It is true this custom continued long after the cause which produced it, ceased to be respected. Preston, in his illustrations of masonry, in giving a description of St. Paul's Cathedral, says, “ A strict regard to the situation of this edifice, due east and west, has given it an oblique appearence in respect to Ludgate-street in front." This building was finished in 1696. Its architect, Sir Christopher Wren, in a letter dated 1707, addressed to a joint commissioner with himself for building churches to supply the places of those destroyed by the conflagration of 1666, observes, "As to the situation of the churches, I should propose they be brought forward as far as possible into the larger and more open streets. Nor are we, I think, too nicely to observe east or west in the position, unless it falls out properly." (See Anderson's Const. of Freemasonry.)

Have you any ornaments in your lodge? Yes, the masonic pavement, the blazing star, and the indented or tessled border. The Mosaic pavement is the flooring of the lodge. This points out the diversities of objects which decorate and adorn the creation, the animate as well as the inanimate parts thereof. "The same divine hand which hath blessed us with the sights of his glorious work in the heavens, he hath also spread the earth with a beautiful carpet: he hath wrought it in various colours, fruits and flowers, pastures and meads, he hath wrought it as it were, in mosaic work, giving a pleasing variety to the eye of man."-Smith.

The blazing star in the centre indicates that prudence which ought to appear conspicuous in the conduct of every mason. The indented or tessled border refers us to the planets, which in their various revolutions form a beautiful border of skirt work round that grand luminary the sun. The furniture of the lodge is the volume of the sacred law, the compass, and the square.

The origin of what is called mosaic work, as well as the term by which it is designated, appears to be lost through the lapse of time.

"The ancients, especially the Greeks, says Bailey, adorned their floors, pavements of temples, palaces, etc., with mosaic, or rather musaic work. A work composed of many stones, or rather matters of different colours, so disposed as to represent divers shapes and ornaments, birds, etc." Dr. Rees observes, "The critics are divided as to the origin and reason of the name mosaic." He then gives unsatisfactory hypotheses of several writers on the subject, and concludes by saying, "mosaic appears to have taken its origin from paving :" leaving the question as to the propriety of thus denominating any kind of paving unsolved. This matter having eluded the researches of the learned for so many ages, it is with diffidence I offer the following remarks:

"The rural works, says Pluche, not being resumed in Egypt till after the Nile had quitted the plain, they for this reason gave the public sign of husbandry the name of Moses or Museus, saved from the waters; and on the same account, the nine moons during which Horus, Apollo, or husbandry continued his exercises, went by the same name." Hence, as we have seen, originated the fable of the nine muses. "Isis, says the same writer, was so far the proclamation of the year, that she put on such

clothes and dresses as were agreeable to the four seasons. To announce the beginning of spring, that overspreads and enamels the earth with flowers and verdure, she wore carpets of different colours," etc.

Now, what could be more appropriate than to denominate the variegated and beautiful face of the earth in Egypt, during the nine months that bore the name of Moses or Museus, mosaic or musaic work, and to give the same appellation to its imitation ?

The Egyptians and other ancient nations held high hills, groves, etc. in superstitious veneration; and although, when more civilized, in order to shelter themselves from the weather, they quitted these favourite retreats, and worshipped their gods in temples, still it was natural that they should endeavour to imitate the scenes which they venerated, and had been accustomed to contemplate in their former devotions. With this view then, they decorated their temples so as, in some measure, to resemble the works of creation, as exhibited in the places where they before assembled for religious worship. And the name Mosaic or Musaic would naturally occur to them as proper to be given to this ornamental work, intended to represent the face of the earth during the nine mosaic months.

How many principles are there in masonry? Four point, line, superfices, and solid. Point, the centre, round which the master cannot err; line, length without breadth; solid comprehends the whole, (Pritchard.) This as before observed, is the definition of the science of geometry.

A Point within a Circle.

"In all regular, well constituted lodges, there is a point within a circle, which is bounded north and south by two parallel lines, one representing Moses, the other king Solomon. On the upper part of this circle rests the volume of the sacred law, which supports Jacob's ladder, the top of which reaches to heaven.* In going round this circle we must necessarily touch on both these parallel lines, and on the sacred volume, and while a mason keeps himself thus circumscribed he cannot err."— Carlile.

Although our ancient brethren dedicated their lodges to king Solomon, yet masons professing Christianity, dedicate theirs to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, who were eminent patrons of ma

"In the factitious caves, which priests everywhere constructed, they celebrated mysteries which consisted, says Origen against Celsus, in imitating the motion of the stars, the planets, and the heavens. The initiated took the name of constellations, and assumed the figure of animals. In the cave of Mithra was a ladder of seven steps, representing the seven spheres of the planets, by means of which souls ascended and descended; this is precisely the ladder in Jacob's vision; which shows that at that epoch the whole system was formed. There is in the royal library, a superb volume of pictures of the Indian gods, in which the ladder is represented with the souls of men ascend.ing it. See Bailey's Ancient Astronomy." (Ruins, p. 239.) I apprehend that the author is mistaken in regard to the steps of this allegorical ladder. The spheres of the planets being mere imaginary lines, and not so well adapted as the permanent constellations. And, in order to imitate the sun, the principal object of the pagan religious ceremonies, these would naturally be fixed upon for the purpose. The actors in the scenical representations in the cave of Mithra, by taking the name of constellations, and assuming the figure of animals, corroborate this opinion.

sonry; and since their time there is represented in every regular and well governed lodge, a 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 interest, to betray him on any occasion. This circle is embroidered 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 point out the whole duty of man. In going round the 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. (Webb.)

