more aistant parts of the world: his name and his artificers would become the wonder of mankind, and his works their example and emulation: from thence the masons of Solomon would be dispersed into different states, to superintend the works of other princes; and they would, in consequence, convert infidels, initiate brethren in their mysteries, and extend their order over the distant quarters of the known world.

We find that the like distinctions were retained on rebuilding the Temple in the reign of Cyrus, and that the work was performed by the religious of the Israelites, and not by ordinary mechanics; for they refused to admit the Samaritans to a share of the work, although they petitioned for it under the denomination of servants of the same God: yet they were rejected, as unworthy of works of piety, and unacceptable to the God of Israel; for, though they professed themselves to be servants of the true God, they polluted their worship by idols.

Josephus, in his "History of the Antiquities of the Jews," speaking of Solomon's going about to erect the temple at Jerusalem, gives copies of the epistles which passed between Solomon and Hiram, King of Tyre, on that matter; and which, he says, remained in his days, preserved in their books, and amongst the Tyrians also ;9 which epistles are as follows:

SOLOMON TO KING HIRAM.

"Know thou, that my father would have built a temple to God, but was hindered by wars and continual expeditions; for he did not leave off to overthrow his enemies, till he made them all subject to tribute. But I give thanks to God for the peace I at present enjoy; and, on that account, I am at leisure, and design to build an house to God: for God foretold to my father that such an house should be built by me; wherefore I desire thee to send some of thy subjects

8 An ancient masonic tradition relates that our G. M. King Solomon, struck with the harmony produced by the admirable arrangements which had been adopted amongst the workmen, conceived the idea of forming an universal bond of brotherly love, which should unite all nations in the pursuits of virtue and science. For this purpose, he admitted to his system those illustrious sages who visited Jerusalem from every part of the globe, and allowed them to participate in his mysteries. And hence, when they returned home, they diffused Freemasonry over the whole face of the earth.-EDITOR.

Eusebius Preparat. Evangel. ix. 34, has these letters, though greatly disguised by Eupolemus, from whom Eusebius had his copies.

with mine to Mount Lebanon, to cut down timber; for the Sidonians are more skilful than our people in cutting of wood: as for wages for the hewers of wood, I will pay whatsoever price thou shalt determine."

HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON.

"There is reason to bless God that he has committed thy father's government to thee, who art a wise man, and endowed with all virtues. As for myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, and will be subservient to thee in all thou requirest; for when, by my servants, I have cut down many and large trees of cedar and cypress wood, I will send them to sea, and will order my subjects to make floats of them, and to sail to what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, and leave them there; after which thy servants may carry them to Jerusalem: but do thou take care to procure corn for this timber, which we stand in need of, because we inhabit an island.”

10

Josephus, speaking of the progress of the building, says, "Solomon sent for an artificer out of Tyre, whose name was Hiram, by birth of the tribe of Naphtali, on the mother's side. This man was skilful in all sorts of works; but his chief skill lay in working in gold, in silver, and brass; the one of the pillars which he set at the entrance of the porch, at the right hand, he called Jachin, and the other, at the left hand, he called Boaz."

Solomon was wise in all the learning of the ancients: he was possessed of all the mystical knowledge of the eastern nations; and, to perfect the same, was enlightened by the immediate gift of heaven. It was also the mode and manners of the times, in which the Temple of Jerusalem was erected, to use emblematical and symbolical ornaments in public edifices; a fashion derived from the hieroglyphic monuments of the Egyptians, and the mysterious mode in which their sages concealed their wisdom and learning from the vulgar eye, and communicated science to those of their own order only.

