SELECT MASTER.

THIS degree is the summit and perfection of ancient Masonry; and without which the history of the Ro al Arch Degree can hardly be said to be complete. It rationally accounts for the concealment and preservation of those essentials of the craft, which were brought to light at the erection of the second Temple; and which lay concealed from the Masonic eye for four hundred and seventy years.

Many particulars relative to those few, who were selected for their superior skill, to complete an important part of King Solomon's Temple, are explained.

And here, too, is exemplified an instance of justice and mercy by our ancient patron, towards one of the craft, who was led to disobey his commands, by an over zealous attachment for the institution. It ends with a description of a particular circumstance, which characterizes the degree.

The following Psalm is read at opening:

PSALM 1Xxxvii.

The Lord

"His foundation is in the holy mountains. loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me. Behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her and the Highest himself shall establish 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."

The following passages of Scripture are introduced and explained:

I. KINGS iv. 1. 5, 6.

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 V. 17, 18.

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 viii. 13, 14.

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.

EZEKIEL Xxvii. 9.

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.

DEUTERONOMY xxxi. 24-26.

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were