His afflicted widow pined away in retirement at his sepulchre; until one evening, as she was returning from the performance of her melancholy duty, along the terrace from the gate Shallecheth to the royal palace, where probably she had apartments, overcome by the intensity of her feelings, she precipitated herself from the arched causeway which overhung the valley of Moriah, and perished in the dreadful abyss. To perpetuate the recollection of these distressing circumstances, the Israelitish and Tyrian monarchs erected three brazen statues; one at Jerusalem, another at Joppa, and a third at Tyre; the former of which was carried in triumph to Rome by Titus, after the final destruction of Herod's temple; and the latter shared in the demolition of Tyre by Alexander the Great. The principles of Masonry thus cemented and exemplified in the experience derived from the erection of this magnificent temple was propagated throughout the world. "Many of Solomon's Masons, before he died, began to travel, and carried with them their skill and taste in architecture, with the secrets of the fraternity, into Asia, Africa, and also into Europe; for the old constitutions affirm that one called Ninus, who had been at the building of Solomon's Temple, carried the art into Germany and Gaul. In many places, being highly esteemed, they obtained special privileges; and because they taught their liberal art only to the free-born, they were called Free Masons; constituting Lodges in the places where they built stately piles, by the encouragement of the great and wealthy, who soon requested to be accepted as members of their Lodges, and Brothers of the craft; till by merit those Free and Accepted Masons came to be Masters and Wardens. Even princes and potentates supported it, were cut out of the solid marble rock. At the end of the gallery there is a narrow passage, through which there is an entrance into a large room or hall, of about twenty-four feet square; within which are several lesser rooms one within another, with stone doors opening into them; all which rooms, with the great room, were likewise cut out of the rock. In the sides of those lesser rooms are several niches, in which the corpses of the deceased kings were deposited in stone coffins. It seems to have been the work of King Solomon; for it could not have been made without vast expense; and it is the only true remainder of old Jerusalem which is now to be seen in that place." (Prid. Con. vol. 1. p. 27. from Maundrell, p. 76.), became Grand Masters, each in his own dominions, in imitation of King Solomon, whose memory, as a Mason, has been duly revered, and will be till architectures hall be consumed in the general conflagration." Such were the results of the union of Speculative and Operative Masonry at the building of this noble edifice. It was symbolized in the temple itself, which was a place for the worship of all nations ;-universal as the attributes of him in whose honour it was erected. Here was a Sanctum Sanctorum for the residence of the Divinity; a holy place or sanctuary for the priests; a portico and courts for the Jewish people; and a court for the Gentiles; besides innumerable apartments for the accommodation of all. Unfortunately, the Light of Speculative Masonry became obscured and almost extinguished by Jewish apostacy, added to the meretricious attractions of the spurious system, before their total punishment by the captivity of Babylon; when the temple was razed to its foundations; and Light, or the Shekinah of God, withdrawn for ever. Where is this gorgeous temple now? Where the altars and cherubim and vessels of silver and gold? Where are the palaces of the Jewish monarchs;-where the cities, and gardens, and vineyards of Palestine? All vanished from the face of the earth. The rich and prolific soil of Judea the land of milk and honey-is a barren waste, unfit for the abode of man. The rock on which the temple was built presents its bare breast to every storm; and appears, in its utter desolation, to lament the downfall of its glories. The Niobe of nations! There she stands, 27 Noorth. Const. p. 31. Byron. LECTURE X. ON THE FORM AND DISPOSITION OF A MASONS' Lodge. A LODGE OF MASONS consists of a certain number of Brethren who are assembled together to expatiate on the mysteries of the craft; having the Holy Bible open on the Pedestal to teach them the sacred principles of religion and justice; on which rest those two expressive emblems the Square and Compass, to remind them of the duties they owe to society and to themselves; the Book of Constitutions, where they may study the general statutes of Masonry; the Bye-Laws, to point out their duty as members of an individual Lodge; and the Warrant, by virtue of which, having been issued by the Grand Lodge, and enrolled in the archives of the Province where it is situated, at the general quarter sessions of the peace, the Brethren meet to transact the business