CHAPTER XIV. ^

Observations on the Seventh, or Degree of Royal

Arch Mason.

THIS degree is indescribably more august, sub-
lime^ and impolrtant^ than all which precede it ;

154 FREEMASON'S MONITOR.

and 18 the summit and perfection of ancient ma-
•onry. It impresses on our minds a belief of the
being and existence of a Supreme Deity, without
beginning of days, or end of years ; and reminds
us of the reverence due to his holy name.

This degree brings to light many essentials of
the crafty which were for the space of four hun-
dred and seventy years buried in daricness : and
without a knowledge of which the masonic cha-
racter cannot be complete.

The following passage of scripture if read at
opening :—

2 THESSALONIANS iii. 0— 17*

'^ Now we command you^ brethrenj that yf
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walk-
eth disorderly^ and not after the tradition which
ye received of us. For yourselves know how -ye
ought to follow us, for we behaved ourselves not
disorderly among you. Neither did we eat any
man's bread for nought, but wrought with labour
and travel day and night, that we might not be
chargeable to any of you. Not because we have
not power, but to make ourselves an example unto
you to follow us. For even when we were with
you, this we commanded you, that if anywould
not work, neither should he eat : Fw we hear
there are some who walk among you disorderly.

FREBliCAdCN'S MONITOR^ 155

w^Nrking not at all^ but are bu8y-lx)dies. Now
them that are such, we command and exhort^ that
with quietness they work^ and eat their own bread.
But ye^ brethren^ be ye not weary in well doing.
And if any man obey not our word^ note that man^
and have no company with him^ that he may be
adiamed. Yet count him not as an enemy^ but
4|dmonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of
peace himself give you peace always. The salu-
tation of Paul^ with mine own hand^ which !• the
token : so I write.^

Observations on the Seventh Lecture.

The lecture of this degree is divided into two
sections^ and should be well understood by every
royal arch mason ; upon an accurate acquaintance
Mdth it^ will depend his usefulness at our assem-
blies ; and without it, he will be unqualified to
perform the duties of the various stations in whkh
his services may be required by the chapter.

The First Section.

The first section opens to our view a large field
&r contemplation and study. It furnishes us with
many interesting particulars relative to the state
of the fraternity, during and since the reign of
King Solomon ; and illustrates the causes and cod-

250' CRXEMASOK'S MONITOR.

sequences of tofme very important events whidi
occurred daring his reign*

This section explains the mode of government
in this class of masons ; it designates the appella*
tion^ number^ and situation^ of the several officers ;
and points out the purposes and duties of their re*
^pective stations.

The Second Sectiotu

This section contains much valuable historical
information, and proves, beyond the |>ower of ccm-
tradiction, and in the most striking colours, that
prosperity and happiness are ever the ultimate ccm-
sequences of virtue and justice, while disgrace and
ruid invariably follow the practices^ of vice and
immorality^

A proper arrangement of the following charges,
&c« is essentially necessary to be observed in eveiy
chapter.; and their application should be familiar
to every royal arch mason.

Isaiah xlii. 10. *^ I will bring the blind by a
way that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths
that they have not ksiown ; I will make the dark-
ness light hefore them, and crooked things straights
These things will I do unto them^ and wiU not
ibrsake themiiV

FA££MASON'3 MONITOR. 157

Prayer rehearsed during the Ceremony of Exal-
tation to the Degree of Royal Arch Mason.

** Supreme Architect of Universal Nature, who,
by thine almighty word, didst speak into being
the stupendous Arch of Heaven, and, for the in-
struction and pleasure of thy rational creatures,
didst adorn us with greater and lesser lights ;
thereby magnifying thy power, and endearing thy
■goodness unto the sons of men : we humbly adore
and worship thine unspeakable perfection. We
bless thee that when man had fallen from his in-
nocence and his happiness, thou didst still leave
unto him the powers of reasoning, and capacity
of improvement and of pleasure. We thank thee
-that amidst the pains and calamities of our present
state, so many means of refreshment and satisfac-
tion are reserved unto us, while travelling the
rugged path of l\fe. Especially would we at this
time render theet>ur thanksgivuig and praise ibr
the institution, ^ members of which we are at this
time assembled, and for all the pleasures we have
decived from it. We thank thee that the few here
assembled before thee, have been favoured with
new inducements, and laid under new and strong-
er obligations, to virtue and holiness. May these
obligations. Oh blessed Father, have their full ef-
fect upon us. Teach us, we pray thee, the true

o

158 VaSEMASON'S MONITOR.

'' reverence of thy greats mighty and terrible name.
Inspire us with a firm and unshaken resolution in
our virtuous pursuits. Give u& grace diligently to

