her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers, as the players on instruments, shall be there all my springs are in thee."-PSALM lxxxvii. The following passages of scripture are introduced and explained: "So king Solomon was king over all Israel. Azariah, the son of Nathan, was over the officers; and Zabud, the son of Nathan, was principal officer, and the king's friend; and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram, the son of Abda, was over the tribute."-I. KINGS iv. 1-5-6. "And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone-squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house." -I. KINGS V. 17-18. "And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow's son, of the tribe of Naphtali; and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker of brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding, and cunning, to work all works in brass."—I. KINGS Vii. 13-14. "The ancients of Gebal, and the wise men thereof, were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea, with their mariners, were in thee, to occupy thy merchandise."-EZEKIEL XXVII. 9. And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee."-DEUTERONOMY xxxi. 24-26. "And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As the Lord cominanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the testimony to be kept."-EXODUS xvi. 33–34. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token."NUMBERS Xvii. 10. "And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation, to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercyseat, that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.”. NUMBERS Vii. 89. "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount."-EXODUS xxv. 40. . Charge to the Candidate. "COMPANION:-Having attained to this degree, you have passed the circle of perfection in ancient Masonry. In the capacity of Select Master, you must be sensible that your obligations are increased in proportion to your privileges. Let it be your constant care to prove yourself worthy of the confidence reposed in you, and of the high honor conferred, in admitting you to this select degree. Let uprightness and integrity attend your steps; let justice and mercy mark your conduct; let fervency and zeal stimulate you in the discharge of the various duties incumbent upon you; but suffer not an idle or impertinent curiosity to lead you astray, or betray you into danger. Be deaf to every insinuation which would have a tendency to weaken your resolution, or tempt you to an act of disobedience. Be voluntarily dumb and blind, when the exercise of those faculties would endanger the peace of your mind or the probity of your conduct; and let silence and secresy, those cardinal virtues of a Select Master, on all necessary occasions, be scrupulously observed. By a steady adherence to the important instructions contained in this degree, you will merit the approbation of the select number with whom you are associated, and will enjoy the high satisfaction of having acted well your part in the important enterprise in which you are engaged; and after having wrought your regular hours, may be admitted to participate in all the privileges of a Select Master." |