"A Lodge is a place where Freemasons assemble to work, and to instruct and improve themselves in the mysteries of their ancient science. In an extended sense it applies to persons as well as to place; hence every regular assembly or duly organized meeting of Masons is called a Lodge." — ANCIENT CHARGES. - "Masonry is wisely instituted for different ranks and degrees of men ; and every Brother, according to his station and ability, may be employed in the Lodge, and class with his equal. Actuated by the best principles, no disquietude is found among the professors of the art. Each class is happy in its particular association; and when all the classes meet in general convention, one plan regulates the whole; neither arrogance nor presumption appear on the one hand, nor diffidence nor inability on the other; but every Brother vies to excel in promoting that endearing happiness which constitutes the essence of civil society."-PRESTON. IT S LECTURE VIII. CONSECRATION. "In early times every mountain was esteemed holy. The people who worshipped there enjoyed a soothing infatuation which flattered the gloom of superstition. The eminences to which they retired were lonely and silent, and seemed to be happily circumstanced for contemplation and prayer. They who frequented them were raised above the lower world, and fancied that they were brought into the vicinity of the powers of the air and of the deity who resided in the higher regions." -BRYANT. Ir is a remarkable fact and worthy of especial notice, that in all the nations and countries of the ancient world, whether the religion of the several peoples were true or false, there existed a universal belief that mountains and high places were invested with a character of peculiar sanctity; and for that reason were usually selected for devotional purposes under an impression that in such localities the deity would be most propitious. Whether, as Lucan suggests, this belief arose from an idea that, as the summit of a mountain made a nearer approach to heaven than the level plain below, their petitions would be more likely to be heard and answered,— or whether they conceived that the mountain was a chosen seat of demons whom they were desirous of conciliating, or from any other unexplained cause, D the fact is evidenced by the antediluvian tradition that "After the death of Adam, Seth, with his family, separated themselves from the profligate race of Cain, and chose for their habitation the mountain where Adam was buried; the Cainites remaining below in the plain where Abel was killed; and according to the testimony of some ancient historians, this mountain was so high that the inhabitants could hear the angels singing the praises of God, and even join them in that service. Here they lived in great purity and sanctity of manners till the fortieth year of Jared, when some of them hearing the music and riotous mirth of the Cainites, determined to go down to them from the holy mountain. On their arrival in the plain, they were captivated by the beauty of the women, and formed marriages with them. This evil example was followed by other apostates, until the defection became so universal that none were left in the holy mountain but Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives.” After the flood we have an abundance of evidence to establish the same fact,-in the worship on Ararat, the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids of Egypt and Central America, the remains of which are still in existence; and we find similar monuments in every quarter of the globe. As this was a current belief before the general deluge, it would be known to Noah and his family and their descendants in the plains of Shinar, and would travel at the dispersion to every region of the world; and being transmitted from father to son, down to distant ages, would be considered as of a divine authority. Hence we find |