suspense the most distressing that could be conceived. Hence arise the consolations of Hope. A firm reliance on the divine promises will enable us to circumscribe our wishes and desires within the limits of that most gracious covenant which God has established with us. An allsufficient atonement has been made for sin; by the efficacy of which, Hope points the way to an inheritance amongst the blessed saints in Light.

Charity is the third step of the Masonic Ladder; its foot based on revelation, and its summit concealed amidst the brilliant clouds of heaven. It consists of an ardent love of God, united with an unfeigned affection for all his creatures. Possessed of Charity, the heart expands the bosom warms-and a sensation of ineffable and unmixed kindness engrosses the whole man. Nor is this sublime virtue capable of a more restricted sense. If we exclude the divine love, and understand it simply of affection for our species, it becomes earthly; and we should find it difficult to assign a satisfactory reason why it should take the precedence of Faith and Hope. But if we consider Charity in its most extended sense, for the unfeigned love of God and man, the beauty of the principle immediately displays itself. The Mason who possesses a lively faith in God will endeavour to imitate the divine perfections on which the Hope of salvation is founded: and will be jealous to fulfill that precept which tests the purity of his Charity-" he who loveth God shall love his brother also."

Here, then, we find the joint and separate excellency of these three Theological Virtues clearly exemplified. Faith is the foundation and pedestal of the system. It points to duty, and displays the means of obtaining its reward. Hope is a polished Shaft raised on the Pedestal of Faith in the existence of a God, and of his superintending care over his creatures. This bright assurance adds vigour to our energies by the consoling promise of happiness, if sought in the ways of virtue and holiness. Charity is the beautiful Capital which crowns and completes the system. It constitutes the sublimity of Faith and Hope: because we have authority for saying that "Charity believeth all things; hopeth all things." Faith imprints a strong sense of responsibility on the mind, and opens to our view the prospect of a glorious recom

pense. Hope perseveres in a faithful discharge of its duty apprehending the reward to be attainable. But Charity surmounts all difficulties; turns duty to delight, and yields a tranquillity of mind which the world cannot bestow. This is the consideration which elevates Charity above all other graces and perfections.

Would you trace this sublime principle to its source? You must look beyond the bounds of time, you must penetrate the empyrean to the heaven of heavens; and there you will find it existing amongst the happy society of angels, before that black apostacy was introduced, which ended in the expulsion of the rebel spirits, and the restoration of this branch of Freemasonry, the bond of peace and of all virtues. And when the existence of this globe shall terminate; when the Great Architect of the Universe "shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God," masonic Charity will continue to illuminate those blessed abodes where the just exist to all eternity. This splendid branch of the Masonic science is the distinguishing characteristic of the Deity. All other virtues, whether cardinal or theological, are mortal-Charity alone is immortal. Like the central blazing star in the firmament of heaven, Charity shall shed its resplendent beams through ages of eternal glory.

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St. Paul, in language purely masonic, speaking of this virtue, says: " Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." What were the reasons which induced the Apostle to make this assertion? It was because these gifts are transient, and adapted to an imperfect state, because they would be useless in a state of beatitude and Light. Even Faith and Hope, though essential to every one during his mortal pilgrimage, will have no place in the realms of bliss. There we shall see the things which are now unseen, and consequently we shall not want the evidence of Faith. The first step of the Masonic Ladder being triumphantly passed, will be for ever done away. There we shall possess the things we now long for, therefore we shall not need the support of Hope. Thus the second step will finally vanish. But when Faith and Hope shall have had their perfect consummation, Charity

will still remain. The third step of the Ladder penetrates the highest heavens, and can never be destroyed. And when the darkness of death is past, and we are admitted into the Grand Lodge above, the region of eternal Light, the bright beams of Charity will be fully infused into our souls; and we shall make our glorious company with the angels and archangels and all the host of heaven. One mind and one voice will animate this heavenly society; and that mind and that voice will celebrate the praises of masonic charity. All will unite in the most perfect harmony to adore the Most High. Mutually rejoicing in each other's happiness, as there will be no wants to relieve, no distress to commiserate, all in that blessed Lodge will be filled with the pure essence of spiritual Freemasonry.

