whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: Then what prayer, or what supplication soever shall be made. of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore, and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house; Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways: whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men) that they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers."

"Moreover, concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house: Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwellingplace, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel; and may know that this house, which I have built, is called by thy name.

"If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

"If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near: yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have

dealt wickedly; if they return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

"Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

"Now, therefore, arise, O Lord God, into thy restingplace, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God. be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

"O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant."]

2 CHRON. VII. 1-4.

"Now, when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burntoffering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.

"And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever."]

CHARGE TO BE DELIVERED TO A BROTHER WHO IS ACCEPTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED AS A MOST EXCELLENT MASTER.

BROTHER,

"Your admittance to this degree of masonry, is a proof. of the good opinion the brethren of this lodge entertain of your masonic abilities. Let this consideration induce you to be careful of forfeiting, by misconduct and inattention to our rules, that esteem which has raised you to the rank you now possess.

"It is one of your great duties, as a most excellent master, to dispense light and truth to the uninformed mason; and I need not remind you of the impossibility of complying with this obligation without possessing an accurate acquaintance with the lectures of each degree.

If you are not already completely conversant in all the degrees heretofore conferred on you, remember, that an indulgence, prompted by a belief that you will apply yourself with double diligence to make yourself so, has induced the brethren to accept you.

"Let it therefore be your unremitting study, to acquire such knowledge and information as may enable you to discharge the important duty of most excellent master, with honor to yourself, and satisfaction and advantage to the fraternity."

CHAPTER XIV.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SEVENTH, OR DEGREE OF ROYAL ARCH MASON.

THIS degree is indescribably more august, sublime, and important, than all which precede it; and is the summit and perfection of ancient masonry. It impresses on our minds a belief of the being and existence of a Supreme

Deity, without beginning of days, or end of years; and reminds us of the reverence due to his holy name.

This degree brings to light many essentials of the craft, which were for the space of four hundred and seventy years buried in darkness; and without a knowledge of which, the masonic character cannot be complete.

The following passage of scripture is read at opening:

2 THESSALONIANS. III. 6-17.

"Now we command you, brethren, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us, for we behaved ourselves not disorderly among you. Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought, but wrought with labor and travail day and night, that we might not be chargeable to any of you. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat: For we hear there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies. Now, them that are such, we command and exhort, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be ye not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always. The salutation of Paul, with mine own hand, which is the token: so I write."

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SEVENTH LECTURE.

The lecture of this degree is divided into two sections, and should be well understood by every royal arch mason; upon an accurate acquaintance with it, will depend his usefulness at our assemblies; and without it, he will

be unqualified to perform the duties of the various stations in which his services may be required by the chapter.

THE FIRST SECTION.

The first section opens to our view a large field for contemplation and study. It furnishes us with many interesting particulars relative to the state of the fraternity, during and since the reign of king Solomon; and illustrates the causes and consequences of some very important events which occurred during his reign.

This section explains the mode of government in this class of masons; it designates the appellation, number, and situation, of the several officers; and points out the purposes and duties of their respective stations.

THE SECOND SECTION.

This section contains much valuable historical information, and proves, beyond the power of contradiction, and in the most striking colors, that prosperity and happiness are ever the ultimate consequences of virtue and justice, while disgrace and ruin invariably follow the practices of vice and immorality.

A proper arrangement of the following charges, &c. is essentially necessary to be observed in every chapter; and their application should be familiar to every royal arch mason.

Isaiah xlii. 16.-"I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make the darkness light before them, and crooked things straight: These things will I do unto them, and will not forsake them."

PRAYER REHEARSED DURING THE CEREMONY OF EXALTATION TO THE DEGREE OF ROYAL ARCH MASON.

"Supreme Architect of Universal Nature, who, by" thine almighty word, didst speak into being the stupen