^ search thy word in the Book of Nature, wherein
the duties of our high vocation are incultafted with
divine authority. May the solemnity of the ceye-
ftionies of our insftitution be duly impressed on ouir
tninds, a&d have a lasting and happy effect upon
our lives. Oh thou who didst aforetime appear
unto thy servant Moses in u flame offlfe out of
$he midst ofu bushy enkindle, we beseech thee,
m each of our hearts, a flame of de\»otioii^o thee,
of love to each other, and of charity to all man-
kind. May all thy miracles arid mighty works

m

fill us with the dread, and thy goodness impress
tis with the love, of thy holy name. May holiness
io the Lord be engraven on all our thoughts,
words and actions. May the incense of piety as-
cend continually unto thee from the attar of our
heaiis, and burn, day and nighf^,'as a sacrifice of
•a swe^ ismelling savour, well pleasing unto thee.
And since sin has destroyed within us the Jirst
temple of purity and innocence', may thy heavenly
grace guide land assist us in rebuilding a ^ecdiid
temple of reformation, and may ^he glory of this
latter house be greater than the gloiy of the for-
jner. jimen.^ *

Exodus iii. 1-^. <^ Now Mo$e;s kept the flock
of Jethro his father in. l^w^ the pciest of Midian ;
and he led the fiock to the back side of the desert^
and came to the mountaw of 6od^ even to Horeb»
Aod t\u^ ang|M of the Lopd appeared unto him hh
a flan^. of fire out of the midst of a bush: and h^
looked^ aad> behold^ the bush biuroed with fire^ and
tha bush was not consumed* And Moses said, I
will Qow turn asWe^ and see tha great sight, why
th^ bush is not burned. And when the Lord saw
tbfit he turned aside to see, God called unto him
out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Mo-
ses, And he said. Here am I. And he said. Draw
not nigh hither : put off thy shoes from off thy feet>
for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground*
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, th^
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob. A^d Moses hid his face, for he was
afraid to look upon God/*

2 Ckron. xxxvi. II — 20. " Zedekiah wa&one
and twenty years old when he began to reign^
and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did
that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his
God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the
prophet, speaking from the mouth of the Lord.
And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnez-
zar, and stiffened his neck, and hardened his heaj:t
from turning unto the Lord God of braeU

160 VRSSMASOK'S MONITOR.

*^ Moreover all the chief of the priests and the
people transgressed very much^ after all the abo-
minations of the heathen, and polluted the house
of the Lord, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by
his messengers ; because he had compassion on his
people, and on his dwelling place. But they mock-
ed the messengers of God, and despised his words,
and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the
Lord arose against his people, till there was no
remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the
King of the Chaldces, who slew their young men
with the sword, in the house of their sanctuary,
and had no compassion upon young man, or mai-
den, old man, or him that stooped for age : he
gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels '
of the house of God, great and small, and the
treasures of the house of the Lord, and the trea-
sures of the king^ and of his princes ; all these he
brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of
God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and
burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and de-
stroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them
that had escaped from the sword, carried he away
to Babylon ; where they were servants to him
and his sons, until the reign of the kingdom of
Persia.'*

FREEMASaN'S MONITOJEU 161

. Ezra l I — 3. " Now in the first yearW Cyrus,
king of Persia, the Lord stirred up the spirit of
Cyrus, king of Persia, that he made a proclamation
throughout all his kii>gdom, and put it also in writ-
ing, saying. Thus saith Cyrus^king of Persia, The
Lord God of Heaven hath given me all the king-
doms of the earth, and he hath charged me to
build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Ju-
dah, Wha is there among you of all his people f
his God be with him, and let him go pp to Jerusa-
lem which is in Judah, and build the house A the
liord God of Israel, which is in Jerusalem.**

Exodus iii. 13, 14. ^ And Moses said unto
God, Behold, when I come unto the children of
Israel, and shall say unto them. The God of your
fathers hath sent me unto you ; and they shall say
to me. What is his name ? what shall I say unto
theni ?

