which are to fit him for entering upon the active duties of life, preparatory to further advancement; the lessons of the second degree, symbolize the man engaged in the investigation of his chosen work, laboring diligently in the task it prescribes, and so enlarging his mind by the acquisition of new ideas, that he is enabled to extend his usefulness to his fellows; and the lessons of the third degree symbolizes the man who has completed his work, and having been faithful to all his trusts, receives the rewards of his fidelity.

The moral lessons of Masonry, their description by allegory, and their symbolical representations, are well described in the words of that venerable Mason before referred to; he had symbolized in his career, youth, manhood, and old age; he had symbolized in his life, the first, and the second, and third degrees in Masonry, with the exception only that he was waiting his final reward. When surrounded by his friends and asked, "What is life?" it was thus he spake :

"O, young enquirers, ye who would obtain knowledge, why hath it been willed that thy steps hath been led to me? Know ye not that recollections from a worn memory come like the drops of a niggardly libation from a damaged urn?

"When Morning took me by the hand, I had no aims and no ambitions. She led me in the green valleys, where the flowers bloomed, and filled the air with fragrance and my heart with poetry. She led me in the shady groves where birds caroled, and filled the air with melody, and my heart with music. I saw in the sunbeam bright spirits fluttering over me, like young nightingales trying their new wings, and I thought this is life, and all these things are created for my pleasure.

"When Noon stood beside me, I felt a force which constrained me to remain no longer idle. He directed me to the temples of learning, and taught me art, science and literature, and filled my heart with information He directed me over vast plains and trackless oceans, and taught me agriculture, commerce, and the science of government, and filled my heart with selfishness. I beheld in the sunlight bright visions hovering over me like mystic divinities awaiting to crown the victor, and I thought this is life, and all these things were created to serve my ambition.

"When Night approached me, I drew my mantle closer, for an influence of unquiet seemed stealing over me. She guided me to

the scenes of youth hood's pleasures, and the fields of manhood's ambitions, but ruin and desolation filled the whole earth, and my soul with sadness. She guided me to the summit of a lofty mountain, and showed me the vast expanse of the universe, and there taught me the lesson of immortality, to place my feet in the true way, and filled my soul with an immortal longing. I beheld in the eternal sunshine the beatific vision, and heard the welcoming songs of the heavenly choir, and I exclaimed, this is life, and I have been created to prepare for it.

"When the first transports of my joy had subsided, I turned to thank my guide, but she was gone. I was alone, and since then I have never quitted the mountain summit. Sometimes I wander, and in my musing, see some passing nymph, and charm-struck, I wind my arms around the busts of pleasure, and shadows fall across my path. Sometimes I wander further, and in my reveries see some eagle traversing the sky, and watching it, I wind my arms around the bodies of ambition's heroes, and darkness falls upon me. Then hastening to return to the true way, I wind my arms again around the trunks of the aged oaks of immortality, and the darkness is dispelled, the shadows vanish, and I behold once more the broad sunlight of the universe, gilding every mountain's top. This is the story of my life, and now I await the last summons which will soon call me home, to the home of my immortal longings."

Sacred history informs us that it was determined in the Councils of Infinite Wisdom, that a Temple should be founded in Jerusalem which should be erected to God, and dedicated to his Holy name. The high honor and distinguished privilege of performing this sacred service was denied to David, King of Israel, because he was a man of blood, and during almost the whole period of his reign he was agitated and disturbed by the tumultuous confusions of war.

We learn also, that the God of Israel promised David that out of his loins he would raise up seed to serve him. This divine and ever memorable promise was afterwards fulfilled in the person of Solomon, and in the splendid and unrivaled career of his prosperity.

When David had been gathered to the land of his fathers, and the last honors paid to his memory, Solomon wielded the scepter of Israel, peace reigned within her borders, and the children of Israel looked forward with peculiar satisfaction for the display of that wisdom which was destined to amaze and astonish the world.

In the second month of the fourth year of his reign, Solomon commenced the building of the Temple, the curious workmanship of which was calculated to excite the wonder and admiration of all succeeding ages. It was located on Mount Moriah, thrice hallowed by the power of Deity made manifest to man, being the place where Abraham was about to offer up his son Isaac, where Enoch was translated, and where David met and appeased the destroying. angel, who was visible over the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jesubite.

This historical account, viewed as an allegory, is used to illustrate the lessons taught in Masonry.

In the conclusions arrived at by the Councils of Infinite Wisdom, we learn that it was determined that man should be created in the image of God, and that this creature, man, should devote his life and service to his Maker. In the denial of David to build a house unto the Lord, we are reminded that he, who would undertake any great work must enter thereon with clean hands, with good intent, and with conscious probity, if he hopes to gain therefor the approval of just men, and therein to serve Him for whose service all were created.

