book informs us that Moses was beloved of God^

dnd -that the Most High -spoke to him on Mount
Smai. To Moses God communicated his divine
law, written on tables of stone ; with many pro-
mises of a renewed alliance. He also gave him
the true pronunciation of his sacred name : and
God gave a strict command unto Moses, that no
one should pronounce it; so that in process of time
Uie true pronimciation was lost.

, The same diviae history particularly iAforms ttl
of the different movements of the Itraelitesj untii
they became possessed of the land of promise, and
of the succeeding events until the Divine Provi-
dence was pleased to give the sceptre to David |
who, though fully determined to build a temple ta
the Most High^ could never begin it; that honout
being reserved for his son.
• Solomon, being the wisest of princes^ had fully
In remembrance the promises of God to Moses^
that some of his successors, in Adness of time>
should discover his holy name ; and his wisdom
inspired him to believe, that this could not be ac«
complished until he had erected and consecrated a
temple to the living God, in which he might depo^
«it the precious treasures.

Accordingly, Solomon began to build, in the
fburth year of his t^ign, agreeably to a plan given
to him by David his father, upon the ark of alii*
anae.

He chose a spot for this purpose, the most beau*
tiful and healthy in all Jerusalem.

The number of the grand and sublime elected,
were at first three, and now consisted of five )
find continued so untii the temple was completed
find dedicated ; when king Solomon, as a reward
for their faithful services, admitted to this degree
the twelve grand masters, who bad faithfully pre^

HIEEMASON'S MONXTOR* tSf

iided ov^ the twelve tribes; also one other grand
master architect. Nine ancient grand masters^
tminent. for their virtue, were cbosen knights of
the roy-al arch, and shortly afterwards were ad*
mitted'to the sublime degree of .perfection.

You have been informed in what manner the
number of the grand elect was augmented to twen*
ly-seven, which is the cube of three : they consist-
ed of two kings, three knights of the royal arch,
twelve commanders of the twelve tribes, nine
elected grand laasteri^, and one grand master ar-
chitect.

This lodge is closed by the mysftrious aamber.