Shammai, who officiated as the three principal officers of the Lodge.

The Temple proper must be strictly confined to the Porch, the Holy Place, and the Sanctum Sanctorum, or perhaps to the latter exclusively; from which, according to an obsolete Ritual used by our Brethren in the 18th century, "the lamps of knowledge shining out of that sacred place illuminate our minds with new discoveries of God's Word; that the bread of life from the Golden Table may be our portion, as representing the hidden manna of God's love, who appeared visibly present in the form of a pillar of cloud between the two cherubim of the Mercy Seat, to show that the legal ceremonies were types of darkness till the true light should come out of the heavenly Zion, to take away the veil from our dark minds, that the night of ceremonies might be abolished, and the true light shine in our hearts."

The Triangle involves a further triad of essences, viz. Eternity, Science, Power, all of which are attributes applicable to the sacred letter in the middle chamber, while the Circle points out his universal presence; and the Square shows that perfect happiness is sure to flow from the uniform practice of morality and justice.

The entrance to the middle chamber could only be attained by the triad of Door-Word-Pass. The door is furnished with a double guard, one at the foot and another at the summit of the winding staircase, which none under the degree of a Fellow-craft were suffered to ascend. A test word was accordingly demanded of every aspirant by the ancient Junior

Warden, who was stationed at the foot of the staircase, and, if correct, the pass was exchanged, and he was admitted to proceed. But for further security he was again stopped by the ancient Senior Warden on the upper step for a second examination, and, if approved, the door was unclosed by the dignified Tyler thereof, and he was favoured with a sight of the glories which it contained, and here he received his wages.

On this subject Freemasonry has a legend which I subjoin, although I am afraid it must be received cum grano, for it substitutes a private office for the middle chamber. "At the sixth hour of the day before the Sabbath, the Fellow-crafts, 80,000 in number, formed a procession and repaired to the office of the Senior Grand Wardens to receive their wages; and in order to prevent imposition by unskilled workmen, each individual put his hand through a lattice window, giving the usual token and displaying a copy of his mark. The Senior Grand Warden, on referring to the corresponding mark in the record, was enabled to see the amount of wages, which was accordingly placed in the Craftsman's hand, who then passed on; and this process continued until they were all paid. If an impostor applied for wages without giving the token, the Senior Grand Warden seized him by the hand and drew his arm through the window, exclaiming :An impostor! On this signal being given, an officer who was stationed there for the purpose with a drawn sword, immediately struck off his hand."

Thus, to use the words of a modern Masonic

writer, the mind of the Fellow-craft is taught to reflect upon the moral and material universe. While an ENTERED APPRENTICE, he was reminded of the necessity of divesting his conscience from all evil; he beheld rays of light emanating from that radiant star which illuminates the Mosaic pavement; he was invested with that emblem of innocence, the lambskin. He has seen and passed by the theological ladder. He has been impressed with the sanctity of the holy mount, the beauty and efficacy of prayer ; the necessity of an humble and contrite spirit; his blindness by nature, with the goodness and mercy of God, which alone could bring him to light; the chequered scenes of life, with its lights and shades, surmounted by the Allseeing Eye of Providence. His thoughts are directed heavenwards by the Holy Scriptures. The greater and lesser lights have shone upon him. The theological and cardinal virtues have been elucidated. The patron saints have been pointed out. The circle, the perfect point, the single and double triangles, and the ground-floor of our moral and material edifice have been surveyed. As a FELLOW-CRAFT he has passed the winding staircase, and been admitted to the middle chamber; and dwelt with infinite delight on the universe of matter and the universe of mind. The Bible has enabled him to read more clearly the volume of Nature. The arts and sciences have furnished him with subjects for study and investigation. He has had an opportunity of contemplating the progress of mind, its vast and ever enlarging empire. Which lead to a knowledge of God and immortality; introduce him to

name.

Jehovah, and teach him to bow before His ineffable Are we not ever in the presence of God? The immortal mind is conscious of a God. The external universe tells us of a God. And shall we not adore and praise Him?

LECTURE XLIII.

THE PYTHAGOREAN TRIANGLE.

"The three most perfect of all geometrical diagrams are the equilateral triangle, the square, and the equal hexagon. To this we may add an observation, for which we are indebted to our Grand Master Pythagoras, that there exist no other regular equilateral forms whose multiples are competent to fill up and occupy the whole space about a given centre, which can only be effected by six equilateral triangles, four squares, and three equal hexagons."-DR. HEMMING.

THE prevailing secrets of the Lodges in the earliest times consisted of the profound dogmata of Geometry and Arithmetic, by the use of which all the complicated designs of the expert Master Masons were wrought out and perfected. These sciences are inseparable from the system, and have been faithfully transmitted to our own times. "The secret meetings of Master Masons," says Dallaway, " within any particular district, were confined to consultations with each other, which mainly tended to the communication of science, and of improvement in their art. An evident result was seen in the general uniformity of their designs in architecture, with respect both to plan and ornament, yet not without deviations. We may conclude that the Craft, or mystery of architect and operative Masons, was in