^ And God said unto Moses, I AM that I
AM : And thus shalt thou say unto the chiidre^t
of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."

Psalm €xli. ^' Lord, I cry unto thee : make
haste unto me : give ear unto my voice^ Let
my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacri-
fice. Set a watch, Lord, before my mouth ;
keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart
to any evil thing, to practise wicked works witb

O 2

162 TRK£MASON'S MONITOR.

men that work iniquity. Let the righteous smite
me^ it shall be a kindness ; and let him reprove
me, it shall be an excellent oil. Mine eyes are
unto thee, O God the Lord : in thee is my trust ;
leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the
snares which they have laid for me, and the gins
of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall
^ft^^ their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.'^

psalm cxlii. " I cwed unto the Lord with my
▼oics ; with my voice unto the Lord did I make
my iiipplication. I poured out my complaint be-
fore him : I shewed before him my trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
then thou knewest my path : in the way wherein
I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there
was no man that would know me : refuge failed
me : no man cared for my souL I cried unto
thee, O Lord : I said, Thoii art my refuge, and
my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto
my cry ; for I am brought very low : deliver me
from my persecutors ; for they are stronger than L
Bring my soul out of darkness, that I may praise
thy name.*'

Psalm cxliii. ^' Hear my prayer, O Lord .
give ear to my supplications : in thy faithfulness
answer me^ and in thy righteousness. And enter
not into Judgment with thy servant : for in thy

FREEMASON'S MONITOR. 163

sight shall no man living be justified. For the
enemy hath persecuted my soul ; he hath smitteif
my life down to -ihe ground : he hath made me
to dwell in darkness. Therefore is my spirit over-
whelmed within me : my heart within me is de-
solate. Hear me speedily, O Lord ; my spirit
faileth : hide not thy face from me, lest I be like
unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me
to hear thy loving kindness in the morning ; for in
thee do I trust : cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk ; for I lift up my soul unto
thee. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art
my God : bring my soul out of trouble, and of
thy mercy cut oiF mine enemies,, for I am thy
servant.**

Exodus iv. 1 — 10. *' And Moses answered^
and said. But behold, they will not believe me,
nor hearken unto my voice : for they will say.
The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. And the
Lord said unto him^ What is that in thine hand ?
And he said, A rod. And he safd. Cast it on the
ground ; and he cast it on the ground, and it be-
came a serpent; and Moses fled from before iu
And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine
hand, and take it by the tail* And he put forth
hfs hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his
liand. That they may believe that the Lord God
of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of

164 FREEMASON'^S MOKITOR.

I$aac^ and the God of Jacobs hath appeared unfor
thee.

''And the Lord said furthermore unto him. Put
now thine hand into thy bosom ; and he put bi«
band into his bosom : and when he took it out,
behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And her
said. Put thine hand inta thy bosom again : and
he put his hand into his bosom again, and plucked
it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned
again as his other flesh* And it shall come txf
pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearkeo
to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe
the voice of the latter sign^

'' And it shall come to pass, if they will not be*
lieve alsa these two sign^, neither hearken unta
thy voice, that thou shalt take of the wafer of the
river, and pour it upon the dry land : and the wa-
ter which thou takest out of the river, shall be*
come blood upon the dry land."

Haggai ii. 1 — 9, 23, " In the seventh months
in the one and twentieth day of the month, came
the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, say-
iQg9 Speak now to 2^rubbabel the. son of Sheal-
tiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of
Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of thir
people, saying. Who is left among you that saw
Ibis house in her first glory ? and how do ye see
it now ? is it not in your eyes in comparison of is

FKBEMASON»S MONITOR. 165

as nothing ? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel,
and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech the high
priest, and be strong all ye people of the land,
and work ; for I am with you, according to the
'Word which I covenanted with you when ye came
out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among^'you:
fear ye not. For thus saith the Lord of Hosts,
Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the
heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry
land : and I will shake all nations, and the desire
of all nations' shall come, and I will fill this house
with glory. The silver is mine, and the gold is
mine. The glory of this latter house shall be
greater than of the former, and in this plaice will
I give peace."

** In that day will I take thee, *Zerubbabcl,
my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord,
and will make thee as a signet : for I have chos*

m

en thee."

Zechariah i v. 6 — 1 0. ^' This is the word of
the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying. Not by might
nor power, but by my spirit. Who art thou,
great mountain ? before Zerubbabel thou shalt be-
come a plain, and he shall bring forth the head
stone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace,
unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came
unto me, sa3nng. The hands of Zerubbabel have
laid the foundation of this house, his hands shall

IM VREEMASON'5 MONITOR.

aho finish it ; and thou £balt know that the Lord
of Hosts hath seat me unto you. For who hath
despised the day of ajuali things ? for they thalL
rejoice, and. shall see the plumniet in the handt
of Zerubhahel with those seven."

Johu I. l-^« '' la the beguining was th*
Word, and the Word was with God» and th#i
Word was God, The same was in the begging
with God. All things were made by him ; and
without him was. not any thing made that wae
made. In him was life, and the life was the
light of men. And the light shineth ia darkness^
and the darkness comprehendeth it not.**

Deuter. xxxi. 24 — 29. '^ And it caoie to
pass when Moses had made an end of writing the
words of this law in a boqk, imtil they were fin-
ished, that Moses commanded the Levites whieb
bare the ark of the covenant of the l4drd,^sayi]»g,
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side
of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God,
that it may be th^re for a witness against thee.*^

Exodus XXV. 21. '^ And thou shall put the
mercy seat above, upon the ark ; ^nd in the arilr
thou shalt put the testimony that I sbaU give
thee.''

Exodus xvu S2-— S4. ^' And Moses 8aid>
This is the thing which the Ziord eommaadetb^
Fill as QjDQier of the manna,, to be kept f<^ jQut

WEiafl&ASON'S MONITOJR* 167

generations ; that they may see the trread where-
with 1 have fed you in the wilderness, when I
brought you forth fi^om ^he land of Egypt. And
Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot and put an
omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before
the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As the
Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up be-
fore the testimony to be kept," 4;

Numbers ^vii. 10. ^* And the Lord said uilto
Moses, Bring ^laron's rod again before the testi-
mony, to be kept for a token."

Hebrews ix. 2 — 5. " For there was a taber-
nacle made ; the first, wherein was the candle-
stick, and the table,' aild the shewbread ; which
is tailed The Sanctuary. And after the vails, the
tabernacle, which is called The Holiest of all ;
which had the golden center, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid round about with gold, where-
in was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron^s
rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant ;
and over it the cherubims of glory, shadowing the
mercy seat ; of which we cannot now speak par-
ticularly."

j^mos ix. 11. " In that day will I raise up the
tabernacle of David that is 'fallen, and close up
the breaches thereof, and I will raise up his ruins,
^md I will build it ai^ 'in the days of old."

Exodus vi, 2, 3, ** And Goa spaKt uAvJ-jvaj^V^
ses^ and said unto hlm^ I am the Lord : And I
appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac^ and unt»
Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my
name Jehovah was I not known to them.'*

The following particulars, relative to King
Solomon's Temple, may with propriety be here
introduced, and cannot be uninteresting to a royal
afch mason.

This famous fabric was situated on Mount Mo-
riah, near the place where Abraham was about to-
offer up his son Isaac, and where David met and:
appeased the destroying Angel. It was begun in
the fourth year of the reign of Solomon ; the t|^ir J
after the death of David ; four hundred and eighty
years after the passage of the Red Sea, and or:
the second day of the month Zif, being the secona
month of the sacred year, which answers to th
21st of April, in tlieyear of the world 2392, an
was carried on with such prodigious speed, that
was finished, in all its parts, in little more ths^
seven years.

By the masonic ^rt, and the wise regulaliox:
of Solomon, every part of the building, whethei
of stone, brick, timber or metal, was wrought and
prepared before they were brought <o Jerusalem ;
so that the only tools made use of in erecting

¥

WtEEMASON'S MONITOltr 169

the febric were wooden instruments prepared
for that purpose. The noise of the ax, the ham-
oier^ and every other tool of metal, was confined
to the forests of Lebanon, where the timber was
procured, and to Mount Libanus, and the plains
«nd quarries of Zeredathah, where the stones were
raised, squared, marked and numbered ; that no-
thing might be beard among the masons at Jeru-
salem, but harmony and peace.

In the year of the world 3029, King Solomon
died, and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam,
who, immediately after the death of his father,
went down to Shechem, where the chiefs of the
people were met together to proclaim him king.
* When Jeroboam, tlie son oTNebat, who was
in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence
of Solomon, and whose ambition had long aspired
to the throne, heard of the death df the king, he
hastened to return from Egj'pt, to put himself at
the head of the discontented tribes, and lead them
on to rebellion. He accordingly assembled them-
together, and came to king Rehoboam, and spake
to him after this manner :

" Thy father made our yote grievous ; now,
therefore, ease thou ^omew];iat the grievous ser-
vitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he
put upon us, and we will serve thee. And he
aaid unto them. Come again unto me after three

170 if'Sr^i^fi^SON'S

days. And the people departed. And king lie?
hoboam took counsel with the old men that had
stood before Solomon his father while he yet livedj
saying. What counsel give ye me, to return
answer to this people ? And they spake unto him
saying. If thou be kind to this people, and please
them, and speak goods words to them, they will
be thy servants for ever. But he forsopk the coun-
sel which the old men gave him, and took counsel
with the yoiing men that were brought up with
him, that stood before him. And he said unto
them. What advice give ye, that we may return
answer to this people, which have spoken to me,
saying. Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father
did put upon us ? And the ^young men that were
brought up with him spake unto him, saying.
Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto
thee, saying. Thy father made our yoke heavy,
but make thou it somewhat lighter for us ; thus
ehalt thou say unto them. My little finger shall be
thicker than my father's loins. For, whereas my
father put a heavy yoke unto you, I will put more
to your yoke : my father chastised you with whips,,
but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam
and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third
day, as the king bade, saying. Come again to me
on the third day. And the king answered them
rpi^hly : and king^ Rehoboam forsook the counsel

WREKMASON'S MONITOR* 171

of the old men ; and answered them after the
tdvioe of the young men^ saying. My father made
jour yoke heavy, but I will add thereto : my fa-
ther chastised you with whips, but I will chastise
]f(m with scorpions. And when all Israel saw that
Ite king would not hearken unto them, the people
answered the king, saying. What portion have we
kk David i and we have none inheritance in the
son of Jesse : every man to your tents, O Israel :
^tid now, David, see to thine own house. So all

Itrael went to their tents."

See 2 Chron. chap, x.

But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in
the cities of Judah and Benjamin, Rehoboam
r^gned oVer them.

In this manner were the tribes of Israel divided,
md under two distinct governments, for 254 years,
when the ten revolted tribes, having become weak
ftnd degenerated, by following the wickedness and
idolatry of the kings who governed them, fell a
prey to Salmanezer, king of Assyria, who in the
reign of Hoshea, king of Israel, besieged the city
of Samaria, laid their country waste, and utterly
extirpated their government. Such was the
wretched fate of a people who disdained subjeo-
tion to the laws of the house of David, and whose
impiety and effeminacy ended in their destruction^

172

After a series of cbangeTSad-.. Ana -4«aii^ of wlidi
an account may be found in the history of^tbt
Temple, Nebuchadnezzar, king of BabyloOi with
his forces, took possession of Jerusalem, and bav*
ittg made captive Jehoiachim, the king of Judah,
elevated his uncle Zedekiah to the throne, after
binding him by a sokmn oath neither to make in-
novations in the government,, nor to take part with
the Egyptians in their wars against Babylon*

At the end of eight years Zedekiah vidated hit
oath to Nebuchadnezzar, by forming a treaty o&
fensive and defensive with the Egyptians ; think-
ing that jointly they could subdue the king of
Babylon* Nebuchadnezzar immediately marched^
and ravaged Zedekiah's country, seized his castle
and fortress, and proceeded to the siege of Jeru-
salem, Pharoah, learning how Zedekiah wat
pressed^ advanced to his relief, with a view of
raising the siege. Nebuchadnezzar, having inti-
mation thereof, would not wait his approach, but
proceeded to give him battle, and in one contest
drove him out of Syria. This circumstance sus-
pended the siege.

In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, the king
of Babylon again besieged Jerusalem, with a large
army, and for a year and an half exerted all hi&
itrength to conquer it ; but the city did not yields
though enfeebled by famine and pestilence*

FREEMASON^S MONITOR. 173

In the eleventh year the siege went on vigo-
rously ; the Babylonians completed their works,
having raised towers all round the city, so as to
drive the invaded party from its walls. The place,
&oiigh a prey to plague and famine, was obsti<
Mitely defended during the space of a year and a
fcelf. But at length, want of provisions and forces
compelled its surrender, and it was accordingly
delivered, at midnight, to the officers of Nebtt-
ebadnezzar. *

Zedekiah, seeing the troops enter the temple^
absconded by a narrow pass, to the desert, with
bis officers and friends : but advice of his escape
being given to the Babylonians, they pursued them
early in the morning, and surrounded them near
Jericho, whef^ they were bound, and carried be-*
Ibrc the king, who ordered his wives and' children
to be put to death in his sight ; and then ordered
Zedekiah's eyes to be put out, and himself con**
ducted in chains to Babylon.

