the statue of Jupiter Olympus set up on the altar of burnt sacrifices.

3838 Judas Maccabeus reigns, and defeats Apollonius, Nicanor, Georgias, and Lysias.

3840 Judas Maccabeus purifies the temple, after three years' defilement by the Gentiles.

3841 Antiochus Eupator enters Jerusalem, and demolishes the wall which Judas Maccabeus had

built to secure the temple from the insults of the citadel.

3985 Herod undertakes to rebuild the temple. 4063 Paul shipwrecked at Malta.

4064 The Jews build a wall, which hinders Agrippa from looking within the temple."

4073 Titus marches against Jerusalem, a Roman soldier sets fire to the temple.

4074 Titus demolishes the temple to its foundations and destroys the city. 3

13

LESSON XIX.

Charge to a newly exalted Companion.

26 WORTHY COMPANION,

"By the consent and assistance of the members of this chapter, you are now exalted to the sublime and honourable degree of a royal arch mason. Having attained this degree, you have arrived at the summit and perfection of ancient masonry, and are consequently entitled to a full explanation of the mysteries of the order.

"The rites and mysteries developed in this degree have been handed down through a chosen few, unchanged by time, and uncontrouled by prejudice; and we expect and trust they will be regarded by you with the same veneration, and transmitted with the same scrupulous purity to your successors.

"No one can reflect on the ceremonies of gaining admission into this place, without being forcibly struck with the important lessons which they teach.

"Here we are necessarily led to contemplate with gratitude and admiration the sacred source from whence all earthly comforts flow; here we find additional in⚫ ducements to continue steadfast and immoveable in the discharge of our respective duties; and here we are bound, by the most solemn ties, to promote each other's welfare, and correct each other's failings, by advice, admonition, and reproof.

"As it is our most earnest desire, and a duty we owe to our companions of this order, that the admission of every candidate into this chapter should be attended by the approbation of the most scrutinizing eye, we hope

always to possess the satisfaction of finding none among us, but such as will promote to the utmost of their power the great end of our institution. By paying due attention to this determination, we expect you will never recommend any candidate to this chapter, whose abilities and knowledge of the foregoing degrees you cannot freely vouch for, and whom you do not firmly and confidently believe will fully conform to the principles of our order, and fulfil the obligations of a royal arch mason. While such are our members, we may expect to be united in one object, without lukewarmness, inattention or neglect; and that zeal, fidelity and affection will be the distinguishing characteristics of our society, and that satisfaction, harmony and peace be enjoyed at our meetings, which no other society can afford."

LESSON XX.

Closing.

The chapter is closed with solemn ceremonies, and the following prayer is rehearsed, by the most excellent high priest:

"By the Wisdom of the Supreme High Priest may we be directed, by his Strength may we be enabled, and by the Beauty of virtue may we be incited, to perform the obligations here enjoined on us, to keep inviolably the mysteries here unfolded to us, and invariably to practise all those duties out of the chapter, which are inculcated in it."

Response. So mote it be. Amen.

After these observations, little more can be wanted to encourage the zealous mason to persevere in his researches. Whoever has traced the art in regular progression from the commencement of the first to the conclusion of the seventh degree, according to the plan here laid down, will have amassed an ample store of useful learning; and must reflect with pleasure on the good effects of his past diligence and attention; while, by applying the whole to the general advantage of society, he will observe method in the proper distribue tion of what he has acquired, and secure to himself the veneration of masons, and the approbation of all good

men

CHAPTER XV.

Observations on the Order of High Priest.

THIS order appertains to the office of High Priest of a Royal Arch Chapter, and no one can be legally entitled to receive it until he has been elected to sustain that office in some regular chapter of Royal Arch Masons.

The following passages of scripture are made use of during the ceremonies appertaining to this order, viz.

LESSON I.

Gen. xiv." And it came to pass, in the days of Ams raphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with

Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zebeiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth-Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh-Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar. And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, (the same is Zoar,) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; with Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings with five. And the vale of Siddim was full of slime-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there and they that remained fled to the mountain. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, (who dwelt in Sodom) and his goods, and departed. And there came one, that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confed. erate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained ser