That expositors of masonry should differ in their interpretation of this figure, is not surprising. It is an astronomical enigma, the sense of which was probably lost sight of during the centuries in which the affairs of the lodge, with very few exceptions, were in the hands of ignorant craftsmen.

The sclution of the symbol I take to be as follows:-The point in the centre represents the Supreme Being; the circle indicates the annual circuit of the sun; and the parallel lines mark out the solstices within which that circuit is limited. The mason, by subjecting himself to due bounds, in imitation of that glorious luminary, will not wander from the path of duty. The device is ingenious, and its meaning ought to be restored in the lodge to its original intention.

The assertion that lodges were formerly dedicated to Solomon, is gratuitous, and I believe will not admit of proof. I am not sensible of any historical document that substantiates the fact. We know very little of masonry prior to the revival of the order in 1717. And we

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learn by the earliest report of its practices that the old masons hailed from the holy lodge of St. John. It is evident, as before observed, that the Druids adopted the names of their solstitial festivals, which had been assumed for them by the Christians, calling them St. Johns' days; and it is highly probable that they resorted to the same finesse to delude their enemies, as well as those of the fraternity who were not fully initiated into their mysteries, in dedicating their lodges to these saints.

This artifice of introducing the St. Johns among the symbols of masonry, has put the craft to their wits to invent a plausible story to meet the case, and they have come, it is presumed, to an erroneous conclusion, that this was done br Christian masons.

What do you learn by being a gentleman mason? Secrecy, morality, and good fellowship. What do you learn by being an operative mason? To hew, square, and mould stone; lay a level and raise a perpendicular. Have you seen your master to-day? Yes. How was he clothed? In a yellow jacket and blue pair of breeches. (The master is the compasses, the yellow jacket is the brass body, and the blue breeches are the steel points.) How old are you? Under seven. ("Denoting he had not passed master." Or rather that he had not passed to the fellow-craft's degree, seven years being formerly the term of an apprenticeship in freemasonry as in other trades.)

The five last questions and answers are from Prichard, and from the simplicity of the dialogue, it may be concluded the original language and facts have not been perverted, and consequently that there were accepted gentleman masons, that is not of the craft from the foundation of the institution.

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Fellow-Craft's Degree.

Are you a fellow-craft? I am. Why were you made a fellow-craft? For the sake of the letter G. What does the letter G denote? Geometry, or the fifth science. In another part of the same degree, G is said to denote the grand architect and contriver of the universe."* On being further questioned, the respondent replies, by letters four and science five this G aright doth stand, in a due art and proportion. You have your answer, friend. (N.B. Four letters are Boaz, fifth science, geometry.)

It has been seen, that by the doctrine of the Pythagoreans, as well as that of masonry, the Supreme Being is often confounded with geometry as containing the principles of the material world. This is in conformity to the source from which both derive their origin. "The secret doctrine of the Egyptian priests, like that of the Brahmins of India and the Magi of Persia, presents itself under the double form of a Theological and Cosmogonical system. It had for a basis, a species of pantheism, at one moment more physical, at another more intellectual in its character, and at times again combining both of these attributes; a personification of the powers of nature more or less identified with the powers of mind, and conceived in a point of view having reference to a mysterious unity in which the Deity and the universe were blended together."-(Professor Anthon's Class. Dict.)

(Prichard.) The importance bestowed upon geometry, the fifth science, according to masonic classification, may be another reason why five should compose a lodge.

How did you attain to this degree?-By the benefit of a grip and pass-word. The name of the grip is Jachin; that of the pass-word Shibboleth, which denotes plenty, and is represented by a sheaf of wheat suspended near a water-ford. (Allyn.) Did you ever work? Yes, in the building of the temple. Where did you receive your wages? In the middle chamber, which I entered through the porch, by seven winding stairs, where I discovered two great columns or pillars. The name of the one on the left hand is Boaz, and denotes strength, that on the right, Jachin, which denotes to establish; and when combined, stability; for God said, in strength will I establish this, mine house, to stand firm for ever. The house of God is the universe, which is doubtless established upon principles that will sustain it for ever. The pillars Boaz and Jachin are imaginary props, standing at the two equinoxes east and west, to support the world. Hence it may be remarked, that the pillar representing Boaz, or the sun, is properly said to denote strength, whereas in the apprentice's degree it is made to denote wisdom. Jachin, signifying Isis the moon, was a necessary appendage to the creation, and perhaps may be applied metaphorically, to establish.

"The sun is the creator and father, the moon the mother of all things. These two deities govern, produce, and nourish everything connected with the visible universe. The sun is the third Demiurgus, the supreme creative intelligence under the third form: incarnate he becomes Osiris, the author of all good, and it is he that completes the Egyptian trinity." (Anthon's Class Dict.)

Osiris, the sun, by his genial influence in the spring season, prepares the earth for cultivation, gives life to its various productions, and consequently enables the husbandman to commence his labours. Isis, the teeming mother, who personifies the earth as well as moon, nourishes during the summer the seeds committed to her bosom, and in the fall season rewards the labourer.

The pillars of Boaz and Jachin are described to be eighteen cubits high, twelve in circumference, and four in diameter.

The eighteen cubits refer to the inundation of the Nile, being the highest elevation it is known to have attained. The twelve cubits relate to the twelve signs of the zodiac, through which the sun passes; and the four cubits have reference to the tetractys, which comprehends the principles of geometry, point, line, superfices, and solid.

The pillars are adorned with two large chapiters, which are ornamented with net work, denoting unity; lily-work, denoting peace; and pomegranates, which, from the exuberance of their seeds, denote plenty. It is only the pillar of Jachin, which represents Isis, the emblem of harvest, that is decorated with pomegranates in the figures of these