hands up, (turning up his eyes,) and giving the sign of admiration, [!] as before described, holds them in that position through the two verses. [See plate 11, fig. 2.]

Almighty Jehovah, descend now, and fill

This lodge with thy glory, our hearts with good-will;
Preside at our meeting, assist us to find

True pleasure in teaching good will to mankind.

Thy wisdom inspired the great Institution;

Thy strength shall support it ti.l nature expire

And when the creation shall fall into ruin,

Its beauty shall rise through the midst of the fire.

The members all kneel and join hands, as in opening; and while in this attitude the most excellent reads the following passage of scripture: 2 Chron. vii. 1, 4. Now when Solomon

had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering, and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house, and the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lora upon the house, they bowed themselves with their face to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good,* for his mercy endureth for The most excellent master now kneels, and joins hands with the rest. They all then repeat in concert the words, For he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever,' six times, each time bowing their heads low towards the floor. [See plate 11, fig. 4.]

ever.'

The members then balance six times as in opening, rise and balance six times more, and disengaging themselves from each other, take their seats.

The most excellent master then reads a charge to the candidate from Cross's Chart.

The lodge is closed as in the preceding degrees.

* As the most excellent master reads these words, some brother who stands back of the candidates touches a piece of gum-camphire to a candle, and throws it, with a sort of sleight of hand, all blazing, into the pot of incense, of the same combustible matter, which stands on the altar before the kneeling brethren which instantly ignites and makes a very brilliant light.

ROYAL ARCH DEGREE.

The circumstances on which this degree was founded, ac. cording to Masonic tradition, are briefly these:

At the destruction of Jerusalem, by Nebuchadnezzar, three most excellent master Masons were taken prisoners, and conveyed captives to Babylon, where they remained in bondage seventy years, until the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, by whose proclamation they were liberated, and permitted to return to Jerusalem, to assist in rebuilding the temple. After travelling over rough and rugged roads, for many days, they arrived at the outer veil of the tabernacle,' erected near the ruins of the temple. This tabernacle was an oblong square, inclosed by four veils, or curtains, and divided into separate apartments, by four cross veils, including the west end veil, or entrance. The veils were parted in the centre, and guarded by four guards, with drawn swords.

6

In the Easternmost' end of the tabernacle, Haggai, Joshua, and Zerubbabel usually sat in grand council, to examine all who wished to be employed in the noble and glorious work of rebuilding the temple. Since that time, every chapter of royal arch Masons, if properly formed, is a correct representation of this tabernacle. [See plate 12.]

These three most excellent masters, on their arrival, were introduced to the grand council,* and employed, furnished with tools, and directed to commence their labors at the north-east corner of the ruins of the old temple, and to clear away and remove the rubbish, in order to lay the foundation of the new. The grand council also gave them strict orders to preserve whatever should fall in their way, (such as specimens of ancient architecture, &c.) and bring it up for their inspection.

The three most excellent masters repaired to the designated

* High priest, king, and scribe.

place, and commencing work, discovered, among other things, a secret vault,' in the vortex of which they found treasures of incalculable benefit to the craft, and to the world generally.

For the remaining part of this history, the reader is referred to the ceremonies of exalting companions to this degree, which (if Masonic veracity can be relied on,) is literally a recapitulation of the adventures of the notorious three who founded this degree.

All legally constituted bodies of Masons, from the degree of entered apprentice to that of most excellent master, are called Lodges; and all legal assemblies of royal arch Masons, Chapters.

A chapter consists of nine officers, acting under a charter, or warrant, from the grand chapter within whose jurisdiction it is convened. The charter or warrant empowers each chapter to confer four degrees, viz: mark master, past master, most excellent master, and royal arch.

The officers of the chapter, when installed, have not only a right of ruling and conducting its own affairs, but also those of the three lodges under their jurisdiction.

The following list of officers of the chapter will show how they rank in the lodges.

These are the requisite number of officers to open a chapter, or lodge, according to the oaths and rules of these degrees. In addition to these, they have three other officers, viz:

The officers and companions of the chapter being stationed [as in plate 12,] the presiding officer proceeds to business, as follows: