whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report" (Phil. iv. 8). He is bound by the most solemn obligation strictly to observe the moral law. But it is impossible for any man really to do this or in figurative language, to keep his hands always clean who neglects the keeping of his heart, the cultivation of Faith, Hope, and Charity, who does not cherish within his own breast the virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice.

It is nothing better than a vile mockery for a Mason to wear white gloves, whilst conscious of any iniquity in his life of any dishonesty in his wordly affairs-of any deceit or cruelty in his conduct towards the wives or daughters of his neighbours--of any unkindness towards the wife of his own bosom, whom he has bound himself to love and to cherish-or of any neglect of duty towards his children. His white gloves, in such a case, virtually tell a lie. He wears them as a good and true Mason ought, but he knows that his pretension is false, and that they are only the disguise of his secret wickedness. Let it be hoped that such cases are few.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MASONIC SYMBOLS.-THE GAUGE.

THE working tools of operative masonry are among the chosen symbols of speculative Masonry, and all of them are employed to teach important lessons. It is easy to see how they came to be appropriated to this use, for no symbols can be more simple and natural than those which they afford, and in the early times, when Masonry was mainly operative, the application of them in speculative Masonry, as it was gradually developed, could hardly be avoided. This will clearly appear as each of the working tools is considered, with its symbolic significance.

The Gauge is used by operative masons to measure and lay out their work. It is a two-foot rule, divided into twenty-four inches, and also into three equal parts of eight inches each. What more natural than that the Mason, beginning to enter upon the domain of speculative Masonry, and passing from the contemplation of things material to that of moral duties and responsibilities, should connect with his thoughts of these this familiar working tool. The right division and employment of his time are of as much importance to him, with regard to these, as the accurate measurement of the parts of his work are to its perfect execution. The division of the gauge into twenty-four equal parts corresponds with the division of the day into twenty-four hours; and the division into three equal parts instructs the Mason to give eight hours daily to work, eight to the duties of religion, of social and domestic life, and eight to recreation and repose. This division of the day is a good one, than which, indeed, no man can propose any better to himself. In ordinary circumstances, eight hours

of work are enough for a man working from day to day for his own support and the support of his family; and the present demand on the part of the working classes in various trades for the reduction of the hours of labour to eight is reasonable in itself, and ought to receive favourable regard from their employers, and from the public in general. It would be well even if legislation would compel the universal adoption of the old masonic rule, so as to prevent the difficulty of the question in particular trades, which cannot be satisfactorily settled because there is not a uniform law binding on all. The masonic rule cannot, perhaps, be strictly applied in some cases, as in that of farm-labourers, who must occasionally give far more than eight hours of the day to work, in the harvest season, and on other special emergencies against which no forethought can provide. But, ordinarily, eight hours of work every day are enough for a man, as much as he can give to work and continue to do his work well; for more would exhaust the physical frame, and act even still more injuriously on the mental energies, the devotion of which to work is as important, even in humble kinds of manual labour, as that of a man's limbs and hands. This is as decidedly true in the case of the man of independent fortune who endeavours to discharge the duties of his station, and to approve himself not merely one of the consumers of this world's good things (the "fruges consumere nati”), but one of those by whose labours the great fabric of society is sustained and the general welfare promoted. His toil may be mental rather than corporeal; but it exhausts the body itself, if too long persevered in. Eight hours afford sufficient time for religious duties, those of family life, and those of society. And eight hours will be found ordinarily necessary for recreation and repose, including the time requisite for partaking of meals.

Other significations have also been ascribed to the gauge as a symbol, not as in place of those already stated, but as additional to them.

Its division into three equal parts has been held to

represent the division of our duties into those which we owe to God, to our brethren, and to ourselves. But this explanation of it as a symbol is not so simple and natural as that most commonly received. And although this classification of our duties is correct enough, and has probably been well known ever since people began to think on such subjects, it cannot truly be said that these classes of duties are equal one to another, as might be supposed to be the case if they were understood to be symbolised in the three equal parts of the gauge.

CHAPTER XXX.

MASONIC SYMBOLS.-THE GAVEL.

ANOTHER of the most ordinary working tools is the Gavel. It is employed by the operative mason to break off the corners of rough stones, and thus to reduce them to proper form for the purposes of the builder. In speculative Masonry it is, like the gauge, one of the working tools appropriated to the degree of the Entered Apprentice, and symbolises the necessity of removing, even although by means somewhat severe and painful, the irregularities which unfit a man for his place in that glorious building, the spiritual temple of God. It teaches very impressively the imperfection of our nature, and calls us to earnest exertion for spiritual and moral improvement. In this, also, we are to be helpful to each other; and those who have made the greatest progress themselves, are best able to render kind assistance to their brethren. This is especially the duty of those who, because of their merit, have been advanced to the highest offices, and therefore the gavel is placed in the hands of the Worshipful Master, as a symbol of his authority to maintain order in the Lodge. It is significant of his duty to remove asperities, to prevent ebullitions of violent temper, and to restrain frivolity, that every assembly of the Lodge may serve to make its members more perfect, and more worthy of their place as spiritual stones in that temple which it represents.

The master's gavel is sometimes called a Hiram, from the name of Hiram Abiff, to whom Solomon gave the chief charge of the construction of the temple at Jerusalem. The name Gavel is derived from the German Gipfel, a peak, from which also comes the same term applied to