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ory serious truths; and thus the excellent tenets of the institution are transmitted unimpaired, under circumstances. precarious and adverse, through a succession of ages.

CHARGE,

Proper to be delivered by the Junior Warden, at Meridian. BRETHREN-The lodge being about to suspend its labors for a short time, you may amuse yourselves with rational gaiety, but you must be peculiarly watchful not to run into excess. Masonry commands us to force no brother to do any thing contrary to his inclination, to offend him neither by actions or by words; you will, therefore, permit him to act as is agreeable to himself, and make him as happy as you can. Indecent or immoral discourse is unbecoming a mason, and you must always avoid it.

At home and abroad shew that you have improved by the lessons you have here been taught; shew yourselves fonder lovers of wisdom, and more strict observers of morality. It is needless to warn you to be so cautious in your words and actions as not to give the most acute and prying stranger the least opportunity of discovering what is not proper to be intimated; or, against disclosing the private transactions of our different assemblies; you are all masons, and honor, and the reputation of the society at large, will guide your actions.

Irregularity and intemperance must be forever avoided; they will disgrace the society, destroy the peace of your families, impair your constitutions, and make you incapable of pursuing your necessary business.

Constantly observe, and enforce these rules, and always practice those duties, which, in the lodge, have been so forcibly and pleasingly recommended to you. Industriously cultivate brotherly love, the foundation and cap-stone, the glory, and firm cement of our fraternity. Avoid disputes and quarrels; speak as well of a brother in his absence as in his presence, and let slander be unknown to you. Suffer no one unreproved to calumniate your honest brethren, but zealously defend their characters, and do them every friendly office. Hence, the beneficial influence of your order will be diffused far around, and the admiring world will be witnesses of the happy effects it produces.

Charge to an Entered Apprentice.

BROTHER AS you are now introduced into the first principles of masonry, I congratulate you on being accepted into our ancient and honorable order: ancient, as having subsisted from time immemorial; and honorable, as tending in every particular to render all men so, who will be but conformable to its precepts. No institution was ever raised on a better principle, or more solid foundation; nor were ever more excellent rules and useful maxims laid down, than are inculcated on all persons when initiated into the mysteries of this science. Monarchs, in all ages, have been encouragers and promoters of our art, and have never deemed it derogatory from their dignity to level themselves with the fraternity, to extend their privileges, and to patronize their assemblies.

As a gentleman and a mason, you are bound to be a strict observer of the moral law as contained in the holy writings; to consider these as the unerring standard of truth and justice, and to regulate your life and actions by their divine precepts. Herein your duty to God, to your neighbor, and to yourself, is duly inculcated; and a zealous attachment to these duties will always secure public and private esteem.

In the state, you are to be a quiet and peaceable citizen, truc to your rulers, and just to your country; you are never to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to magisterial authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the government under which you live.

In your outward demeanor you are to be particularly careful to avoid censure or reproach; and on every occasion to beware of those who may artfully endeavor to insinuate themselves into your esteem, with a view to betray your virtuous resolutions, or make you swerve from the honorable principles of this institution. Let not interest, favor or prejudice, bias your integrity, or influence you to be guilty of a dishonorable action; but let the whole series of your conduct and behavior be regular and uniform, and your deportment suitable to the dignity of this laudable profession.

Above all other virtues, you are to practice benevolence and charity; these being the most distinguishing characteris. tics of this venerable institution. The inconceivable pleasure of contributing toward the relief of our fellow-creatures can only be experienced by persons of a humane disposition: who are naturally excited by the power of sympathy, to extend their aid in the alleviation of the miseries of others,

This encourages the generous mason to distribute his bounty with cheerfulness. By supposing himself in their unhappy situation, he listens to their complaints with attention, bewails their misfortunes, and speedily relieves their distress.

The next object of your attention, and which more immediately relates to your present state, is our excellent Constitutions. These contain the history of masonry from the earliest period, with an account of the noble personages who have enriched the art at different periods; and the laws and charges by which the fraternity have long been governed.

A punctual attendance on our assemblies is next required, more especially on the duties of the lodge to which you may hereafter belong. There, as in all other regular meetings of the fraternity, you are to behave with order and decorum, that harmony may be preserved, and the business of masonry be properly conducted. You are not to lay, or offer to lay, wagers; neither are you to use any unbecoming language, in derogation of the name of God, or towards the corruption of good manners; you are not to introduce, support or maintain any dispute about religion or politics, or behave ludicrously, while the lodge is engaged in what is serious and important; but pay a proper deference and respect to the master and presiding officers, and diligently apply to your work in masonry, that you may the sooner become a proficient therein, as well for your own reputation, as the honor of the lodge in which you have been received.

