his children by Hagar and Keturah, and the Edomites or Idumeans, who sprang from Esau, his grandson in the direct line, but also of the great nations of Persia and India; the latter of which, at a subsequent period, named the chief deity, who was reputed to be the first planter of their nation, by the name of Brahama, and his priests assumed the name of Brahmans; words which were unquestionably derived from Abraham, the father of the faithful. This incident, though full of instruction, and capable of rousing into action all the sensibilities of our nature-though acknowledged by Freemasonry to be of essential importance towards the consecration of its mosaic pavement, which represents the scenes of human life, chequered with good and evil, prosperity and adversity—is, nevertheless, often passed over in temple continually ministering oile for the maintenance thereof. Also, in the selfsame cave, there are tuns full of the bones of the ancient Israelites, brought thither by the families of Israel, which, even untill this day, remayne in the selfsame place." 28" As the steps of man are attended by various and uncertain incidents of life-as our days are chequered with a strange contrariety of events, and our passage through this existence, though sometimes blessed with prosperous circumstances, yet often beset by a multitude of evils; hence our Lodges are furnished with mosaic work, to remind us of the precariousness of our state on earth. Today, our feet tread in prosperity; to-morrow, we totter on the uneven paths of weakness, temptation, and adversity. Whilst this emblem is before us, we are instructed to boast of nothing; to have compassion, and give aid to those who are in adversity, to walk uprightly and with humility; for such is our existence, that there is no station in which pride can be stably founded. All men are similar by nature; although some are born to more elevated stations than others; but, when in the grave, all are upon a level-death destroy our lectures with equal carelessness and inattention. It conveys a moral of the utmost value; it shows that however the providence of God may try one of his feeble creatures by adversity or persecution, it is for their eventual benefit. Thus he tried Abraham, and Joseph, and Job; but they proved faithful, and their reward was exemplary. When the Almighty sees fit to involve a righteous man in trouble, it is intended for his purification, and as a beacon to prevent him from being seduced from his steadfastness by the pleasures and allurements of the world, that he may be saved in the day of visitation. And, in like manner, dispensations of affliction are frequently the messengers of divine kindness, to turn the hearts of the wicked from their evil ways, and to convince them that the wisest as well as the safest course is, to do justly and to love mercy towards their fellow-creatures, and, impressed with a due sense of their moral responsibility, to walk humbly with their God. Such views and such principles confer a real value on Freemasonry, which, considered as a mere technical institution, it could not possess. But, if it be prac 29 ing all distinctions. Then, whilst we tread on the mosaic work, let our ideas return to the original which it copies, and let every Mason act as the dictates of reason prompt him, and live in brotherly love, faith, and hope, and charity." (E. A. P. Lecture, from Dr. Ashe's Man., N. Ed. p. 73.) 29 Lord Ramsay, G. M. of Scotland, in a speech before the Grand Lodge, in 1837, thus expressed his deep respect for the science of Freemasonry: "When I call to mind the circumstances of the degrees through which I have had the honour to pass, I am filled with admiration of the pure morality of the principles inculcated, the beauty of the ceremonies, and the chaste and striking language in tised with an eye to the improvement of the morals, and a reference to the sublime truths, which constituted its essence in the early ages of the world, it rises above all human institutions, and forms a beautiful auxiliary to the practice of religion. which instruction is conveyed. I reverence Freemasonry; for that it employs, symbolically, the implements of the art which we profess, to teach us to contemplate the mighty hand of the Creator; and is ever reminding us, by them, of that Almighty Architect of the Universe, who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who hath laid the foundations of the earth so that they cannot be moved; while, by another symbol, it calls to our recollection, that not only our deeds, but the thoughts, too, of our inmost hearts, are beneath the inspection of that All-seeing Eye, which never slumbereth nor sleepeth." LECTURE VIII. THE GROUND OF THE LODGE CONTINUED. "In the year 1017, B. C. David was unfortunately tempted to order the people to be numbered; which sindrew down the anger of God, and a pestilence raged among the people, which destroyed great numbers of them. To appease the wrath of the Almighty, David, by divine command, built an altar on Mount Moriah, and offered thereon burnt offerings and peace offerings, together with many pious prayers, which caused the destroying angel to stay his hand. This is the Second Grand Offering, commemorated by Freemasons." ARCHDEACON MANT. "Hark! from on high the Mason-word! A Lodge for heaven's All-sovereign Lord, Since blood and war have stained his shield. That for our Deputy, his son, We have reserved Prince Solomon." WEEKS. THE life of our Grand Master, David, is often referred to in the system of Freemasonry; because he was a man after God's own heart, although human imperfection caused him, in some instances, to err most grievously. In this lecture, it is my intention to record and illustrate an event which forms a Landmark of great importance to Freemasonry, insomuch as, |