that there was neither hammer nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it was in building."*

OLIVER says that, at the building of the temple, certain men were employed to mark the materials as they came out of the hands of the workmen, that no false mark might be placed upon an imperfect stone, and to enable them to be put together with greater facility and precision, when conveyed from the quarries to the holy mountain of Moriah. This is not exactly the tradition. Each workman placed his own mark upon his own materials, so that the workmanship of every mason might be readily distinguished, and praise or blame be justly awarded. These marks, according to the lectures, consisted of mathematical figures, squares, angles, lines, and perpendiculars, and hence any figure of a different kind would not be deemed "the regular mark of the craft." A similar custom was practised by the masons of the middle

*I. Kings, vi. 7. The writer in the "Boston Traveller," quoted, says, when speaking of the quarry beneath Jerusalem, "the heaps of chippings which lie about show that the stone was dressed on the spot, which accords with the ac count of the building of the temple."

ages, and many of the stones, both inside and outside of the cathedrals and other buildings of that period were thus marked. Mr. GODWIN, in a communication to the Society of Antiquaries, says, that " in his opinion, these marks, if collected and compared, might assist in connecting the various bands of operatives, who, under the protection of the Church-mystically united-spread themselves over Europe during the middle ages, and are known as Freemasons."

The Jews divided the day into twelve hours, commencing at sun-rise and ending at sun-set. The hours, therefore, varied in length with the variations of the seasons. Mid-day was, however, always the sixth hour, and sun-set the twelfth, At the equinoxes, for instance, when the sun rose at six o'clock, the hours of the day were apportioned as follows: Seven o'clock was the first hour; eight, the second; nine, the third; ten, the fourth; eleven, the fifth; and twelve, the

sixth. The sixth hour, or "high twelve," was appropriately selected as the time of paying the craft their wages, because, being then called from labor to refreshment, the progress of the work was not impeded by the interruption of paying the workmen, which would have been the case at any other time.

The week commencing on Sunday, and ending on Saturday, or the Sabbath, the sixth day was accordingly Friday, and hence 12 o'clock, noon, on Friday, is the time designated by "the sixth hour of the sixth day of the week." The labors of the week were then concluded, and the rest of the time, to sunset or the twelfth hour, was probably occupied in paying off the workmen.

An important lesson is here allegorically taught, which may be communicated in the sublime language of Brother ALBERT PIKE:

"Be careful, my brother, that thou receive no wages, here or elsewhere, that are not thy due. For if thou dost, thou wrongest some one, by taking that which in God's chancery belongs to Him;-and whether that which thou takest thus, be wealth, or rank, or influence, or reputation."

Second Section.

In this section the Mark Master is instructed in the origin and history of the degree. By a symbolical lesson, of impressive character, he is taught the duty of aiding a distressed brother. A variety of interesting circumstances connected with the building of King Solomon's temple are detailed, and the marks of distinction which were in use among our ancient brethren are explained.

The Symbolic allusion of the Indenting Chisel and the Mallet is one of the first things to which the attention of the candidate is directed.

The Chisel and Mallet are used by operative masons to hew, cut, carve, and indent their work; but, as Mark Masters, we are taught to employ them for a more noble and glorious purpose; they teach us to hew, cut, carve and indent the principles of morality and virtue on our minds.

The following passages of Scripture are here appropri ately introduced.

The stone which the builders refused is pecome the head stone of the corner.-Ps. cxviii. 22.

Did ye never fead in the Scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner?-Matt. xxi. 42.

And have you not read this Scripture, the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner?-Mark xii. 10.

What is this, then, that is written, the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner?-Luke xx. 17.

The MARK, whose peculiar use should be here practically exemplified, is the appropriate jewel of a Mark Master. It is made of gold or silver, usually of the former metal, and must be in the form of a keystone. On the obverse or front surface the device or "mark" selected by the owner must be engraved, within a circle composed of the following letters: H. T. W. S. S. T. K. S. On the reverse or posterior surface, the name of the owner, the name of his chapter, and the date of his advancement, may be inscribed, although this is not absolutely necessary. The "mark" consists of the device and surrounding inscription on the obverse.

It is not requisite that the device or mark should be of a strictly masonic character, although masonic emblems are frequently selected in preference to other subjects. As soon as adopted it should be drawn or described in a book kept by the chapter for that purpose, and it is then said to be "recorded in the Book of Marks," after which time it can never be changed by the possessor for any other, or altered in the slightest degree, but remains as his "mark" to the day of his death.

This mark is not a mere ornamental appendage of the de gree, but is a sacred token of the rites of friendship and brotherly love, and its presentation at any time by the owner