My brother, the third section of the lecture
of this degree explains the nature and principles
of our institution, and furnishes many interesting
details relating to the form, supports, covering,
furniture, ornaments, lights, and jewels of
a lodge, how situated, and to whom dedicated,
and will be given by ...
Above introduction is given by the Worshipful Master.
A lodge is a certain number of Masons, duly
assembled, in a place representing the ground
floor of King Solomon's Temple, with the Holy
Bible, Square, and Compass, and Charter or
Warrant empowering them to work.
* * * *
The covering of a lodge is no less than the
clouded canopy or starry decked heavens,
where all good Masons hope, at last, to arrive,
by the aid of that theological ladder which
Jacob, in his vision, saw ascending from earth
to heaven, the three principal rounds of which
are denominated Faith, Hope, and Charity,
which admonish us to have faith in God, hope
of immortality, and charity to all mankind. The
greatest of these is charity; for our faith may be
lost in sight, hope ends in fruition; but charity
extends beyond the grave, through the boundless
realms of eternity.
The furniture of a lodge is the Holy Bible,
Square, and Compass. The Holy Bible is dedicated
to God, the Square to the Master, and the
Compass to the Craft. The Holy Bible is dedicated
to God because it is the inestimable gift
of God to man * * * *; the Square to the Master
because it is the proper Masonic emblem of his
office; and the Compass to the Craft, because,
by a due attention to its use, they are taught to
circumscribe their desires and keep their passions
within due bounds.
The ornaments of a lodge are the Mosaic
pavement, the Indented Tessel, and the Blazing
Star. The Mosaic Pavement is a representation
of the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple,
the Indented Tessel, that beautiful tesselated
border, or skirting, which surround it. The
Mosaic Pavement is emblematic of human life,
checkered with good and evil. The beautiful
border which surrounds it, those manifold
blessings and comforts which surround us; and
which we hope to obtain by a faithful reliance
on Divine Providence which is hieroglyphically
represented by the Blazing Star in the center.
A lodge has three lights. They are situated
in the East, West, and South. There is none in
the North because of the situation of King
Solomon's Temple, it being situated so far
north of the ecliptic that the Sun or Moon, at
their meridian height, could dart no rays into
the north part thereof. The North, therefore, we
Masonically term a place of darkness.
A lodge has six jewels, three immovable
and three movable. The immovable jewels are
the Square, Level, and Plumb * * * *
The Square teaches morality; the Level,
equality; and the Plumb, rectitude of life.
The movable jewels are the Rough Ashlar,
the Perfect Ashlar, and the Trestle Board.
The Rough Ashlar is a stone as taken from
the quarry in its rude and natural state; the Perfect
Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands
of the workman to be adjusted by the tools of
the fellow craft; the Trestle Board is for the
master workman to draw his designs upon. By
the Rough Ashlar, we are reminded of our rude
and imperfect state by nature; by the Perfect
Ashlar, that state of perfection at which we
hope to arrive, by a virtuous education, our own
endeavors, and the blessing of God; and by the
Trestle Board, we are reminded that, as the
operative workman erects his temporal building
agreeably to the rules and designs laid down
by the master on his trestle board, so should we,
both operative and speculative, endeavor to
erect our spiritual building agreeable to the
rules and designs laid down by the Supreme
Architect of the Universe in the great books of
nature and revelation, which are our spiritual,
moral, and Masonic trestle board.
A lodge should be situated due East and
West, because that was the situation of King
Solomon's Temple * * * *
In ancient times, lodges were dedicated to
Solomon, King of Israel, because he was our first Most Excellent Grand Master. Masons
professing Christianity, dedicate theirs to St.
John the Baptist, and St John the Evangelist,
who were two eminent patrons of Masonry;
and, since their time, there is represented in
every regular and well governed lodge, a certain
Point within a Circle; the Point representing
an individual brother, the Circle
representing the boundary line of his duty to
God and man, beyond which he is never to suffer
his passions, prejudices, or interests to
betray him on any occasion.
This Circle is embordered by two perpendicular
parallel lines, representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, who were
perfect parallels in Christianity as well as
Masonry; and, upon the vertex, rests the Book
of Holy Scriptures, which points out the whole
duty of man. In going round this circle, we
necessarily touch upon these two lines, as well
as upon the Holy Scriptures; and, while a
Mason keeps himself thus circumscribed, it is
impossible that he should materially err.
The three great tenets of Masonic profession are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
Brotherly Love
By the exercise of brotherly love, we are
taught to regard the whole human species as
one family, the high and low, the rich and poor;
who, as created by one Almighty Parent, and
inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support,
and protect each other. On this principle,
Masonry unites men of every country, sect, and
opinion, and conciliates true friendship among
those who might otherwise have remained at a
perpetual distance.
Relief
To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent
on all men; but, particularly, on Masons,
who are linked together by an indissoluble
chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy,
to sympathize with their misfortunes, to
compassionate their miseries, and to restore
peace to their troubled minds, is the grand aim
we have in view. On this basis, we form our
friendships and establish our connections.
Truth
Truth is a divine attribute, and the foundation
of every Virtue. To be good and true is the
first lesson we are taught in Masonry. On this
theme, we contemplate, and by its dictates, endeavor
to regulate our conduct; hence, while influenced
by this principle, hypocricy and deceit
are unknown among us. Sincerity and plain
dealing distiguish us, and the heart and tongue
join in promoting each other's welfare, and
rejoicing in each other's prosperity.
* * * * and allude to the four cardinal virtues,
Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and
Justice, and are thus explained:
Temperance
Temperance is that due restraint upon our
affections and passions, which renders the
body tame and governable, and frees the mind
from the allurements of vice. This virtue should
be the constant practice of every Mason; as he
is thereby taught to avoid excess, or contracting
any licentious or vicious habit, the indulgence
of which might lead him to disclose
some of those valuable secrets which he has
promised to conceal and never reveal, and
which would consequently subject him to the
contempt and detestation of all good Masons * * * *.
Fortitude
Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose
of the mind, whereby we are enabled to under go any pain, peril, or danger, when prudentially
deemed expedient. This virtue is equally distant
from rashness and cowardice; and, like the
former, should be deeply impressed upon the
mind of every Mason, as a safeguard or security
against any illegal attack that may be made, by
force or otherwise, to extort from him any of
those secrets with which he has been so
solemnly intrusted, and which were
emblematically represented upon his first admission
into the lodge * * * *.
Prudence
Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives
and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason,
and is that habit by which we wisely judge and
prudentially determine all things relative to our
present as well as to our future happiness. This
virtue should be the peculiar characteristic of
every Mason, not only for the government of
his conduct while in the lodge, but also when
abroad in the world. It should be particularly
attended to in all strange and mixed companies,
never to let fall the least sign, token, or word
whereby the secrets of Masonry might be unlawfully
obtained * * * *.
Justice
Justice is that standard, or boundary of right,
which enables us to render to every man his just
due without distinction. This virtue is not only
consistent with divine and human laws, but is
the very cement and support of civil society;
and, as justice in a great measure constitutes the practice of every Mason, never to deviate from the minutest principle thereof * * * *.