Operative Masonry And Freemasonry.

into the world for the aid , support , and protection of each other ; ou this princip le Ereemasonry unites men of every country , sect , and opinion , and by its dictates conciliates true friendship amongst those Avho might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distauce . To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men ,

particularly amongst Masons , who are linked together by one indissoluble chain of sincere affection ; hence , to sootli the unhappy , sympathize in their misfortunes , compassionate their miseries , and restore peace to their troubled minds , is the grand aim we have in view . On this basis we establish our friendship , and form our connexions .

Truth is a divine attribute , and the foundation of every Masonic virtue ; to be good men and true is a lesson we are taught at our initiation ; on this grand theme we meditate , and by its unerring dictates endeavour to regulate our lives and actions . Hence hypocrisy and deceit are or ought to be unknown to us , sincerity and plain dealing our distinguishing

characteristics , whilst all join in promoting each other ' s Avelfare , and rejoicing in the prosperity of the Craft . A Lodge of Freemasons consists of a certain number of brethren assembled together to expatiate on the mysteries of the Craft , having the Holy Bible on the pedestal to instruct them in the sacred duties they owe to Godto societyand to

, , themselves ; the square and compasses to regulate their lives and actions according to the true principles of justice ; the charter or warrant from the Grand Lodge , by virtue of which they are authorized to meet to transact the business of Ereemasonry ; the Book of Constitutions , wherein are laid down

the general statutes of the institution ; and the by-laws to guide them in their duty as members of an individual Lodge . Any number of regularly registered Ereemasons , not less than seven , being well skilled in the work and mysteries of the Craft , and of good report amongst their brethren , may petition the Grand Master for a dispensation , authorizing

fchem to organize a Lodge for Masonic purposes . When organized , a Lodge consists of the Worshi pful Master , Senior and Junior Wardens , Treasurer , Secretary , Senior and Junior Deacons , Inner Guard , and Tyler ; and as many members as a majority of the brethren may determine upon ( although more than thirty will generally be found inconvenient ) .

The Junior Warden is the ostensible SteAvard of the Lodge ; the fees and dues payable by the brethren ought to be collected by the Deacons , ancl placed on his pedestal , ancl after being compared wifch the Secretary's account and found correct , such portions as shall have been paid for registration , certificates , and the fund of benevolence , must be deposited

in tlie hands of the Worshipful Master , who is responsible for their legal appropriation , and the remainder transmitted to the Treasurer . It it also a part of his duty to call the brethren from labour to refreshment , and to superintend the affairs ofthe banquet , audit frequentl y happens that one or tAvo ofthe other members are selected aud appointedunder

, the denomination of Stewards , to assist him in this department of his duties . It also frequentl y happens that an expert brother is appointed to officiate as Master or Director of the Ceremonies , but he is an officer of convenience , not of necessity .

The Worshi pful Master is distinguished by the square ; the Senior Warden by the level ; the Junior Warden by the plumb-rule ; the Treasurer by a key ; the Secretary by tAvo pens in sallire , bound together by a ribbon ; each of tho Deacons hy a C ! OA * C bearing an OJIA-C branch , * fche Inner Guard by two swords in saltire , ancl the Tyler by a SAvord . These insi gnia are suspended from a collar , and worn by the several brethren Avhilst acting in the discharge , of their respective offices .

After a Lodge has been regularly organized , iu order to avoid irregularities it should be solemnly constituted by the Grand Master , with his Deputy and Wardens ; or , in the absence of the Grand Master , by his Deputy , ivho shall choose

some Master of a Lodge to assist him . If the Deputy be absent , the Grand Master may appoint some other Grand Officer or Master of a Lodge to act as Deputy pro tempore . The Lodge is then consecrated according to the ceremonies proper ancl usual upon these occasions , when the neiv Master enters immediately upon the exercise of his office , and in due

form instals his Wardens into their proper places . The other officers ofthe Lodge are then appointed and invested in antient form . The Lodge being thus duly constituted and consecrated , may then be pronounced in legitimate working order .

Ifc is customary for each Lodge , once in every year ; at a stated period , to select from amongsfc those AVIIO are Past Wardens , an expert Craftsman to preside over them in the capacity of Master ; he must have been regularly elected by the Master , Wardens , and . brethren in open Loclge assembled , ancl presented to a Board of installed Masters , that he may - receive from his predecessor the benefit of installation , the

better to qualify lfim for the discharge ofthe duties of his important trust . It must , hoAvever , be distinctly understood that a AVarden cannot be considered eligible to be elected to the Master ' s chair until he has held and actuallj' - executed the duties of his office for one entire year , i . e . , from the usual time of installation in one year to the same period

in another . But although either the Senior or the Junior Warden shall haA * e executed the duties of their respective offices for the full period , he will not be eligible for election to the Master ' s chair unless he possesses those qualifications AA'hich are essen tially necessary to that important office , for the Constitutions enjoin that all preferment amongst Masons

should be grounded upon real worth and piersonal merit , and that no brother shall bo elected Master of a Lodge , or appointed to any office therein , merely on account of seniority of rank ; therefore every candidate for the office of Master should be of good report , true and trusty , ancl held in high estimation amongst his brethren and felloAvs ; he ought to bo

exemplary in conduct , courteous in manners , easy of address , but steady in principle ; able and willing to undertake tho management of the work , and well skilled in the antient charges , regulations , and landmarks of the Order . Having been thus duly elected at the regular meeting of

the Lodge at the stated period , he may be installed at the next meeting , provided the minutes of his election bo previously confirmed . He then becomes entitled to the appellation of' Worshipful Master , and every brother is enjoined to use it ivhen addressing himself to the chair , because it is an office of dignity and respect .

The first duty Avhich the Worship ful Master is called upon to perform after being p laced in the chair , is to invest his jn'edecessor with the insignia of his rank as a Past Master , which is the diagram of the forty-seventh proposition in the first book of Euclid's Elements of Geometry , appended within the square . This proposition is generally

ascribed to Pythagoras , ancl ranks in the first class of geometrical truths—many different demonstrations are given of ifc by various geometers , but none are more simple and elegant than that of Euclid ; to this however may be added that a semicircle , or any plain rectilineal figure described on the hypothenuse can be shoAvn fco be equal to the sum ol

the semicircles or the like , and similarly described figures ; ou tho tivo other sides ofthe triangle it can also bo shown that the triangle , formed by a line drawn from and connecting the great ane ! lesser squares , is equal to tho triangle formed by a line draivn from and connecting the great and intermediate squares . This proposition being ofthe highest importance to

geometry , has therefore been selected and well applied to distinguish a Past Master of the Order , who , by his zeal , assiduity , and skill , lias gained tlie highest distinction it is possible to attain in the Lodge , and Avho , from his important and distinguished position , ought to be a pattern for imitation to the inexperienced-and younger members ofthe Craft .