Laurie describes it as an institution whose object is not only to inform the minds of its members, by instructing them in the sciences and useful arts, but to better their dispositions by enforcing the precepts of religion and morality. Jones considers it to be "a system (whether morally or religiously considered) more excellent than any, because partaking of the excellencies of all others; more practicable; more productive of effects on its professors, because, free from the austerity, yet comprising the best precepts of religion, it removes the thorns in the road to happiness, and substitutes a flowery path to the same goal." 24 These definitions and descriptions are amplified on the continent, and reduced to detail; 25 but the testi subject, before the grand Lodge. He observed, among other eloquent remarks, "I study to establish, as much as possible, the principle, that the ancient order of Freemasonry is not a society limited to the precincts of any Lodge-room, but a family whose privileges extend all over that vast expanse governed by the Grand Master of All; and if kings and nobles give lustre to our Order, by their condescension, example, and submission to the divine ordinance of Love thy neighbour as thyself, so does the Brother in the humble walk of life add brightness thereto, by observing that virtue and decorum which alone should be his qualification to unite with us; and though we all meet here on the level, as Freemasons have done for ages, and as good men ever will, yet we do so under the wholesome restraint of experienced officers, which teaches us to part on the square, rendering honour to whom honour is due, and due respect to every Brother according to his station; for a Masonic Lodge should be a school of morals and manners; and though political and sectarian strife are excluded our porch, yet pure religion, strict obedience to our sovereign and the authorities, peace and good order, are its unerring principles." (See the F. Q. R., N. S., vol. i. p. 444.) 24 Masonic Miscel., 25 Thus the French Masons say: "La Maço.. devait être l'école de toutes les vertus, le lien de tous les peuples, la consolation de mony of every writer on Masonry, agrees with the motto to this Lecture, which constitutes the genuine Lodge definition of the science, and is attached to the degree now under our consideration.26 The Tracing-Board 27 of an Entered Apprentice Mason, exhibits the ornaments, furniture and jewels; the form, ground, extent, situation, support and covering of the Lodge; the three Great Lights of Masonry; the moveable and immoveable jewels; the symbols of toutes les infortunes; elle devait faire resouvenir éternellement les mortels q'uils sont frères, puis qu'ils ont la même origine et la même fin; elle devait leur apprendre à ne se donner que des lois de douceur, de probité, de fraternité; malheureusement les erreurs et les seductions du monde l'ont détournée de ses voies; elles ont pénétré parmi ses enfans et les ont empêchés de rester fidéles aux saintes promesses qu'ils avaient faites de se tenir éloignés des séductions et des folies du monde. Il en est résulté que ce secret ce précieux secret d'être meilleurs, plus doux, plus charitables, plus forts, plus courageux que les autres, s'est, pour ainsi dire, perdu pour eux, et qu'il se perdra bien plus encore, si quelque régénération salutaire ne vient les rendre à leur pureté primitive." (Le verit. lien des peuples, p. 15.) 26 I think it necessary to announce here, that all the peculiar explanations in this and the following Lecture, have been extracted from authorized printed books on Masonry. 27 The Tracing-Board is for the Master to draw his plans and designs on, that the building may be conducted and carried on with order and regularity. It refers to the Sacred Volume, which is denominated the Tracing-Board of the Grand Architect of the Universe, because in that Holy Book he had laid down such grand plans and holy designs, that were we conversant therein, and adherent thereto, it would bring us to a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. was 28 Formerly, if the age of an E. A. P. was demanded, the answer "under seven;" denoting that he had not been passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft. The ages of Masons in the different grades are now estimated by a different standard, as will be shown Ancient Tracing Board of an EA. P. See. Note, 29) Published by Bro R Spencer 314 High Holborn, London. the three Theological, and four Cardinal Virtues, &c., which include the morality of the First Degree; and afford an extensive field of research, which is as gratifying to the mind, as it is useful and beneficent to the morals. It contains a series of emblems," apparently pourtrayed without arrangement or design; but in reality, as being typical of the degree, they are placed in the most judicious and admirable order, and display such a code of moral and religious truths as could scarcely be comprehended under any other form, within the same limits. They constitute an im 30 " I have before me a Tracing-Board, or Floor-Cloth, published early in the last century (see the engraving). It varies considerably from our improved system, although we observe with pleasure that it contains the ancient Landmarks of the Order. It is an oblong square, between the cardinal points; the Master is placed in the East with an altar before him, and the Wardens both in the West, as was the custom in many of our Lodges up to the time of the Union, in 1813. The three Lights are placed in the N.E, S.E., and S.W. The two pillars, J. and B., are in the West, inscribed Wisdom and Strength; and are both of the Corinthian order; while the centre of the Tracing-Board is occupied by a Blazing star of five points, inclosing the letter G, and inscribed Beauty. Between the two pillars ascending from the west, are seven steps upon a Mosaic pavement, but the Tesselated border, or Indented Trasel, as it was called, is omitted. In the East, West, and South, are pourtrayed three windows. The W. Master's Tracing-Board is near the blazing star, while the corresponding immoveable jewels are considerably higher up towards the East, the one called the Brute Stone, and the other the pointed Cubical Stone. In the apex of the latter an axe is inserted. The East is distinguished by a Square, the South by a Level, and the North by a Plumb-rule, or perpendicular. The whole is surmounted by a cable tow, or Tow-line, as then called, with a tassel at each end. Every thing," says Preston, that strikes the eye, more immediately engages the attention, and imprints on the memory serious and solemn truths. Masons have, therefore, universally adopted the plan of inculcating the tenets of their order by typical figures, and allegorical emblems, to prevent their mysteries from 30 66 |