liarly connected wilh Freemasonry, and received the sanction of God himself, who attended them in person, enveloped in a cloud of glory. These processions were accompanied by the banners of the twelve tribes,1o and many others emblazoned with various devices; and they were conducted on certain prescribed principles, under the immediate direction of God himself." Look at the procession of David to Mount Moriah, when it pleased the Lord to put a stop to the pestilence which raged amongst his people in consequence of his inadvertently having them numbered;12 and that most pompous one of Solomon, when his stately temple was dedicated.13 Look at the Jewish processions generally, and in particular, the triumphal one which preceded the feast of Purim.14 Contemplate, finally, that grand procession through the streets of Jerusalem, in which the Saviour of mankind was the most prominent character; when the people shouted in strains of gratulation, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!15 These are the holy models on it was emblematical of the united authority which Moses possessed, as king, priest, and prophet. It subsequently became the subject of many Rabbinical fancies. With the Hebrews, the sceptre was always a badge of authority. In Heb. xi. 21. we read that Jacob leaned on the top of his sceptre, or staff, as the patriarch of his race, while he was in the act of blessing the sons of Joseph. And it may be observed, that virga is frequently used in scripture for a sceptre. So in the Iliad, book ii. "The king of kings his awful figure rais'd, "By Vulcan formed, from Jove to Hermes came." After which, follows a long list of very important personages, through whose hands the sceptre descended to him; and in a subsequent book of the same Poem, the crier is introduced, placing this sceptre in the hands of Menelaus, and commanding the Greeks to be silent while he spake. 10 This was a most magnificent spectacle,-if, as some writers think, (viz. Montanus, Simlerus, Theodotion, Junius, and particularly Oleaster,) from the construction of the words ascenderunt quintati, that the Israelites marched by five in a rank, militari ordini, in battle array; for then, as the whole procession consisted of not much less than two millions of souls, it would have extended nearly a hundred miles in length,-led by Jehovah in a cloud,-attended by the ark of the covenant and tabernacle, -and the whole host overshadowed by numerous banners waving in the air. "The order of this procession may be found in the 10th chapter of the book of Numbers. 12 2 Sam. xxiv. 20. 14 Esth. vi. 11. 15 Matt. xxix. 9. 13 2 Chron. v. which our processions are founded; and you will, therefore, no longer be inclined to think that such observances are useless, or frivolous, or unnecessary. Masonic processions are conducted with much greater splendour on the continent than in this country. The superior officers of foreign lodges wear splendid robes of silk and velvet, of the three pure colours, decorated with gold and precious stones. I copy from a ritual of Helvetian ceremonies, in my possession, some other attendant circumstances, which are calculated to swell out the gorgeous magnificence of a masonic procession. "The Great Master walks under a purple, blue, and crimson canopy, with fine linen and bells, and decorated with tassels and fringes; the staves of his canopy are four, or eight, which are borne by Master Masons of the oldest lodge present; on the right hand of the Great Master is a sword-bearer; and on his left hand is a sword-bearer; before the Great Master is a standard, and behind him is a standard. All Masters of lodges present are under blue canopies, each borne by four Master Masons of his own company; the canopies are six feet long, and three feet broad; the staves are six feet long; the framework is of cedar, or pine, or box-wood; the covering hangs down not less than three feet on each side, and in front likewise. In the middle of the procesion is carried the ark, covered over with a veil of blue, purple and crimson, by four of the oldest Masons present. Such are the ceremonies and observances of Freemasonry. They speak a language to which every brother's heart responds, because they are connected with associations which are highly cherished and prized. These ceremonies cement an attachment to the Craft, which becomes more overwhelming as it is better understood; and as there does not exist a single rite which is barren of instruction, so they are all and each essentially necessary to the perfection of the system. Every increase of knowledge only shews more clearly the necessity of preserving the ancient Landmarks, and of enforcing those technicalities which every true Mason regards with respect and veneration, because they are at once the guardians of our treasures, and the discriminating tokens by which our claims to fraternity are unequivocally substantiated. COROLLARY. THE above Lectures, it is presumed, will be found to embody much valuable information on every branch which Freemasonry is supposed to embrace. Great pains have been taken in their composition, that the volume may constitute a book of reference worthy the attention of the scientific Mason, as well as of the brother whose talents are more humble and unpresuming. To both, profit and pleasure will mutually result from a careful perusal of its pages. I have been desirous of infusing a taste for the pure Philosophy of Masonry, that it may superinduce the habitual practice of those blooming virtues which its authorized Lectures so strongly recommend. For this purpose I have defined and illustrated the three great divisions of the science, and traced their existence in every country of the ancient world. I have endeavoured to shew that Light, as our ancient brethren denominated Freemasonry, was a system of primitive devotion, descending from heaven to enlighten and purify humanity; and that the idolatrous mysteries, which were the Spurious Freemasonry of heathen nations, were derived from it. The third and fourth Lectures explain minutely the object, tendency, and result of all these In the ancient Indian mythology, Light (Marichi) was the son of Brahma or Adam; while in Phoenicia, Light, Fire, and Flame are represented as the children of Cain. The designation is still acknowledged in our Masonic custom of dating a document from A. L., one meaning of which is Anno Lucis. 