of Masonry. The Form of the Lodge is an oblong square, situated due East and West; supported by three pillars, and standing on holy ground. Its dimensions are unlimited, and its covering no less than the spangled canopy of heaven. To this object the Mason's mind is continually directed; and in those blessed regions he hopes at last to arrive by the aid of the theological ladder, which Jacob in his vision beheld reaching from earth to heaven; the three principal rounds of which admonish us to have faith in God, hope in immortality, and charity to all mankind. From these general principles it appears that a Masons' lodge is a microcosm or miniature world, over which the glory in the centre sheds its refulgent rays, like the sun in the firmament, to enlighten the Brethren in the paths of virtue and science. In the Lodge, the practice of social and moral virtue is as essential towards the Brethren, and invested with the same degree of approbation or censure, as the performance of our public duties as Christians and citizens of the world at large. Hence arises the propriety of that sublime recommendation in the charge which is delivered to an Entered Apprentice at his initiation, to practise "the important duties he owes to God, to his neighbour, and to himself. To God, by never mentioning his name but with that awe and reverence with are due from the creature to the Creator, by imploring his aid, on all lawful undertakings, and by looking up to him in every emergency for comfort and support. To his neighbour, by acting with him upon the square; by rendering him every kind office which justice or mercy may require; by relieving his distresses, and soothing his affliction; and by doing to him as, in similar cases, he would wish to be done to. And to himself, by such a prudent and well regulated course of discipline, as may best conduce to the preservation of his corporeal and mental faculties in their fullest energy; thereby enabling him to exert the talents wherewith God has blessed him, as well to his glory as to the welfare of his fellow-creatures." A Mason sitting in his Lodge, surrounded by the characteristic symbols which are distributed on all sides, feels that he is a member of the universal lodge of nature; created by the Author and Source of Light and redeemed by divine love or Charity. He seriously reflects on the incumbent duties that bind him to practise the permanent virtue and morality which these emblems embody and recommend; in the hope that when he is finaly summoned to give up his accounts, he may he transferred from his lodge on earth to the Grand Temple above; there to enjoy for ever the bright system of Freemasonry in its perfect and glorified state of ineffable Light, unbounded Charity, and undisturbed Peace. I now proceed to consider in detail the characteristic principles which prevail in the form and disposition of our Lodges. 1. They are formed in upper chambers, and carefully guarded by tyled doors and drawn swords. The highest of hills and the lowest of valleys are situations the least exposed to unauthorized intrusion. Thus Masons are said to meet in these situations to commemorate a remarkable custom of the ancient Jews in the building of their temples, schools, and synagogues; and as by the Jewish law, whenever ten of them assembled together for that purpose, they proceeded to work; so it was with our ancient brethren, who formed themselves into a Lodge whenever ten Operative Masons were assembled, consisting of the Master, two Wardens, and seven Fellow Crafts. Such places were always accounted holy; and the spirit of God was thought to repose on the highest hills. Thus the Deity appeared to Abraham on Mount Moriah; to Moses on Mount Sinai and Pisgah; whose cemetery was in the valley; and was constantly present on the former mountain after the building of the temple. The final Grand Lodge which shall be holden on earth will be convened in the valley of Jehoshaphat, or Judgment; when the captivities of Judah and Jerusalem shall be restored, and all nations gathered together into one fold under one shepherd. This belief appears to have been confirmed by the Almighty himself; for he said to the prophet Ezekiel "upon the top of the mountain, the whole limit thereof, round about, shall be most holy." For the same reason the nations by which the Jews were surrounded sacrificed on the summit of high hills. Generally before the erection of temples, the celestial deities were worshipped on mounds, and the terrestial ones in valleys. At a later period we find Christian churches placed on eminences wherever it was practicable. In such situations, therefore, our ancient brethren opened their Lodges; and tradition says that, on this principle, the oldest Lodge in England was held in a crypt beneath the foundations of York Cathedral. Such precautions, in those early times, were esteemed necessary for the preservation of that secrecy by which our |
