hibited a strong propensity to cannibalism in longing to have devoured the dead body of Hector,-is it possible that he could have been one of our philanthropic society? Yes, we reply, such is the actual fact; and Bonaparte was one too, in the highest degree. But if you will not believe Homer or us, believe your own eyes, if indeed you are a Mason. Ecce signum! Behold Achilles giving Priam THE HAND when the latter is supplicating for the body of his slain son.

"Thus having spoken, the old man's right hand at the wrist

He grasped, that he might not in any respect be alarmed in mind.”

Such is the masonic and literal translation of the text by that illustrious Grecian and brother, Christopher North; and who will say now that Achilles was not a Mason?Freemasons' Quarterly Review.

ACKNOWLEDGED. Candidates who are invested with the Most Excellent Master's degree, are said to be "received and acknowledged" as such. Because, as the possession of that degree supposes a more intimate knowledge of the science of Masonry, the word acknowledged is used to intimate that such a character is conceded to its possessors.—Mackey.

ACROSTIC.

M. Magnitude, moderation, and magnanimity.
A. Affability, affection, and attention.

S. Silence, secrecy, and sincerity.

O. Obedience, order, œconomy.

N. Noble, natural, and neighbourly.
R. Rational, reciprocal, and receptive.

Y. Yielding, yearning, and Yare.

The elucidation of this acrostic having been published in many masonic works, and consequently being well known, it is unnecessary to introduce it here.

ACTING GRAND MASTER. It was the custom and practice of the old Masons, that kings and princes, being Masons, are considered Grand Masters by prerogative during life; and in that case they had the privilege of appointing a deputy to preside over the Fraternity, with

the title and honours of Grand Master. And in the year 1782 a motion was made in Grand Lodge that whenever a prince of the blood honoured the society by accepting the office of Grand Master, he should be at liberty to nominate any peer of the realm to the office of Acting Grand Master.

ACTIVE. A lodge is called active when it assembles regularly; and a brother when he is a working member of such a lodge. Many brethren visit a lodge who never or very seldom take part in lodge work, either because they live too far distant from the lodge, or that the labour is not sufficiently interesting. Every lodge and every officer ought to strive diligently to avoid the last imputation, but if they find their endeavours in vain, and that there is any brother who will not pay due attention to the work, they ought to endeavour to reclaim him, first by fraternal remonstrances; if those do not avail, by punishment. By the death or removal of the members, a lodge may become inactive for a time, and it is better that it should be so than that the continuing of the work should be entrusted to inexperienced officers.-Gadicke.

ADAM. That the first parents of mankind were instructed by the Almighty as to his existence and attributes, and after their fall, were further informed of the Redemption which was to be perfected by Christ, and as a sign of their belief, were commanded to offer sacrifices to God, I fully assent to the creed of Masonry in believing. It is also highly probable that symbolical actions should have been instituted by them in memory of their penitence, reverence, sympathy, fatigue, and faith, and that these might be transmitted to posterity.-Archdeacon Mant.

ADDRESS. Those who accept offices and exercise authority in the lodge, ought to be men of prudence and address, enjoying the advantages of a well-cultivated mind and retentive memory. All men are not blessed with the same powers and talents; all men, therefore, are not equally qualified to govern. He who wishes to teach must submit to learn: and no one can be qualified

to support the higher offices of the lodge who has not previously discharged the duties of those which are subordinate. Experience is the best preceptor. Every man may rise by gradation, but merit and industry are the first steps to preferment.-Preston.

ADDRESSING. No brother shall speak twice to the same question, unless in explanation, or the mover in reply. Every one who speaks shall rise, and remain standing, addressing himself to the Master, nor shall any brother presume to interrupt him, unless he shall be wandering from the point, or the Master shall think fit to call him to order; but, after he has been set right, he may proceed, if he observe due order and decorum.Constitutions.

ADMISSION. Not more than five new brothers shall be made in any one lodge on the same day, nor any man under the age of twenty-one years, unless by dispensation from the Grand Master or Provincial Grand Master. Every candidate for admission must be a freeman, and his own master, and, at the time of initiation, be known. to be in reputable circumstances. He should be a lover of the liberal arts and sciences, and have made some progress in one or another of them.-Constitutions.