The pillars erected at the porch of the temple were not only ornamental, but also carried with them an emblematical import in their names." Boaz being, in its

10 Appendix, H.

11 And more than this, like the Palladium of Troy, they appear to have been essential to the well-being of the structure. Thus, at the time when the Temple was abandoned by Jehovah, he is represented magnificently, as standing upon the altar, and commanding the angel of destruction to strike the heads or chapiters of these two pillars, and the total ruin, not only of the Temple, but of Jerusalem, and of the entire system of Jewish polity, should ensue. (Amos, ix., 1.)

literal translation, "in thee is strength;" and Jachin, "it shall be established;" which, by a very natural transposition, may be put thus: O Lord, thou are mighty, and thy power is established from everlasting to everlasting; or otherwise they might imply, as Boaz was the great grandfather of David, the house of David shall be established for ever. I am justified in this latter application, by the express words of Nathan, the prophet, unto David, inspired by the vision of the Lord, "And, when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee; thy throne shall be established for ever." 12

In commemoration of this great promise to the faithful, we ornament the entrance into our lodges with these emblematical pillars, from our knowledge of the completion of that sacred sentence accomplished in the coming of our Redeemer.

As their destruction was thus comprehensive and significant, so was their erection symbolical of the magnitude and splendour of the Jewish nation under Solomon. And this reference was embodied in their names.-EDITOR.

LECTURE VIII.

ON GEOMETRY.

It is now incumbent upon me to demonstrate to you the great signification of the letter G, wherewith lodges and the medals of Masons are ornamented.

To apply it to the name of God only, is depriving it of part of its masonic import; although I have already shown that the symbols used in lodges are expressive of the Divinity's being the great object of Masonry, as Architect of the world.

This significant letter denotes Geometry, which, to artificers, is the science by which all their labours are calculated and formed; and, to Masons, contains the determination, definition, and proof of the order, beauty, and wonderful wisdom of the power of God in his creation.

Geometry is said originally to have signified nothing more than the art of measuring the earth, or any distances or dimensions within it; but, at present, it denotes the science of magnitude in general, comprehending the doctrine and relations of whatsoever is susceptible of augmentation or diminution. So to geometry may be referred the construction not only of lines, superficies, and solids, but also of time, velocity, numbers, weight, and many other matters.

This is a science which is said to have its rise, or, at least, its present rules, from the Egyptians, who by nature were under a necessity of using it, to remedy the confusion which generally happened in their lands by the overflowing of the Nile, which carried away yearly all boundaries, and effaced all limits of their possessions. Thus this science, which consisted only in its first steps of the means of measuring lands, that every person might

have his property restored to him, was called Geometry, or the art of measuring land; and it is probable that the draughts and schemes the Egyptians were annually compelled to make, helped them to discover many excellent properties of those figures, and which speculation continually occasioned to be improved.

From Egypt, geometry passed into Greece, where it continued to receive new improvements in the hands of Thales, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Euclid, and others. The elements of geometry, which were written by Euclid, testify to us the great perfection to which this science was brought by the ancients, though much inferior to modern geometry; the bounds of which, by the invention of fluxions, and the discovery of an infinite order of curves, are greatly enlarged.

The usefulness of geometry extends to almost every art and science; by the help of it, astronomers turn their observations to advantage, regulate the duration of time, seasons, years, cycles, and epochas, and measure the distance, motions, and magnitude of the heavenly bodies. It is by this science that geographers determine the figure and magnitude of the whole earth, and delineate the extent and bearing of kingdoms, provinces, oceans, harbours, and every place upon the globe. It is adapted to artificers in every branch; and from thence, as I said before, architects derive their measures, justnesses, and proportions.

This naturally leads me to conjecture why the square is had by Masons as one of the lights of Masonry, and part of the furniture of the lodge. To explain my ideas on that matter, I will only repeat to you the words of a celebrated author, treating of the rise and progress of sciences. He says:-"We find nothing in ancient authors to direct us to the exact order in which the fun

1 An old MS. on Masonry says, "Euclid was the pupil of Abraham, and in his time the river Nile overflowed so far that many of the dwellings of the people of Egypt were destroyed. Euclid instructed them in the art of making mighty walls and ditches, to stop the progress of the water; and, by geometry, measured out the land, and divided it into partitions, so that each man might ascertain his own property." The MS. is incorrect in making Euclid cotemporary with Abraham; but it truly adds that he gave to Masonry the name of Geometry.-EDITOR.

2 Appendix, I.