2" Rabbi Hagaon said there are three Lights in God-the Ancient Light or Kadmon; the Pure Light, and the Purified Light. Allix. Judgm. p. 170. three divisions, and show how they originated, and where they respectively flourished in all their glory, so as to constitute a distinct and influential feature in the civil government of all nations. Having traced the sciences known before the flood, and in particular those of Astronomy, Geometry, and Architecture, which were practised under the idea, if not under the name, of Operative Masonry, by the professors of the Spurious branch of our science; having pointed out how the imitative systems degenerated from the pure principles of primitive Lux, till they substituted the solar and sideral worship for the simple rites enjoined by a common Creator, and the symbol itself was universally adored; having produced some ancient Landmarks of the true system which were preserved in the Spurious Freemasonry, and shewn how they had become perverted from their original design by allegory and mystification; having described this polluted institution to shew that its influence was used for political purposes, to furnish the legislator and magistrate with unlimited power over the public mind, not only from the imposing splendour of its ceremonies, but from the severity of its penalties, and the equivocal nature of its doctrines; I have proceeded to take a review of the symbolical system, which was of such essential service to the Spurious Freemasonry, as to constitute the chief essence of all its mysterious rites and doctrines. The most remarkable emblems were found in the Egyptian, the Pythagorean, and the Druidical mysteries; and these have been copiously illustrated, in order to convey a general idea of the use and application of hieroglyphics in the Gentile world. The seventh Lecture, therefore, embraces a comprehensive view of the origin and use of symbols, with the intention of pointing out their application alike to the true and the Spurious Freemasonry. Of this kind were the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian types; many of which have been incorporated into our system of Freemasonry, and constitute a most delightful relief from studies that require a greater portion of serious thought. In a word, the symbolical illustrations of Masonry recommend it strongly to our notice; not merely by the pleasures which result from their acquisition, but from the genuine morality and unsullied benevolence which accompany their elucidation. An attentive consideration of the progress of Speculative and Operative Masonry, amongst the two grand divisions of men who preserved and who rejected the true faith and worship of God, as delineated in the preceding Lectures, will shew that the distance between them, at one period of the unhappy history of man's apos tacy, was wide as the poles asunder. And the true system of Light will display greater charms from its contrast with the hideous deformity of its spurious rival. For while, as Sir Walter Raleigh justly observes, the apostate race were employed in earthly pursuits, pleasure, and ambition, and in cultivating the arts of music, architecture, agriculture, and the working of metals; the celestial offspring practised the more exalted sciences of divinity, prophecy and astronomy: the children of one beheld the heavens; the children of the other, the earth. The eighth Lecture records the interesting fact, that Speculative and Operative Masonry, thus marked by broad and distinctive characteristics, made gradual approaches towards each other, as the time drew nigh for the erection of that gorgeous Temple in honour of the true God, which was destined to eclipse, in riches and glory, all the buildings which the pride or vanity of man should induce him to consecrate to deities of his own invention. At that period was consummated the beneficent union of Speculative and Operative Masonry, which produced results that excited the admiration of mankind. The events which occurred during the progress of this structure, are of such importance to our scienceembracing a wide range of ritual observances, and conducing to the enforcement of masonic discipline by precept and example-that I have thought it necessary to devote an especial Lecture to their consideration. The mass of valuable matter which lay before me-the curious documents the interesting traditions-the significant rites, and the historical associations of that period, so important to the Free and Accepted Mason-were of such vast moment, as to demand an extended illustration; although the suppression of many facts, which could not consistently be submitted to the public eye, was considered indispensable. I have, however, endeavoured to concentrate the principal masonic traditions |