CHAPTER XI.

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WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUISITE IN ALL WHO ASPIRE TO TAKE OF THE SUBLIME HONOURS OF THOSE WHO ARE DULY INITIATED INTO THE MYSTERIES, AND INSTRUCTED IN THE ART OF MASONRY.

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Whoever, from love of knowledge, interest,. or curiosity, desires to be a Mason, is to know that, as his foundation and great corner stone, be is firmly to believe in the Eternal God. Mason must observe the moral law! and if he rightly understand the royal art, he will never be an atheist or an irreligious libertine.

In ancient times, Masons were charged to comply with the religious opinions and usages of the country or nation where they sojourned or worked, yet it is now thought most expedient that the brethren should only be charged to adhere to the essentials of religion, in which all denominations

agree; leaving each brother to his own judgment as to particular forms..... Whence, being good men and true, of unsullied honour and unfailing honesty, the order becomes the centre of union, and the means of conciliating true friendship.

Whoever would become a Mason, is further to be informed, that his obligations as a subject and a citizen will not be relaxed, but enforced. He is to be a lover of peace, and to be obedient to the civil powers, which yield him protection, and are set over him, where he resides or works, Nor can a real craftsman ever be concerned in conspiracies against the state, or be disrespectful to the magistrate; because the welfare of his country is his most happy earthly object.

virtues.

Whoever would be a Mason, should know how to practice all the private He should avoid all manner of intemperance, or excess, which might prevent his performance of the laudable duties of his craft, or lead him into enormities, which would reflect dishonour upon the fraternity. He is

to be industrious in his profession, and true to the Lord and master he serves. He is to labour justly, and not to eat any man's bread for nought; but to pay truly for his meat and drink..... What leisure his labour allows, he is to employ in studying the arts and sciences with a diligent mind, that he may the better perform all his duties, to his Creator, his country, his neigh, bours, and himself.

He is to seek and acquire, as far as possible, the virtues of patience, meekness, self-denial, forbearance, and the like, which give him the command of himself, and enable him to govern his own family with affection, dignity, and prudence at the same time checking every disposition injurious to the world, and promoting that love and service which brethren of the same household and profession owe to each other.

He should learn to abstain from all malice, slander, and evil speaking; from all provoking, reproachful, and ungodly language: keeping always a tongue of good report.

He should know how to obey those who are set over him; however inferiour they may be in worldly rank or condition. For although Masonry divests no man of his honours and titles, yet, in the lodge, preeminence of virtue, and knowledge in the royal art, is considered as the true source of all nobility, rule, and government.

A Mason is never to shut his ear unkindly against the complaints of any of the human race; yet, when a brother is oppressed, or suffers, he is in a more peculiar manner called to open his whole soul in love and compassion to him, and to relieve him without prejudice, according to his capacity.

The virtue indispensably requisite in a Mason, is secrecy. This is the guard of their confidence, and the security of their trust. So great stress is to be laid upon it, that it is enforced under the strongest penalties and obligations; nor, in their esteem, is any man to be accounted wise, who has not intellectual strength and ability sufficient to cover and conceal such honest secrets as are committed to him, as N

well as his own more serious and pri vate affairs.

No person is capable of becoming a member, unless, together with the virtues aforementioned, or at least a disposition to seek and acquire them, he is also free born; of mature age (or twenty-one years;) of good report; of sufficient natural endowments, and the senses of a man; with an estate, office, trade, occupation, or some visible way of acquiring an honest livelihood, and of working in his craft, as. becoming the members of this most ancient and honourable fraternity, who ought not only to earn what is sufficient for themselves and families, but likewise something to spare for works of charity. He must also be upright in body, not deformed or dismembered, at the time of making; but of hale and entire limbs, as a man ought to be.