by his private intrigues occasions greater confusion amongst the members than a more turbulent character would be able to produce, whose insubordination and disobedience were under a less effectual control, and consequently more transparent. Unfortunately some of our Lodges contain both, and, therefore, we need scarcely wonder that they do not prosper.

LECTURE XIV.

ITS RULER.

“Who rules and governs the Lodge, and is Master of it? IRAH, or the Right Pillar." A PRIMITIVE RITUAL. This answer has no meaning except we take Irah for a person. The interpretation is fear, viz., 'fear of God;' or, perhaps, 'he has taught;' whence Thorah, the law, has its derivation. But the most probable meaning is, 'to lay the foundation.""—Krause. May peace, harmony, and concord subsist amongst Freemasons, and may every idle dispute and frivolous distinction be buried in oblivion."-SECTIONAL CHARGE.

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As a corollary to this dissertation on a LodgeJust-Perfect-Regular, a few brief remarks on its Chief Ruler may be acceptable and not entirely useless. The Constitutions of Athelstan very judiciously commence with a series of rules and directions respecting the duties and responsibilities of the Master and custom has elevated them into Landmarks. Indeed these requirements are strikingly typified by the jewel of his office; for an old Ritual teaches that, "as it is by the assistance of this peculiar badge or symbol that all rude matter is brought into due form, so the Master is distinguished by the square, because by his ready assistance, mediation, and courtesy, all animosities, if any there be, are made to subside, and order and good fellowship rendered perfect and complete." Hence it is clear that the W. Master was

originally intended to be the mainspring of the machine; and accordingly the welfare of the Lodge depends almost entirely upon his efficiency and intelligence.

In the above-mentioned Constitutions, it is strictly provided by the very first Article, that "the Master must be steadfast, trusty, and true; provide victuals for his men, and pay their wages punctually." But if he be indifferent, and neglectful of his duties, the Brethren will get neither instruction nor wages, and the Lodge will necessarily lose its prestige, and every one who may be initiated therein will imbibe a feeling of dissatisfaction, at the least, if not of open hostility to the institution. Hence, when the Members are called on to elect a Master, they should be quite certain that he is in reality "steadfast, trusty, and true," and actually possesses all requisite qualifications for the office; otherwise the respectability and reputation, nay, even the very existence of the Lodge, will be at stake.

And I may here observe, that I entertain a very indifferent opinion of a Master who works his Lodge solely by the tenacity of his memory. A medley of words correctly arranged may deceive an unreflecting person, but we must have something better than that before we can pronounce a decided panegyric on the fruitfulness and originality of a master-mind. "If a blockhead," says an energetic writer of the present century, "fancying himself a mariner, venture on the seas, sailing without a chart and steering without a compass, the consequences of his rashness are limited to himself. If he sinks

he suffers alone. But if the same vain pretender, duping others into a belief of his sufficiency, assume the office and station of a pilot, the danger becomes widely different: the lives of many are put to the risk, and if he does not make the right path, but steers them far wide of their destination, his ignorance involves the fate of them all."

A W. Master, indeed, may, by the mere force of memory, unaccompanied by either genius or talent, conduct the proceedings of a Lodge respectably for a time, and excite sentiments of admiration in a superficial observer; but he is still only a machine, the mainspring being his book of reference. Take away that, and in a few months his memory will fail him, and his popularity will ooze gradually away as detached portions of his lesson evaporate from his recollection. I have known individual Masons who could repeat the whole of the three lectures by rote from one end to the other, and yet were entirely ignorant of Masonry. Instead of burdening the memory with a medley of words before they are correctly understood, the Masonic student would be better employed in learning to arrange and classify his ideas by systematic study and calm reflection; otherwise he will never merit the character of a bright and perfect Mason.

But, unfortunately, in many of our Lodges words are substituted for thought, and sometimes for knowledge itself. Ask some of our W. Masters for the explanation of a particular sign, symbol, or doctrine, and he will answer in the unchanged language of the Ritual; but if a new inquiry be framed, even

out of his own reply, he will be sensible of his deficiency; and, being at a loss for a solution of the difficulty, will probably say that the question is not in the Lecture Book. But if the W. Master study the forms and ceremonies attentively, and make himself acquainted with the reasons for every minute rite and every new situation, he need not fear but words will flow freely and without impediment to express his meaning.

The effects of initiation on a candidate depend, in a great measure, on the tact and knowledge of the Master; and the York Constitutions direct that " he shall take especial care, in the admission of an Apprentice, that he do his Lord no prejudice ; that he shall harbour no thief or thief's retainer, lest the Craft should come to shame; and if he unknowingly admit an improper person, he shall discharge him from the work when his inability is discovered." These are paramount and indispensable duties, and he is bound to perform them punctually and impartially. And in the reception of his Apprentice, if the preliminary ceremony be well conducted, it cannot fail to produce an impression which will prevent all misconception on the nature and object of the system, and silence any rising doubt which might have a tendency towards its disparagement. And further, the W. Master is strictly bound by another ancient Landmark to instruct his Apprentice faithfully by "teaching him all the various secrets of his Craft, and make him a perfect workman."

I once saw a W. Master paralyzed by a simple question proposed by a candidate. He had been