This, then, is the system of Charity which is taught in a Freemasons' Lodge. Is it necessary to enquire whether you feel proud of a science from which such purity flows

from which such blessings are conveyed? Do you feel happy in the prospect of sharing with the Holy Angels in the bliss which celestial charity confers on the just? Deprived of Charity, pleasure with all its allurementslearning with all its privileges-wealth with all its splendour of enjoyment-authority with all its painted pomp -are but a solemn mockery. Though we may possess the gift of prophecy; though we may understand all mysteries and all knowledge; though by Faith we could remove mountains; though we bestow all our goods to feed the poor, and give our bodies to be burned; yet if our hearts be not impressed with this supernal charity, all these possessions, brilliant and imposing though they may appear, will not help us one step on our road to heaven.

If, in the mansions of bliss, there is a graduated scale of rewards, adapted to the different degrees of approval, vouchsafed to individuals at the day of judgment—which is extremely probable, as there are many heavens mentioned in scripture each will be illuminated with a portion of that Light which streams from the throne of God, in the highest heaven; as the Most Holy place in the Temple was enlightened by the sacred Shekinah. And though the degree of Light and illumination will be, doubtless, proportioned to the class on which it is bestowed, yet whether they be made rulers over ten cities, or

over five or over two, whether theirs be the glory of the sun, the moon, or the stars, the very lowest grade of happiness will be favoured with the lucid presence of God, as well as that which may approach the nearest to his celestial throne, though not perhaps to the same extent; and the brotherhood, even of that comparative state of happiness, will receive a vast accession of knowledge and spirituality, and will enjoy, as in a supreme Grand Lodge, a portion of that ineffable Light and Charity, which has constituted, while on earth, the glorious object of their Faith and Hope. The true Freemason, if he have performed his work faithfully, and practised with freedom, fervency, and zeal, the incumbent duties of his profession, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and if he have turned many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.1

Let us, then, cultivate, not only in tyled Lodges, but in our general commerce with the world, this most excellent quality. Let us, from a genuine principle of refined charity, practise mutual forbearance; and reciprocate a constant interchange of kindness and affection. If Freemasonry be a beneficial institution, let its fruits appear, in the virtuous discharge of the social duties of life; for the Third Degree points to a day of responsibility, when the transient concerns of time shall have passed away-when the world and all its allurements shall have vanished like a morning dream-and purity of heart, induced by the presence of universal Charity, will alone enable us to endure the presence of the glorious Shekinah of God. As Masons, let us use the present world, without abusing our fraternal privileges; for if all our time be expended in the acquirement of worldly knowledge, or in the gaiety of worldly pleasure, and we neglect to enlighten our minds with this celestial virtue, we shall be fatally convinced at that awful period when the everblessed Lodge above shall be opened never to be closed; when the last arrow of the mighty conqueror Death shall have been expended, and his bow broken by the iron hand of time, that St. Paul uttered the words of eternal truth when he said: "though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal."

Luke xix. 17.

31 Cor. xv. 41.

* Dan. xii. 3.

THE PERFECTION

LECTURE III.

TO WHICH OPERATIVE OR SCIENTIFIC MASONRY WAS CARRIED IN THE EARLIEST TIMES.

Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant, were the tents
Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race

Who slew his brother; studious they appear

Of arts that polish life, inventors rare,

Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit
Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none.

Milton.

THE study of Freemasonry in its several branches, and under every designation by which it has been recognized in all ages from the creation, cannot fail to enhance the moral dignity of man, from the influence which it has ever exercised over human institutions, whether civil or religious. The political relations, which the nomadic tribes of antiquity sustained towards each other, were cemented by the awful sanction of its local name, as the sacred vehicle of religious mystery; and the rites of initiation conveyed privileges which constituted a bond of union amongst individuals of every clime and every language; while under another form, as a medium for the development of scientific knowledge, its influence was no less felt, by its command over the arts which dignified and adorned nations, and contributed to the necessities and elegances of social and domestic life.

The cloud capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples,

the works of the sculptor, the statuary, the painter, and the engraver, which still live, not only in the desolate and uninhabited places of the earth, forsaken by the hordes which once crowded their streets and swarmed in