Although your frequent appearance at our regular meetings is earnestly solicited, yet masonry is not meant to interfere with your necessary vocations; for these are on no account to be neglected. At your leisure hours it is expected that you will study the liberal arts and sciences, and occasionally improve in masonic disquisition by applying to well informed brethren, who will be always as ready to give, as you will be to receive instruction.

To conclude, you are to keep sacred and inviolable the mysteries of our order; and if ever, in the circle of your acquaintance, you may find one desirous of being accepted among masons, you are to be particularly attentive not to recommend him. unless he will conform to our rules; that the honor, glory, and reputation of our institution may be firmly established, and the world at large be convinced of its benign influence.

From the attention you have paid to the recital of this charge, it is hoped that you will estimate its real value, and

ever imprint on your mind the sacred dictates of truth, honor, and justice.

A short charge to a new admitted Mason.

BROTHER-You are now admitted, by the full and due consent of this lodge, a fellow of our most ancient and honorable society ancient, as having subsisted from time immemorial-and honorable, as tending in every particular to do honor to those who conform to its noble precepts. The greatest monarchs, and most exalted heroes and patriots, of all ages and countries throughout the known world, have been encouragers of the royal art; and many of them have presided as grand masters of masons, in their respective territories; not thinking it any lessening of their highest dignities to level themselves with their brethren in masonry, and to act upon the same square as they did.

The world's Great Architect is our supreme master; and the unerring rule he has given us, is that by which we work; religious disputes are never suffered within the lodge; for, as, masons, we only pursue the universal religion, or the religion of nature. This is the centre which unites the most different principles in one sacred band, and brings together those who were the most distant from one another.

There are three general heads of duty which masons ought always to inculcate, viz. to God, our neighbor, and ourselves; to God, in never mentioning his name, but with that reverential awe which a creature ought to bear to his Creator, and to look upon him always as the summum bonum which we came into the world to enjoy, and according to that view to regulate all our pursuits; to our neighbor, in acting upon the square, or doing as we would be done by; to ourselves, in avoiding all intemperance and excesses, whereby we may be rendered incapable of following our work, or led into behaviour unbecoming our laudable profession, and always keeping within due bounds, and free from all pollution.

In the state, a mason is to behave as a peaceable and dutiful citizen, conforming cheerfully to the government under which he lives.

He is to pay a due deference to his superiors; and from his inferiors he is rather to receive honor with some reluctance, than to extort it. He is to be a man of benevolence and charity, not sitting down contented, while his fellow creatures, but much more his brethren, are in want, when it

is in his power, without prejudicing himself or his family, to relieve them.

In the lodge he is to behave with all due decorum, lest the beauty and harmony thereof should be disturbed or broke; he is to be obedient to the master and the presiding officers, and to apply himself closely to the business of masonry, that he may the sooner become a proficient therein, both for his own credit, and for that of the lodge.

He is not to neglect his own necessary avocations for the sake of masonry, nor to involve himself in quarrels with those, who, through ignorance, may speak evil of, or ridicule it.

He is to be a lover of the arts and sciences, and is to take all opportunities to improve himself therein.

If he recommends a friend to be made a mason, he must vouch him to be such as he really believes will conform to the aforesaid duties, lest by his misconduct, at any time, the lodge should pass under some evil imputations.

Nothing can prove more shocking to all faithful masons, than to see any of their brethren profane, or break through the sacred rules of their order; and such as can do it, they wish had never been admitted.

A CHARGE,

Delivered in the Union Lodge at Exeter, at the Initiation of a Free-mason*-By Brother C, R. W. M. BROTHER-You are initiated into the most ancient and honorable order of free and accepted masons; an order against which. I doubt not, you have often seen ridicule point her sharpest arrows, and calumny pour out her most copious torrents of abuse: I dare say you have heard our order represented as either wicked or trifling, and our meetings. described as the assemblies of riotous jollity, and destructive intemperance. I rejoice to see that these representations have had no ill effect upon you; that they have not frightened you from entering amongst us. You saw men most renowned for wisdom and honor in the society; saw them exert their utmost endeavors to support its interests in the present, and to extend them to future times; and you knew that could never be the case, if they had been betrayed into any thing wicked, trifling, or ridiculous.

Some parts of this Charge are translated from the French.

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