S. D. Chin.

Noodle. JACHIN.

W. M. This word is derived from the right-hand pillar of the porch or entrance to King Solomon's Temple. The import of the word is to establish, and, when joined with the one in the former degree, signifies stability. (To the Senior Deacon) Pass Brother Noodle to the Junior Warden.

S. D. Brother Junior Warden, I present to you, Brother Noodle, on being passed to the second degree.

J. W. I will thank Brother Noodle to advance towards me as a Fellow Craft. (Noodle makes the step and gives the sign.) What is that?

Noodle. The hailing sign or sign of prayer.

J. W. Have you any thing else to communicate? (Noodle gives him the grip or token.) What is this?

Noodle. The grip or token of a Fellow Craft. Freemason.
J. W. What does it demand?

Noodle. A word.

J W. Will you give me that word?

Noodle. I was taught to be cautious in this degree, as well as in the former; I will letter or halve it with you.

J. W. Which you please and begin.

Noodle. Ja.

J. W. Chin.

Noodle. JACHIN. (He is then passed to the Senior Warden.) S. D. Brother Senior Warden, I present to you, Brother Noodle, on being passed to the second degree*.

S. W. I will thank Brother Noodle to advance to me as a Fellow Craft. (He advances with the step of the second degree.) S. W. What is that?

Noodle. The second regular step in Freemasonry.

S. W. Do you bring any thing else with you?
Noodle. (Gives the sign of fidelity.)

S. W. What is that?

Noodle. The sign of fidelity emblematic of shielding the repository of my secrets from the attacks of the cowan.

.

S. W. Do you bring any thing thing else with you?

Noodle. I do. (Gives the hailing sign.)

S. W. What is that?

Noodle. The hailing sign, or sign of prayer.

S. W. Whence did it arise?

Noodle. At the time when Joshua, &c. (See former account.)

S. W. Do you bring any thing else with you?

Noodle. I do. (Gives the penal sign.)

These passings and presentings are always done by the Senior Deacon's accosting the officer with three knocks. In fact, these knockings are introduced as often as possible.

S. W. What is that?

Noodle. The penal sign of a Fellow Craft Freemason.
S. W. To what does it allude?

Noodle. To the penalty of my obligation, implying, that as a man of honour and a Fellow Craft Mason, I would rather have my heart torn from my breast, than to improperly divulge the secrets of this degree.

S. W. Have you any thing else to communicate ¿
Noodle. I have. (Gives the grip or token.)

S. W. What is this?

Noodle. The grip or token of a Fellow Craft.
S. W. What does it demand?

Noodle. A word.

S. W. Will you give me that word.

Noodle. I was taught to be cautious in this degree as well as in the former; I will letter or halve it with you.

S. W. Which you please and begin.

Noodle. Ja.

S. W. Chin.

Noodle. JACHIN.

S. W. From whence is this word derived?

Noodle. From the right-hand pillar of the porch or entrance to King Solomon's Temple.

S. W. The import of the word?

Noodle. To establish.

S. W. And what then conjoined with the one in the former degree?

Noodle. Stability. (He is then passed back to the Master.) S. W. Worshipful Master, I present to you, Brother Noodle, for some further mark of your favour.

W. M. Brother Senior Warden, I delegate you to invest him with the distinguishing badge of a Fellow Craft Mason*.

S. W. Brother Noodle, by the Worshipful Master's command, I invest you with the distinguishing badge of a Fellow Craft, to mark the progress you have made in the science.

W. M. Let me add to what has been stated by the Senior Warden, that the badge, with which you have just been invested, points out to you, that, as a craftsman, you are expected to make the liberal arts and sciences your future study, that you may the better be enabled to discover your duty as a Mason and estimate the wonderful works of the Almighty. Brother Senior Deacon, you will place our Brother Noodle at the south-east part of the lodge. (Being so placcd, he is thus addressed by the Master.)

Brother Noodle, Masonry being a progressive science, when you were made an Entered Apprentice, you were placed at the

* 1 should have explained in describing the first degree, that this badge is a white leather apron, variously qrnamented for the different degrees.

North East part of the Lodge, to show, that you were newly admitted. You are now placed at the South East part, to mark the progress you have made in the science. You now stand to all external appearance, a just and upright Fellow Craft Mason, I give it to you in strong terms of recommendation, to continue and act as such, and as I trust the import of the former charge neither is nor ever will be effaced from your memory, I shall content myself with observing, that, as in the former degree you made yourself acquainted with the principles of moral truth and virtue, you are now permitted to extend your researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and science.-I now present you with the working tools of a Fellow Craft Mason, which are the square, level, and plumb-rule. The square, is to try and adjust all irregular corners of buildings, and to assist in bringing rude matter into due form. The level, to lay levels and to prove horizontals: and the plumb rule, to try and adjust all uprights, while fixing on their proper bases. As we are not all operative masons, but rather free and acccepted, or speculative, we apply those tools to our morals. In this sense, the square teaches morality, the level equality, and the plumb-rule justness and uprightness of life and action. Thus, by square conduct, level steps and upright intentions, we hope to ascend to those immortal mansions, from whence all goodness emanates. You are now at liberty to retire, in order to restore yourself to your personal comforts, and on your return to the lodge, I shall call your attention to an explanation of the Tracing Board, if time will permit. (On his return, he is placed in the West and returns thanks in the following words.)

Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, Senior and Junior Deacons and Brethren of this lodge, I return you my most hearty and sincere thanks, for the honour you have done me this evening, in passing me to the honourable degree of a Fellow Craft Mason.

LECTURE ON THE TRACING BOARD IN THE SECOND DEGREE.

At the building of King Solomon's Temple, an immense number of Masons were employed. They consisted of Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts. The Entered Apprentices received a weekly allowance of corn, wine and oil. The Fellow Crafts were paid their wages in specie, which they went to receive in the middle chamber of the temple. They got there by way of a porch, at the entrance of which, their attention was particularly struck by

two great pillars: that, on the left, was called Boaz, which denotes strength: that, on the right, Jachin, which denotes to establish; and when conjoined, stability; for God said, in strength will I establish this mine-house to stand firm for ever*. The height of those pillars was thirty-five cubits, the circumference twelve, the diameter three. They were formed hollow, the better to serve as archieves to masonry; for therein were deposited the constitutional rolls. Being formed hollow, the outer rim or shell was four inches, or a hand's breadth in thickness. They were made of molten brass and were cast on the plains of the Jordan, in the clay grounds between Succoth and Zeredatha. The superintendant of the casting was Hiram Abiff. Those pillars were adorned with two chapiters, each five cubits high. Those chapiters were enriched with net work, lily work, and pomegranates. Net work, from the connection of its meshes, denotes unity. Lily work, from its whiteness, denotes peace. Aud pomegranates, from the exuberance of their seed, denote plenty. Those pillars were further adorned with two spherical balls, on which were delineated maps of the celestial and terrestrial globes. They were considered finished, when the net work or canopy was thrown over them. They were placed at the east of the temple, as a memorial to the children of Israel of the miraculous pillars of fire and cloud, which had two wonderful effects, the fire to give light to the Israelites during their escape from their Egyptian bondage; the cloud proved darkness to Pharaoh and his followers, when they attempted to overtake them. King Solomon ordered them to be placed at the entrance of the Temple, as the most proper and conspicuous situation for the children of Israel, to have the happy deliverance of their forefathers continually before their eyes, at going to and returning from divine worship. After our ancient brethren had passed those two great pillars, their ascent was opposed by the Junior Warden, who demanded of them the passgrip and pass-word, leading from the first to the second degree. The pass-word, I dare say you recollect, is Shibboleth, and is here depicted by an ear of corn near a fall of water. The word Shibboleth dates its origin from the time, that an army of Ephraimites crossed the river Jordan, in a hostile manner, against Jeptha, the renowned Gileaditish General. The reason assigned for this unfriendly visit was, that they had not been called out to

* It is down, it seems, like all other masonry!

R. C.

in

partake of the honours of the Ammonitish war; but their true aim was, to partake of the rich spoils with which, in consequence of that war, Jeptha and his army were then laden. The Ephraimites were always a clamourous turbulent people; but then broke out open violence, and after many severe taunts to the Gileadites in general, threatened, in particular, to destroy their victorious commander and his house with fire. Jeptha, on his part, tried all lenient means to appease them, but, finding those ineffectual, had recourse to rigorous ones. He therefore drew out his army, gave the Ephraimites battle, defeated and put them to flight, and, to render his victory decisive and secure himself from the like molestations in future, he sent detachments of the army to secure the passage of the river Jordan, over which he knew the insurgents must of necessity attempt to go, in order to regain their own country, giving strict orders to his guards, that, if a fugitive came that way, owning himself an Ephraimite, he should immediately be slain. But if he said nay or prevaricated, a test word was to be put to him, which was, to pronounce the word SHIBBOLETH. The Ephraimites, through a defect in aspiration peculiar to their dialect, could not pronounce it properly; but called it Sibboleth, which discovered their country and cost them their lives. And Scripture informs us that there fell on that day, in the field of battle and on the banks of the Jordan, forty-two thousand Ephraimites, and as Shibboleth was then a test-word to distinguish friend from foe, King Solomon, afterwards, caused it to be adopted as a pass-word in a Fellow Craft's Lodge, to prevent any unqualified person from ascending the winding staircase, which led to the middle chamber of the Temple.

After our ancient brethren had given those convincing proofs to the Junior Warden, he said, pass SHIBBOLETH or Brother. They then passed up a winding stair-case, consisting of three, five, seven or more. Three rule a Lodge: five hold a Lodge: seven or more make it perfect. The three that rule a Lodge are the Worshipful Master and his two wardens. The five who hold a Lodge, are the Master, two Wardens, and two Fellow Crafts. The seven, who make it perfect, are two Entered Apprentices, added to the former five. Three rule a Lodge; because there were but three Grand Masters, who bore sway at the building of the first temple at Jerusalem: viz. Solomon, King of Israel; Hiram, King of Tyre; and Hiram Koiff. Five hold a Lodge, in allusion to the five noble orders in architecture: viz. the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic,