fpect him; if he be in want, you are to relieve him, or direct him how he may be relieved; you are to employ him, or recommend him to employment: however, you are never charged to do beyond your ability; only to prefer a poor brother, who is a good man and true, before any other perfon in the fame circumstances.

Finally Thefe rules you are always to obferve and enforce, and alfo the duties which have been communicated in the lectures; cultivating brotherly love, the foundation and capeftone, the cement and glory, of this ancient fraternity; avoiding, upon every occafion, wrangling and quarrelling, flandering and backbiting; not permitting others to flander honeft brethren, but defending their characters, and doing them good offices, as far as may be confiftent with your honour and fafety, but no farther. Hence all may fee the benign influence of masonry, as all true mafons have done from the beginning of the world, and will do to the end of time. Amen. So mote it be.

CHAPTER VII.

Prerequifites for a Candidate.

By a late regulation, adopted by most of the grand lodges in America, no candidate for the myfteries of mafonry can be initiated without having been propofed at a previous meeting of

the lodge; in order that no one may be introduced without due inquiry relative to his character and qualifications.

All applications for initiation fhould be made by petition in writing, figned by the applicant, giving an account of his age, quality, occupation, and place of refidence, and that he is defirous of being admitted a member of the fraternity; which petition should be kept on file by the secretary.

Form of a Petition to be prefented by a Candidate for Initiation.

"To the worshipful Mafter, Wardens, and Brethren of Lodge of Free and Accepted Mafons.

"The petition of the fubfcriber refpectfully fheweth, that, having long entertained a favourable opinion of your ancient inftitution, he is defirous of being admitted a member thereof, if found worthy.

"His place of refidence is his years; his occupation (Signed)

age

A. B."

After this petition is read, the candidate must be proposed in form, by a member of the lodge, and the propofition feconded by another member: a committee is then appointed to make inquiry relative to his character and qualifica-tions.

Declaration to be affented to by a Candidate, in an adjoining apartment, previous to Initiation.

"Do you feriously declare, upon your honour, before thefe gentlemen,* that, unbiassed by friends, and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the myfteries of masonry?" I do.

"Do you feriously declare, upon your honour, before thefe gentlemen, that you are prompted to folicit the privileges of mafonry by a favourable opinion conceived of the inftitution, a defire of knowledge, and a fincere wish of being ferviceable to your fellow creatures?" I do.

"Do you feriously declare, upon your honour, before thefe gentlemen, that you will cheerfully conform to all the ancient established usages and customs of the fraternity ?" I do.

After the above declarations are made, and reported to the mafter, he makes it known to the lodge, in manner following, viz.

"BRETHREN,

"At the request of Mr. A. B. he has been propofed and accepted in regular form; I therefore recommend him as a proper candidate for the myfteries of masonry, and worthy to partake of the privileges of the fraternity; and, in confequence of a declaration of his intentions, voluntarily made, I believe he will cheerfully conform to the rules of the order."

If there are then no objections made, the candidate is introduced in due form.

*The stewards of the lodge are usually present

CHAPTER VIII.

REMARKS ON THE FIRST LECTURE.

WE fhall now enter on a difquifition of the different fections of the lectures appropriated to the feveral degrees of mafonry, giving a brief fummary of the whole, and annexing to every remark the particulars to which the fection alludes. By these means the industrious mason will be inftructed in the regular arrangement of the fections in each lecture, and be enabled with more eafe to acquire a knowledge of the art.

The first lecture of mafonry is divided into three fections, and each fection into different claufes. Virtue is painted in the most beautiful colours, and the duties of morality are enforced. In it we are taught fuch useful leffons as prepare the mind for a regular advancement in the principles of knowledge and philofophy. Thefe are imprinted on the memory by lively and fenfible images, to influence our conduct in the proper discharge of the duties of focial life.

THE FIRST SECTION

In this lecture is fuited to all capacities, and 'may and ought to be known by every person who ranks as a mafon. It confifts of general heads, which, though fhort and fimple, carry weight with them. They not only ferve as marks of diftinction, but communicate ufeful and interesting knowledge, when they are duly

investigated. They qualify us to try and examine the rights of others to our privileges, while they prove ourselves; and, as they induce us to inquire more minutely into other particulars of greater importance, they ferve as an introduction to fubjects more amply explained in the following fections.

A Prayer used at the Initiation of a Candidate.

"Vouchsafe thine aid, Almighty Father of the Universe, to this our prefent convention; and grant that this candidate for mafonry may dedicate and devote his life to thy fervice, and become a true and faithful brother among us! Endue him with a competency of thy divine wifdom, that, by the fecrets of our art, he may be better enabled to display the beauties of brotherly love, relief, and truth, to the honour of thy holy name! Amen.”

It is a duty incumbent on every master of a lodge, before the ceremony of initiation takes place, to inform the candidate of the purpofe and defign of the inftitution; to explain the nature of his folemn engagements; and, in a manner peculiar to mafons alone, to require his cheerful acquiefcence to the duties of morality and virtue, and all the facred tenets of the order.

Towards the close of the section is explained that peculiar enfign of masonry, the lamb-skin, or white leather apron, which is an emblem of innocence, and the badge of a mafon; more ancient than the golden fleece or Roman eagle; more