are surrounded in this life; but more especially, those which we hope to
enjoy hereafter: the blazing star, that prudence which ought to appear
conspicuous in the conduct of every Mason; but more especially,
commemorative of the star which appeared in the East, to guide the wise
men to Bethlehem, to proclaim the birth and the presence of the Son of
God.
Q.  Has your Lodge any lights?
A.  It has; three.
Q.  How are they situated?
A.  East, West, and South.
Q.  Has it none in the North?
A.  It has not.
Q.  Why so?
A.  Because this, and every other Lodge, is, or ought to be, a true
representation of King Solomon's temple, which was situated North of the
ecliptic; the sun and moon, therefore, darting their rays from the South,
no light was to be expected from the North; we therefore, Masonically,
term the North the place of darkness.
Q.  Has your Lodge any jewels?
A.  It has; six, three moveable and three immoveable.
Q.  What are the three moveable jewels?
A.  The Square, Level, and Plumb.
Q.  What do they teach?
A.  The square, morality; the level, equality; and the plumb, rectitude
of life and conduct.
Q.  What are the three immoveable jewels?
A.  The rough Ashlar, the perfect Ashlar, and the Tressle-Board.
Q.  What are they?
A.  The rough ashlar is a stone in its rough and natural state; the
perfect ashlar is also a stone made ready by the working tools of the
Fellow Craft, to be adjusted in the building; the tressle-board is for the
master workman to draw his plans and designs upon.
Q.  What do they represent?
A.  The rough ashlar represents man in his rude and imperfect state by
nature; the perfect ashlar also represents man in that state of perfection
to which we all hope to arrive, by means of a virtuous life and education,
our own endeavors, and the blessing of God.  In erecting our temporal
building we pursue the plans and designs laid down by the master workman
on his tressle-board; but in erecting our spiritual building we pursue the
plans and designs laid down by the Supreme Geometrician of the Universe in
the book of life; which we, Masonically, term our spiritual tressle-board.
Q.  Who did you server?
A.  My Master.
Q.  How long?
A.  Six days.
Q.  What did you serve him with?
A.  Freedom, Fervency, and Zeal.
Q.  What do they represent?
A.  Chalk, Charcoal, and Earth.
Q.  Why so?
A.  There is nothing freer than chalk; the slightest touch of which leaves
a trace behind: nothing more fervent than heated charcoal; it will melt
the most obdurate metals: nothing more zealous than the earth to bring
forth.
Q.  How is your Lodge situated?
A.  Due East and West.
Q.  Why so?
A.  Because the sun rises in the East, and sets in the West.
Q.  A second reason?
A.  The gospel was first preached in the East, and is spreading to the
West.
Q.  A third reason?
A.  The liberal arts and sciences began in the East, and are extending to
the West.
Q.  A fourth reason?
A.  Because all the churches and chapels are, or ought to be, so situated.
Q.  Why are all the churches and chapels so situated?
A.  Because King Solomon's temple was so situated.
Q.  Why was King Solomon's temple so situated?
A.  Because Moses, after conducting the children of Israel through the Red
Sea, by divine command, erected a tabernacle to God, and placed it due
East and West; which was to commemorate, to the latest posterity, that
miraculous East wind that wrought their mighty deliverance; and this was
an exact model of Solomon's temple: since which time, every well regulated
and governed Lodge is, or ought to be, so situated.
Q.  To whom did our ancient brethren dedicate their Lodges?
A.  To King Solomon.
Q.  Why so?
A.  Because King Solomon was our most ancient Grand Master.
Q.  To whom do modern Masons dedicate their Lodges?
A.  To St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist.
Q.  Why so?
A.  Because they were the two most ancient christian patrons of Masonry;
and, since their time, in every well regulated and governed Lodge, there
has been a certain point within a circle, which circle is bounded on the
East and the West by two perpendicular parallel lines, representing the
anniversary of St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist, who
were two perfect parallels, as well in Masonry as Christianity; on the
vertex of which rests the book of the holy scriptures, supporting Jacob's
ladder, which is said to reach the watery clouds; and in passing round
this circle, we naturally touch on both these perpendicular parallel
lines, as well as the book of the holy scriptures; and while a Mason keeps
himself thus circumscribed, he cannot materially err.

END OF THE LECTURE, AND THE FIRST DEGREE

It is proper to add, here, that very few Masons ever learn the lecture.
Of course it is necessary that the officers of the Lodge should understand
their own particular part; and that is generally all they learn.

THE SECOND, OR FELLOW CRAFT MASON'S DEGREE.

This degree is usually called "passing."  The ceremonies of opening and
closing the Lodge are precisely the same as in the first degree; except
two knocks are used in this degree, and the door is entered by the benefit
of a pass-word.  It is Shibboleth, and explained in the lecture.  The
candidate, as before, is taken into the preparation room, and prepared in
the manner following; All his clothing taken off, except his shirt;
furnished with a pair of drawers; his right breast bare; his left foot in
a slipper; the right