for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Peter iv. 8. Charity is, sometimes, taken only for giving alms; and sometimes for having a favourable opinion of our neighbours; but the proper interpretation of the words is LOVE,and St. Paul has fixed its meaning,and clearly shewn its effects in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chap. xiii. of which chapter my readers will be pleased with the following beautiful paraphrase. "Did sweeter sounds adorn my flowing tongue, Softens the high, and rears the abject mind; In happy triumph shall for ever live, And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive. As thro' the artist's intervening glass Our eye observes the distant planets pass, A little we discover, but allow, That more remains unseen than art can shew; So whilst our mind to knowledge would improve, (Its feeble eye intent on things above) High as we may, we lift our reason up, By FAITH directed and confirmed by HOPE, Dawnings of beams and promises of day. HEAVEN'S fuller effluence mocks our dazzled sight; Shalt stand before the host of HEAVEN Confest, I shall conclude this section by a few observations, which ought deeply to be impressed on the mind of every free-mason. "The objects of true CHARITY," says Mr. Hutchinson, in his SPIRIT OF MASONRY, "are MERIT and VIRTUE in distress ;-persons, who are incapable of extricating themselves from misfortunes, which have overtaken them in old age; industrious men from inevitable accidents hurled into ruin; widows left survivors of their husbands, by whose labours they subsisted; and orphans in tender years left helpless and exposed to the world." These are the true objects of charity, and a genuine mason will always endeavour to obviate the difficulties of such persons, without putting them to the painfal mortification of soliciting aid. ADORE the Most High, by whose order every thing which exists had its origin, and by whose unremitting operations every thing is preserved. Be thankful that thou wert born in a country, which is blessed with the glorious light of the gospel. Confess this divine religion every where, and let none of its duties be neglected. Let all thy actions be distinguished by enlightened piety without bigotry or fanaticism. II. Always remember that man is the master-piece of the creation; because God created him after his own image, and animated him with his breath. Genesis i. 27, and ii. 7. III. Thou owest thy first homage to the Deity, and the second to the authority of civil society. Honour the fathers of the state; love thy country; be religiously scrupulons in fulfilling all the duties of a good citizen; consider that they are become peculiarly sacred by thy voluntary masonic vow; and that the * These precepts appeared at length in the Free-Mason's Magazine for November and December, 1794. The whole would be too tedious in a work of this kind. It is believed, however, that the following abridgement will be satisfactory to masonic readers, and may proye useful to them as well as others, violation of them, which in one, not under such obligations, would be weakness, would in thee be hypocrisy and criminality. IV. Love affectionately all those who, as offsprings of the same progenitor, have like thee the same form, the same wants, and an immortal soul. The mother country of a mason is the world; all that concerns mankind is contained within the circle of his compass. Honour the order of Free-masons, and come to our lodges to do homage to the sacred rights of humanity. V. God suffers men to partake of unlimited and eternal happiness. Strive to resemble this divine original, by making all mankind as happy as thou canst; nothing good can be imagined, which ought not to be an object of thy activity. Let effectual and universal benevolence be the plumbline of thy actions. Anticipate the cries of the miserable, or, at least, do not remain insensible to them. Detest avarice and ostentation. Do not look for the reward of virtue in the plaudits of the multitude, but in the innermost recesses of thy own heart; and if thou canst not make as many happy as thou desirest, reflect on the sacred tie of benevolence, which unites us, exert thyself to the utmost in promoting our labour of love. VI. and Be affable and kind to all, and endeavour to kindle: virtue in every heart. Rejoice at thy neighbours prosperity, and never embitter it with envy. Forgive thy enemy, and if thou wouldst revenge thyself on him-do it by benevolence. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat ; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. Proverbs xxv. 21 and 22. By acting in this manner thou wilt fulfil one of the most exalted commands of religion, and act agreeably to the dignity of thy nature. VII. Often unveil and examine thy heart, so that thou mayest discover its most secret dispositions; for the knowledge of one's self is the sum of all Masonic precepts. Thy soul is the rough ashlar, which thou must labour to polish. Thou canst not do homage more worthy of the Supreme Being, than when thou offerest up to him regular desires and inclinations, and restrainest thy passions. Beware of the dismal consequences of pride; It was this which first caused the first degradation of man. To compare thyself with those who are possessed of inferior faculties would be a dangerous flattery of thyself: rather let a virtuous emulation animate thee, when thou perceivest superior talents. Let thy tongue be a faithful interpreter of thy heart. A mason, who abandons candour, and hides himself behind the mask of dissimulation and deceit, is unworthy to sit amongst us ; as he would sow upon our peaceful soil the seed of distrust and dissimulation, and soon become the scourge of our societies. Study eagerly the meaning of our emblems; for un, der their veil, very important and satisfactory truths are concealed. Remember, that of all the sciences, on whose extensive field the industry of men gather useful illustrations, none will afford thy heart heavenly satisfaction except |