicative of the degree of which you are now in possession, and it is the only mode of your expressing yourself to be such out of the lodge. The sign, word, and grip are considered as sacred, and are not to be used elsewhere. If accident should occasion your visiting the lodges of the inferior degrees, and you are not provided with your sash and jewel, you are at liberty to tuck the left corner of your apron into the band, and by that, you will be recognised a grand architect. You will now pay your respects to the brethren and afterwards attend to the

A. In the middle chamber.

Q. Why there.

A. The lodge was held there when the second elevation was finished.

Q. Who gave the design of the temple?

A. The Grand Architect of the Universe,

Q. To whom?

A. To Solomón.

Q. By what means?

A. By inspiration.

Q. In what manner were you employed in the middle chamber?

A. In designing a third elevation.

Q. By what means were you admitted a grand architect?

A. By the perfection of the drawing which I presented to the

Q. Deliver them to the next brother. (This is done.) What was the word pronounced?

A. The name of a great architect.

Q. Declare it?

A. Mighty master, I will give you one syllable, if you will give me another.

Q. I am agreeable?

A. Mo.

Q. A.

A. Bon.

Q. How old are you?

A. Twenty-seven years.

Q. What remains to be performed?

A. To veil the lodge of Grand Architects.

The master strikes twenty-seven times and declares the lodge to be concluded.

Finch's Catechism in this degree.

Right Worshipful Ruler. Brother Senior Overseer, why do we open and close this degree with seven reports.

S. O. In allusion to the six days of the creation and the institution of the seventh as a sabbath.

R. W. R. How is it represented in the lodge?

SO. The R. W. R. gives two reports on the base of the column containing the first great light. The senior overseer gives two on the shaft of his pillar containing the second great light. The junior overseer gives two on the chapter of his column containing the third great light. And the seventh representing the holy sabbath is given by the R. W. R. with his Hiram on the holy writing.

Ř. W. R. How is the candidate prepared in this degree?

S. O. With the inward plans of the Holy Temple of Jeru

salem.

R. W. R. What reason do we assign for this?

S. O. To prove to the brethren present, that he has been duly initiated into the degree of Architect, and then stands fully prepared to receive the promotion of Grand Architect of the Temple as the representative of our inspired grand superintendant Hiram Abiff.

R. W. R. In what manner did you make your entry into the lodge?

S. O. By three distinct and two quick reports.

R. W. R, Why in this manner?

S. O. In allusion to the No. of this degree.

R. W. R. Is there a second reason why we give these reports?

S. O. That the squares of the Nos. may be represented by us

when we enter the Lodge of the Grand Architects, which our grand master King Solomon, in conjunction with his worthy colleague, the learned King of Tyre, commanded to be practised, for the better understanding of the basis of that valuable discovery made by our grand master, Hiram Abiff, on the morning that the foundation stone of the Temple was laid by the hand of that wise and superexcellent King of the Jews.

R. W. R. Why is the ceremony of traversing the lodge in this degree observed.

S. O. Because King Solomon, with the High Priest and elders of the Israelites, went, in public procession, round the Temple, when the cape stone was laid and the building completed.

R. W. R. To what does the sign of this degree allude?
S. O. To the second or inward elevation of the Temple.
R. W. R. To what does the token allude?

S. O. To the number of lodges that compose the secret words of this degree.

R. W R. To what do the words allude?

S. O. To the dignity which King Solomon conferred on the brethren of this order.

R. W. R. What was the chief masonic employ of the brethren of this degree?

S. O. To give the plans and elevations of the inner Temple. R. W. R. What were the number of Lodges and what branch of masonry formed this degree?

S. O. One Lodge consisting of the Masters of the twelve Master Masons' Lodges.

R. W. R. How were these Masons arranged and in what manner did they assemble during the time in which they were employed in the plains of Zarthan.

S. O. In the same manner as in the holy city of Jerusalem.

R. W. R. In what manner were they arranged in the Quarries of Tyre?

S. O. In one lodge with eight in No.

R. W. R. How were they arranged in the Forests of Lebanon? S. O. In one lodge with four in No.*

R. W. R. What was the pay per day?

S. O. Forty-nine shekels of silver equal to £6. 2s. 6d. our money +.

R. W. R. What was the sum total paid to them?

Ah! Brother Finch, thou art gone to glory; but thou wert a poor Architect whatever thou mightest have been as a tailor. If there were but twelve in all, of the eight in the Quarries of Tyre and four in the Forests of Lebanon; how many were there left to be at Jerusalem and in plains of Zarthan? R. C. † Brother Finch seems to have had a very high notion of masonic pay and to have regulated his own charges accordingly. R. C.