ADMONITION. If a brother grossly misconduct himself, let him be admonished privately by the W. M.; try every gentle means to convince him of his errors; probe the wound with a delicate hand; and use every mild expedient to work his reform. Perhaps he may save his brother, and give to society a renewed and valuable member.

ADONAI. The Jews are said to have substituted the word Adonai for the uncommunicable name; but this admits of some qualification. St. Jerome, and after him Bellarmine, doubted the fact, because Jehovah and Adonai were two several names of God, and equally legitimate; and in some instances were appointed to be used in conjunction, as Jehovah Adonai; and the Septuagint uses the word Kurios.

D

ADONIRAM. This prince was appointed by King Solomon to superintend the contributions towards building the temple, as well as the levy of 30,000 Israelites to work by monthly courses in the forest of Lebanon. For this purpose, and to insure the utmost regularity, an old masonic tradition informs us that he divided them into lodges, placing three hundred in each, under a Master and Wardens, himself being G. M. over all. He was also constituted by the king one of the seven Grand Superintendents, and Chief of the Provosts and Judges.

ADVANCED. When a candidate is invested with the Mark Master's degree, he is said to be "advanced." The term is very appropriately used to designate that the Master Mason is now promoted one step beyond the degrees of ancient Craft Masonry on the way to the Royal Arch.-Mackey.

ADVENT. We are well assured of the existence of Masonry at the time of the advent of our Lord upon earth, when it received the assistance of those two great lights, who are to this day commemorated in our lodges in gratitude for the kindness received from them. We have reason to believe that the secrecy of our Order was often useful to conceal, and its universal benevolence to preserve, Christian professors, in the early ages of the church, from the malice of their bitter enemies; and it is certain that there are to be found in the writings of the fathers many allusions of an undoubtedly masonic character. Archdeacon Mant.

ADYTUM. In the British and other Mysteries the three pillars of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty represented the great emblematical Triad of Deity, as with us they refer to the three principal officers of the lodge. We shall find, however, that the symbolical meaning was the same in both. It is a fact that in Britain the Adytum or lodge was actually supported by three stones or pillars, which were supposed to convey a regenerating purity to the aspirant, after having endured the ceremony of initiation in all its accustomed formalities. The delivery from between them was termed a new birth.

The corresponding pillars of the Hindu Mythology were also known by the names of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty, and placed in the east, west, and south, crowned with three human heads. They jointly referred to the Creator, who was said to have planned the Great Work by his infinite Wisdom; executed by his Strength; and to have adorned it with all its Beauty and usefulness for the benefit of man.

AFFABILITY. The ancient lodges were so many schools or academies for teaching and improving the arts of designing, especially architecture; and the present lodges are often employed that way in lodge hours, or else in agreeable conversation, though without politics or party feeling; and none of them are ill employed; have no transaction unworthy of an honest man or a gentleman; no personal piques, no quarrels, no cursing and swearing, no cruel mockings, no obscene talk, or ill manners, for the noble and eminent brethren are affable to the meanest; and these are duly respectful to their betters in harmony and proportion; and though on the level, yet always within compass, and according to the square and plumb.-Euclid.

AGE. It is men of mature age and sound judgment alone who can preserve the Order in its native purity; and those lodges whose officers are careful to act in strict accordance to the laws and to the spirit of Freemasonry, will always have a supply of men of mature age as candidates. In the lectures the question of age occurs, but that refers merely to the degree wrought upon. In the ancient mysteries the mystical age of 1, 3, 5, and 7, refer to so many years of probation.-Gadicke. The symbolic age of an Entered Apprentice is 3 years, of a Fellowcraft 5, and a Master Mason 7; a Petit Architect 21, and a Grand Architect 27; that of a Knight of the East is 70; a Prince of Jerusalem 5 × 1575; a Secret Master, a Maitre Ecossais, and a Prince of Mercy, 81; and a Scotch Knight 500 years. It was by this figurative way of reasoning that the celebrated impostor the Count St. Germain, boasted that he was 500 years old.

AGLA. One of the twelve Cabalistic names of God.