In the promise of David we see the sublime conception in the creation of man, the creation of a being endowed with the faculty of acquiring knowledge, of transmitting this knowledge to posterity, whereby each succeeding generation may acquire a higher degree of intelligence. This divine promise, fulfilled in the person of Solomon, is an exemplification of advancement in art, science, and literature, and the unrivalled course of Solomon's prosperity, illustrates the changed condition of man, from his rude and barbarous state, to a cultivated and enlightened condition, and is further illustrative of a higher order of civilization.

In the death of David, and the succession of Solomon, we note the changed condition from turbulence to quietude, from war to peace, from which we learn the important lesson, that brotherly love is dependent on harmony, that harmony which can exist only by the aid of a spirit of compromise, the spirit of tolerance and forbearance, which submits to mediation every difference, and which was happily illustrated in a convention between the two great English speaking nations (a convention presided over by an eminent Mason), wherein by mutual concessions important matters of differ

ence were harmoniously settled, whereby peace obtained a victory more renowned than victory of war.

In the founding of the Temple, the creation of the earth, and all things therein contained is represented; in its curious workmanship it illustrates the symmetry of Nature's handiwork and the precision and infalibility of Nature's laws; and in its location, being erected on hallowed ground, thrice hallowed by the special manifestations of Deity, we are reminded that the protecting care of Divine Providence is over us, and around us on every side. Who could have stood within the Temple's porch without feeling the influence of these hallowed associations? From this also the Mason may draw an instructive lesson, that he should surround his work with the best influences, and when he opens the portals of his Lodge to strangers and introduces them among the workmen, he should take care that they, too, after serving their apprenticeship and becoming master workmen, shall not only faithfully perform their duties, but by the maintenance of their own good standing, add something to the aggregate character of Masonry for well doing.

This magnificent edifice was seven years in building, yet during that entire period it rained not in the day, that the workmen might not be impeded in their labors.

It was supported by 1,453 columns and 2,906 pilasters, all hewn from the finest Parian marble; its roof was of olive wood, overlaid with pure gold, so that when the sun shone thereon, it dazzled the eyes of all who beheld it.

Its interior was embellished with carved work, representing cherubims, palm leaves and flowers; its doors, beams, posts and floors were covered with plates of gold, beautifully engraved, and ornamented with precious stones of various colors.

This magnificent structure is the grandest enigmatic symbol used to illustrate the lessons taught in Masonry. In it we behold the exemplification of man's life; in its years of erection we see that time is required for the acquirement of knowledge, and the formation of character, and in the unobstructed labor, we are taught the importance of diligence in the work of self-improvement.

In its columns and pilasters we recognize the supports and aids furnished by the united efforts of good men for the accomplishment of a given purpose; in the material from which they were wrought we perceive that pure morality which is so necessary to every im

portant undertaking, and in its roof of gold appears the approving conscience and the full fruition of the builder's hopes.

Its embellished interior represents the mind endowed with the graces of intelligence, culture and wisdom; its ornaments represent the mind adorned with the higher attributes which ensure the reward promised to all who faithfully perform their tasks.

These few illustrations serve to show that an allegory has no bounds, and a symbol has no compass. The illustrations drawn from each are so numerous and diversified, that volumes and years could furnish neither space nor time for all which might be said. Even the youngest of us could hardly enter upon the work ere he would arrive at that stage of life represented by our venerable brother, when the last summons came to call him home, "to the home of his immortal longing," when he said, "I feel my body perishing, and it will quickly pass away like a snow wreath floating on the stream and be mingled with the waters that flow in the vast bosom of earth. Then will my soul be borne on the wings of a genuine sacred transport to Paradise." Therefore your orator may here pause, leaving to you and each of you the further investigation of these subjects.

TRAVELING FREEMASONS.-Were those who left Italy at the revival of art and the development of church building, and spread all over the world, establishing guilds of Freemasons, and erecting those gems of architectural grace and strength on which non-Masonic writers have agreed as to their existence, and asserted their association; but it was not until recently that this truer theory of Masonic history was either realized or welcomed. But when we seek to connect our speculative order with those traveling Masons, who have left their tracks on many a monastery wall and many an enduring stone, we feel that we have still a chasm to pass which it may be doubtful if we shall ever bridge over with certain and incontestable evidence. Still, such a view seems to us the most rational and the most historical, inasmuch as their constitutions are ours, their marks are ours, their emblems are ours. But we must not lose sight that the lapse of time has made great changes in any such condition of affairs, and that it is perhaps after all the safest to say, that while the speculative Grand Lodge of 1717 is the continuation of the operative Grand Assembly, the mighty change from an operative to a speculative Brotherhood has necessitated alterations and additions on the original plan, many and great. Our Freemasonry to-day is an improved version of the improved Freemasonry of the Revival of 1717.-Kenning's Cyclopedia.