After this victory, Nebuchadnezzar dispatched
his principal officer, Nebuzaradai), to Jerusalem,*
to ransack and burn both palace and temple, to
raze the city to the ground, and conduct the cap-
tive inhabitants to Babylon ; this or^r ' he ac-
cordingly executed. Among the captives were
the following persons of eniinence : Seraiah, the
high priest ; Zephamah, next in raxdi ; the secret

p2

174 rRSEMASON'S MONITOR.

tary to tbe king ; three principal keepers of the
temple ; seven of the king's chosen friends, aad
other persons of distinction*

Li the seventieth year of the captivity of the
Jews, and the first of the reign of Cyrus, king of
Persia, he issued his famous edict, purporting that
tbe God adored by the Israelites, was tbe eternal
Being through whose bounty he enjoyed the re«
gal dignity, and that he had found hiaiself honour-
ably mentioned by the prophets of ancient date^.
as the person who should cause Jerusalem to be
rebuilt, and restore the Hebrews to their formes
state of grandeur and independency; he therefore
gave orders for the release of the captives, wUb
bis permission to return to their own native coun*
try^ to rebuild the city, and the house of the Lord.

The principal people of the tribes of Judah and
Senjamin^ with the priests and Levites, immedi-
ately departed for Jerusalem and commenced tbe
undertaking ; but many of the Jews determined
to remain in Babylon, rather than relinquish tbe
possesskuis they had obtained in that city.

Ckarge to a newly exalted Companion

* Worthy Companion^

** By the consent and assistance of the mem-
kn of this dMpter^ you are now exalted to the

VRUUASON^ MOKITOIb 179

tidblime and honourable degree of a royal arcb
naMn*

'' Having attained this degree^ you have arrived
at the summit and perfection of ancient masonry ;
and aife consequently entitled to a full explanation
of the mysteries of the order.

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

^ No one can reflect on the ceremonies of
gaining admission into this place^ without beings
forcibly struck with the impoj^tant lessons whicb
they teaclu

** Here we are necessarily led to contemplate^
with gratitude and admiration the sacred source^
from whence all earthly comforts flow ; here we
find additional inducements to continue, stedfast
and immoveable in the discharge of our respective
duties ; and here we are bounds by the most so-
lemn ties^ to promote each others' welfare^ and
correct each others' failings^ by advice^ admonitioa
and reproof.

<^ As it is our most earnest desire, and a dutjr
wt owe to our compaanna of this «rder, tiMit Uit

170 FREEMASON'S MONITDKt

* admission of every candidate into this chapter
shall be attended by the approbation of the most
scrufinizing eye^ we hope always to possess the
satisfaction of finding none amongst us, hut such
as will promote to the utmost of their power th*
great end of our institution. By paying due at-
tention to this determinj^ion^ 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 msson» While
such are our members, we may expect to be united
in one object, without lukewarmness, inattentioiv
or neglect ; but zeal, fidelity, and affection, will
be the distinguishing characteristics of our society,
and that satisfaction, harmony and pes^e may be
enjoyed at our meetings, which no other society
ean aflford.'*

CLOSING,

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

« By the Wisdom of the Supreme High Priest
ni9^ we be directed, by his Strength may we be
cMcM^ ai^i by the BcoM^Qt wtue^aay we be'

J

bcited^ to perform the obligations here enjoined
on U8 ; to keep inviolably the mysteries her^ un-
folded to us ; and invariably to practise all those
duties out of the chapter^ which are inculcated in

Response. So mote it fre» Jmen*

After these observations^ little more can be
wanted to encourage the zealous mason to perse-
vere in his researches. Whoever has traced the
art in regular prc^ression from the commence-
ment of the firsts 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 ap*
plying the whole to the general advantage of so-
ciety, he will observe method in the proper distri-
bution of what he has acquired, secure to himself
the veneration of masons, and the approbation of
all good men.