had never been practically instructed in the science of building, and were not even Fellow-crafts, for the old constitutions limit that degree to persons who had served full seven years as Apprentices; and, therefore, even these Grand Masters could not have been genuine Masons.

LECTURE XXXVIII.

GEOMETRY.

"Geometry is the science of extension in all its several parts and relations of points; lines, superfices, and solids. It is the first and noblest of all sciences, and the basis on which the superstructure of Freemasonry is erected."-THE RITUAL.

BEFORE the tenth century the Order we profess was distinguished by the exclusive name of GEOMETRY. The constitutions of King Athelstan are entitled "Constituciones Artes Gemetrie secundum Euclydem;" and hence Geometry was a standing Landmark with our ancient Brethren; and they went so far as to ascribe the origin and existence of all the liberal sciences to it alone. In an old Masonic manuscript, transcribed in the sixteenth century, and probably a copy of the original written at a much earlier period, the statement is thus enunciated "These be the seaven liberall sciences, of which all be founded by one, which is Geometry, for it teacheth a man mett and measure, ponderation, weight of all things on earth; for there is noe workman that worketh any craft, but he worketh by some mett or measure; and every man that buyeth or selleth, doeth it by some weight or measure; and all this is Geometry; and the merchants and all other

craftsmen of the seaven sciences, and the plowmen and tillers of the earth, and sowers of all manner of graines, seeds, and vine-plants, and setters of all manner of fruites. For grammer or arethmatick, nor astronomy, nor none of all the seaven sciences, can no man find mett or measure in without Geometry. Wherefore methinks that the said science of Geometry is most worthy, and all the others be founded by it." The "Ritual" of Masonry confers upon the mathematician Euclid the honour of discovering it.

Geometry was usually classed as the fifth science, in conformity with our present arrangement, and the practice was retained at the revival in 1717, as appears from the following extract from the "Ritual " then in use:

"Your science five hath well composed

A noble structure vast;

A point, a line, a superfice,

But solid is the last."

In the Constitutions of Athelstan, however, Geometry closes the list. Speaking of Euclid as an ancient and learned Brother, this document asserts, that "throgh hye grace of Crist he commensed yn the seven syens: Grammatica ys the furste syens; Dialectica the secunde; Rethorica the thrydde; Musica ys the fourthe; Astromia ys fythe; Arsmetica the syxt; and Gemetria ys the seaventh."

This noble science is so highly esteemed by the Craft as to be distinguished in our Lodges by a

diagram, which is said to be a transcript of a remarkable symbol that decorated the middle chamber of King Solomon's Temple, representing a glorious Blazing Star, with beams of light radiating in every direction from the sublime central character which constitutes its acknowledged symbol. Its elucidation occupies a considerable space in the Fellow-craft's Lecture, and includes, as an invaluable secret of Mediæval Masonry, the utility and universal application of the Vesica Piscis, without which there was scarcely any member of an edifice, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical, that could be constructed; and it constitutes the only secret of ancient Freemasonry which has been lost; never, I fear, to be recovered. Its adaptation to the requirements of operative science was omnipotent and extensive, and known only to the governing body of Master Masons, who at the period were very few in number. The height, length, and breadth of buildings were proportioned by it; towers, spires, pinnacles, porches, windows with round or pointed heads, tracery, panelling, tabernacles, finials, and all other architectural details were indebted to this important secret for their elegance and utility. It entered into the composition of every civil and religious edifice, and its mysterious properties were never clearly understood except by the ancient Freemasons themselves; and by none. amongst them but the expert and scientific Masters. A brief examination, therefore, of its capabilities may not be unappropriate in a discussion which professes to illustrate an architectural degree in Masonry; and particularly as the device has been

traced to the Egyptians, who bore a part in the erection of the Temple at Jerusalem.1

Mr. Kerrich, in the "Archæology,” says that this mysterious figure had a great influence upon the forms of all sorts of structures which were intended for sacred purposes after the establishment of Christianity, and was used to determine the harmonical proportions of the two dimensions of length and breadth to each other, which were limited in the earliest times by the Vesica A B C D in the subjoined figure, which seems to have been held in particular estimation, because both the Vesicas of length and breadth are produced by one and the radius.

B

D

same

By this process the length of the building in proportion to its width

was very generally, if not always, determined; and although the architects of a later period sometimes

"The hieroglyphic device," says a modern writer, “styled Vesica Piscis, which constituted the sign of recognition amongst the Epopts, appertained to the Platonic system. Proclus repeatedly refers to this figure, which he had seen and heard interpreted in Egypt. It often appears on the temples, and especially on the throne of Osiris. It referred to the doctrine of the Egyptian priests on the subject of their Trinity, and represented geometrically the birth of Horus (the sun or monad of the world), from the wedding of Osiris and Isis. It consti