THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS, GUARDED BY THE TYLERS' SWORD, Reminds us that we should be ever watchful and guarded, in our thoughts, words, and actions, particularly when before the enemies of Masonry; ever bearing in remembrance those truly masonic virtues, silence and circumspection. THE SWORD POINTING TO A NAKED HEART, Demonstrates that justice will sooner or later overtake us ; and although our thoughts, words and actions may be hidden from the eyes of man, yet that ALL-SEEING EYE, Whom the sun, moon and stars obey, and under whose watchful care even comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, and will reward us according to our merits. THE ANCHOR AND ARK Are emblems of a well-grounded hope, and a well-spent life. They are emblematical of that divine ark which safely wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles, and that anchor which shall safely moor us in a peaceful harbour, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary shall find rest. THE FORTY-SEVENTH PROBLEM OF EUCLID.* This was an invention of our ancient friend and brother, * THEOREM.]-In any right-angled triangle, the square which is described upon the side subtending the right angle, is equal to the squares described upon the sides which contain the right angle.-Euclid, lib. i. prop. 47. the great Pythagoras, who, in his travels through Asia, Africa and Europe, was initiated into several orders of priesthood, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. This wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of things, and more especially in geometry or Masonry; on this subject he drew out many problems and theorems, and among the most distinguished, he erected this, which, in the joy of his heart, he called Eureka, in the Grecian language, signifying, I have found it; and upon the discovery of which he is said to have sacrificed a hecatomb. It teaches Masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences. THE HOUR-GLASS Is an emblem of human life. Behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close. We cannot without astonishment behold the little particles which are contained in this machine; how they pass away almost imperceptibly; and yet, to our surprise, in the short space of an hour they are all exhausted. Thus wastes man! to-day, he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; tomorrow, blossoms," and bears his blushing honours thick upon him;" the next day comes a frost, which nips the shoot, and when he thinks his greatness is still aspiring, he falls, like autumn leaves, to enrich our mother earth. THE SCYTHE Is an emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity. Behold! what havoc the scythe of time makes among the human race; if by chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to childhood and youth, and with health and vigour arrive to the years of manhood, yet withal we must soon be cut down |