but discovers all the inward beauties latent under the roughest surfaces. By education our minds are enlarged, and they not only range through the large fields of matter and space, but also learn with greater perspicuity, what is above all other knowledge, our real duty to God and man. YOUR TROWEL will teach you, that nothing is united and knit together without proper cement.No strict union, nor external polish can be made without it. And, as the Trowel connects each stone together, by a proper disposition of the cement; so charity, that bond of perfection and of all social union, (which I earnestly recommend to you all) links separate minds and various interests together; and, like the radii of a circle, that extends from the centre to every part of the circumference, makes each member have a tender regard for the real welfare of the whole community. But as some members will be refractory in every society, your HAMMER will likewise teach you how to use becoming discipline and correction towards such like offenders. If they will not submit to rule, you may strike off the excrescenes of their swelling pride, till they sink into a modest deportment. Are they irregular in their practices? Your HAMMER will instruct you to strike off each irregularity, and fit them to act a decent part on the stage of life. Do any affect things above their stations? Your HAMMER will teach you to press them down to their proper level, that they may learn in the school of discipline, that necessary knowledge-to be courteous. WHAT the HAMMER is to the workman, that enlightened reason is to the passions in the human mind: it curbs ambition, that aspires to its own and neighbour's hurt; it depresses envy, moderates anger, checks every rising frailty, and encourages every good disposition of the soul; from whence must arise that comely order, that delightful self-complacency, Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy, The soul's calm sunshine, and the heart-felt joy, THUS, from our instruments, may we all be instructed to raise a stately fabric of good works, upon the strong foundation of faith, that we may be fitted at last to inhabit that glorious house, Not made with bands, eternal in the heavens. Tt THE CEREMONY OBSERVED AT FUNERALS, ACCORDING TO ANCIENT CUSTOM WITH THE SERVICE USED ON THOSE OCCASIONS. No Mason can be interred with the formalities of the order, unless it has been by his own special request, communicated to the Master of the Lodge, of which he is a member, before his decease; nor unless he has been advanced to the third degree of Masonry, and has died a member of a regular constituted Lodge.* THE Master of the Lodge, on receiving intelligence of his death, and being made acquainted with the day and hour appointed for his funeral, is to issue his command for summoning the Lodge; and immediately to make application, by the Grand Secretary, to the Deputy Grand Master, for a legal power and authority to attend the procession, with his officers, and such brethren as he may approve of, properly clothed.+ *The last part of this restriction has been waved in behalf of foreigners and sojourners, but does not extend to residents and natives. By an express law of the Grand Lodge, it is enacted, "That no "regular Mason do attend any funeral, or other public procession, "clothed with the badges and ensigns of the order; unless a dispen"sation for that purpose has been obtained from the Grand Master, or "his Deputy, under the penalty of forfeiting all the rights and privileges THE dispensation being obtained, the Master may invite as many Lodges as he thinks proper, and the members of the said Lodges may accompany their officers in form; but the whole ceremony must be under the direction of the Master of the Lodge to which the deceased belonged; and he and his officers must be duly honoured, and chearfully obeyed on the occasion. ALL the brethren, who walk in procession, should observe, as much as possible, an uniformity in their dress.Decent mourning, with white stockings, gloves and aprons,* is most suitable and becoming; "of the society; and of being deprived of the benefit of the general fund "of charity, should he be reduced to want." As dispensations for public processions are seldom or never granted but upon very particular occasions, it cannot be thought that these will be very frequent, or that regular Masons will incline to infringe an established law, by attending those which are not properly authorised. Many public parades under this character, it is true, have been made of late years; but it may safely be affirmed, that they never received the sanction of the Grand Master, or the countenance of any regular Mason, conversant with the laws of the society. Of this the public may be easily convinced, if they reflect that the reputation of the whole fraternity would be at risk by irregularity on such an occasion; and it cannot be imagined, that the Grand Master, who is generally of noble birth, would so far degrade the dignity of his office, as to hazard the character of the society at large, by granting a dispensation from our established rules, for a public procession upon so trifling an occasion as a private benefit at a playhouse, public garden, or other place of general resort; where neither the interest of the fraternity, nor the public good, is concerned, and which, though it may be of advantage to one or two individuals, can never redound to the good of Masonry, or the honour of its patrons. This is the usual clothing of Master Masons. and no person ought to be distinguished with a jewel, unless he is an officer of one of the Lodges invited to attend in form. The officers of such Lodges should be ornamented with white sashes and hatbands; as also the officers of the Lodge to whom the dispensation is granted, who should likewise be distinguished with white rods. In the procession to the place of interment, the different Lodges rank according to their seniority; the junior ones preceding. Each Lodge forms one division, and the following order is observed: The Tyler, with his sword; The Stewards, with white rods; The Brethren out of office, two and two; The Treasurer, with his badge of office; The Master; The Lodge to which the deceased Brother belonged, in the following order, all the members having flowers or herbs in their hands: The Tyler; The Stewards; The Music, [Drums muffled, and Trumpets covered ;] The Members of the Lodge; The Secretary and Treasurer; The Senior and Junior Wardens; The Bible and Book of Constitutions on a cushion, |