and good will amongst men, this assertion of the apostle, that "the tongue is an unruly member," ought ever to be kept in remembrance and the evil guarded against, as far as may be practicable. To the preceding, I shall add the words of another wise man, as recorded in the book of Ecclesiasticus, Chap. xxvii. from the 16th to the 22nd verse. "Whoso discovereth secrets, loses his credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind. Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him; but if thou bewrayest his secrets, follow no more after him; for as a man has destroyed his enemy, so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour. As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again. Follow after him no more; for he is too far off. He is as a roe escaped out of the snare. As for a wound, it may be bound up, and after reviling, there may be reconcilement; but he that bewrayeth secrets is without hope." I could, if I deemed it expedient, mention other proofs from sacred as well as profane writ, respecting the duty, the expediency, and the propriety of secrecy; but as I presume, that I have already advanced enough upon this subject, I shall forbear. I shall, however, venture this assertion, that the greatest honour, justice truth, and fidelity, have been always found among those, who could keep their own secrets as well as those of others. Hence it follows, that if secrecy and silence be duly considered, they will be found essentially ne cessary to qualify a man for any business of importance, and if this be granted, I feel confident, it will not be disputed, that free-masons have been superior to all others in taciturnity. Bad members have been expelled; but they keep the secrets, with which they have been entrusted. Neither the power of gold, which has often betrayed kings and princes, and sometimes overthrown states, empires and kingdoms, nor the most cruel punnishment, which the most malignant tyrants could devise, ever extorted the secrets of freemasonry, even from the weakest member of the fraternity. From what has been said, I presume it will not be disputed, that the happiness of mankind was the cause of so grand an institution as that of free-masonry, no art, having, as yet, been so extensively useful. It not only tends to protect its members from external injury; but to polish their morals, and to detain them within the bounds of true religion and virtue; for such are the doctrines inculcated by this sublime art, that if those, who have the honour of being members, would only live up to them, every man of the least reflection, would lead such a life as becomes a being possessed of a precious and immortal soul. And al though very few brethren may arrive at the sublimity and beautiful contrivance of Hiram Abiff, yet the very enemies of masonry must own, that it is the most renowned society, that ever was, is now, or perhaps ever will be in the world. The following poetic description of the royal art will shew its great use to mankind. "Hail mighty art! Hail gracious gift of heaven! To aid mankind by our Creator given. 'Twas you alone, which gave the ark its form, And saved the faithful from th' impending storm; When sinful cowans grovelled in the tide, The mason's ark triumphantly did ride O'er mighty waves, nor cared they where it steered, On Ararat, on ceasing of the storm, There stood their ark. They opened lodge in form. And gave the prince the holy temple's plan, [83] CHAPTER VIII. Of the conduct of Masons. SECTION 1.-OF BEHAVIOUR IN THE LODGE. It need scarcely be observed, that a society of men united, as a band of brothers, by the strongest ties, ought to be kind and courteous to each other in all places, where they meet. This, however, is more essentially requisite when they assemble in a lodge, in which brotherly love ought always, in a peculiar manner, to prevail; and where no disputes about nations, families, religion, or politics, can, on any account whatever, be introduced. While the lodge is open for work, every member should attend to the business under consideration, and not interrupt any brother while speaking. He must, likewise, hold no private conversation, nor be concerned with any committee without permission from the presiding officer. If he rightly understand the rules of the craft, he will always treat the master and wardens, with that respect which is due to those, whom the fraternity have appointed to preside at their meetings, and will, likewise pay due respect to all his fellows. The Christian advice of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, will be found peculiarly applicable to free-masons. "We beseech you, breth |