S. O. Two hundred and three thousand, three hu ndred an seventy-four pounds, ten shillings.

R. W. R. By what is the right worshipful ruler distinguished? S. O. By a scarlet robe with a broad belt round the waist for holding the plans of the inner ornaments of the Temple.

R. W. Ř. What other distinguishing mark of honour does the right worshipful ruler bear?

S. O. That famous banner which distinguished the brethren of this degree that were enrolled as the Knights in the Holy Wars.

R. W. R. I will thank you, Brother Senior Overseer, to describe that banner?

S. O. The banner was made of black velvet, in the form of a geometrical square. In the centre, were their own peculiar arms quartered; and the whole circumscribed by a star, with twelve points containing the twelve letters, forming the characteristic words of this degree. In the first quarter, was painted, the left hand; in the fourth, the right hand; the palms outwards. In the second quarter, a hand and two fingers; and in the third, the hands with the backs outwards. The crest was a brother in ancient armour, with an emblematic representation of a part of the sign of this order. The words of this degree formed the

motto.

R. W. R. In what part of the lodge is this banner placed?
S. O. Over the head of the Right Worshipful Ruler.

R. W. R. What is the Jewel of this degree belonging to the Right Worshipful Ruler?

S. O. The compasses, open at an angle of ninety degrees, with the points circumscribed by the Holy Bible, so as to form a triangle; and in the centre, a geometrical square formed by the two hands and two fore fingers.

R. W. R. Be pleased to describe the Jewel worn by the Senior Overseer?

S. O. Two hands, one forming a level, the other a perpendicular.

R. W. R. What is the Jewel by which the Junior Overseer is distinguished?

S. Ŏ. Two fingers forming a right angle.

Finch's description of closing the lodge in this degree.

R. W. R. Brethren, I will thank you to assist me in closing the lodge in this degree. What is the last duty, Brother Senior Overseer?

S. O. To see that we are properly tiled externally.

R. W. R. What is the next duty, Brother Senior Overseer? S. O. To see that we are properly closed internally, to deposit the royal standard in thé pedestal, and to crave a blessing on the work.

R. W. R. Then, brethren, I will crave your assistance, to to enable me to close our labours with peace, unity and form; therefore, brethren, I will thank you to advance from the west to the pedestal in the east and to assist each other in taking down the royal standard, to see it safely deposited, with the Holy Law and Jewels, in our ancient and sacred repository.

The brethren now advance in due form, and when arrived under the banner, they pull gently the plummet, suspended from the crown of the standard, which being connected with a set of pullies mechanically arranged, they lower it a little by degrees, whilst the organ plays a solemn march. The last brother that advances is the Senior Overseer, who takes it down and puts it into the pedestal. He then returns, with the rest of the brethren, to their respective places, by the proper advances, and stop in due form, when the R. W. R. and S. and J. O. close the Lodge, by seven knocks, and the grand honours are given by all the brethren.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE OF SCOTCH MASTER OR SUPERINTENDANT.

In this degree, the master is called very powerful and the brethren very honourable. The decorations of the apartments are splendid. The ensigns of the different orders in masonry are designed in colours, and, at proper distances, receive the aid of 81 lights. On the drawing, the furniture or sacred utensils of the Temple of Solomon are delineated the ark of alliance, the altar of incense, the golden candlestick, the table of shew-bread, the brazen altar, the brazen sea, &c. The Jewel is worn pendant to a red sash and the apron is bordered with red. A transparency of the temple is in the east and the lodge opens as in the preceding degree of Grand Architect. The candidate is prepared as before, with the exception of the blindfolding; the necessity of the distinction will appear evident in the course of

The Reception or Passing.

THE candidate is admitted by the signal of a Grand Architect. The wardens place him between them and thus addresses the master:-Very Powerful, Moabon is present and ardently desires to participate in our labours. You gave him to understand, in the preceding degree, that there was wanting yet a ceremony for him to undergo, before he would be in complete possession of the secrets of Masonry. His zeal has brought him into your presence

to obtain them.

V. P. Brother Moabon, we cannot sufficiently applaud your perseverance in endeavouring to explore our secret mysteries. They are withheld from every one until we are well satisfied of