The grand word is Begulgal, signifying, faithful guardian or chief of the Tabernacle, friend and chosen favourite,

The candidate is led to his seat, the brethren resume their proper attitudes, and the Thrice Puissant delivers the following

Discourse.

Thrice respectable brother elect, the unanimity and earnestness, with which this respectable assembly required your pardon, disposed my heart to grant it, especially, as your crime was only an overflow of zeal. In this, you have imitated Joabert, the favourite of Solomon King of Israel, as I am about to relate. You," doubtless, recollect the lamentable catastrophe of our respectable master, Hiram Abiff. His death is the constant subject of our grief and tears, and, in this, we imitate the wisest of kings, who bemoaned the irreparable loss which he had sustained. You know, that Solomon, on hearing that he was missing, put a stop to the building, and swore, that no person should be paid his wages, until this great man was found dead or alive. You also recollect, that, the brethren went in search of him, and that Stolkin, at length, found him assassinated and buried under or near a sprig of Cassia. Stolkin's good luck, on this melancholy occasion, endeared him to the king, and procured him his greatest confidence. Nor was Solomon contented with having the funeral obsequies of that great man celebrated with as much splendour and magnificence as possible; but was also determined to take public satisfaction on the perpetrators of that horrid crime, and to sacrifice them to the manes of his deceased friend. He issued a proclamation, offering a reward to any person, who would give information where the villains were concealed; and that he would even forgive the real assassin, if he would come into his presence, acknowledge guilt, and give up his accomplices, so that they might suffer condign punishment for the expiation of the greatest of crimes. This proclamation was long out to no purpose. But, one day, when Solomon was sitting in his hall, giving audience to more than ninety masters and other officers of the order, Jerbel, Captain of the Guards, entered and informed him, that an unknown person wanted to speak to him in private, as he had a matter of the highest importance to impart. The brethren were alarmed at the readiness with which the king consented to a private audience, from fear of danger to his person; but the audience being short, a speedy return removed those fears. formed them, that this unknown person was acquainted with the retreat of the murderers of Hiram Abiff, and had offered to conduct such people as would accompany him and inform themselves of the truth of what he asserted. The brethren, to a man, immediately stood up and offered their services on the occasion. The King was highly pleased at their zeal, but declared, that, among such a number of virtuous brethren, they who should be employ-:

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ed in the honour of taking these victims of vengeance, should be determined by lot. The names of the intendants of the buildings who were present, were put in a box, when the king declared the nine whose names should be first drawn should follow the unknown stranger and bring the traitors alive, to be made an example to the latest posterity. Lots were accordingly drawn and joy gladdened the faces of those whose names came out. These received instructions from the king to follow the unknown man, who would conduct them to the cave, which was the retreat of the traitors. They departed, but one of the nine, Joabert, whom you this day represent, animated with uncommon ardour, and thinking his brethren walked too slow, got before them, and was the first that came to the cave, which was situated near the sea side, not far from Joppa. Near it was a bush, which seemed to burn; and a star. which had conducted them, stood fixed over the cave. Joabert, inflamed with rage, entered, and by the help of a lamp which was burning, saw the villain asleep, laying on his back. A dagger lay at his feet, which Joabert seized and struck with all his might, first on the head, and then in the heart. The villain sprang up with fury; but, immediately dropped dead at his feet, and pronounced the word N-m. Joabert cut off his head and then quenched his thirst at the spring in the cave, when he was joined by his brethren, whom he was just going to meet. They, seeing the head of the Villain, represented to Joabert, that he had committed a fault by his zeal, and that thus putting an end to the villain's life, he had rescued him from the tortures which Solomon had prepared for him. They promised to intercede and use their influence with the king to procure his pardon, All quenching their thirst, Joabert taking the head, they walked back to Jerusalem. On seeing them, Solomon was about to give orders for the intended tortures; but espying the villain's head in the hands of Joabert, he could not restrain his wrath, and ordered Stolkin to put him to death. This would have been instantly executed, had not all the brethren thrown themselves on their knees and begged him off, as the illustrious brethren of this chapter have done for you. From the historical circumstances related, you may see what useful instructions can be drawn. First, by the traitor's death, you see that crimes never go unpunished; but that, sooner or later, they meet their deserts. Secondly, you may learn from Joabert's danger, how unsafe it is to exceed orders; and that it is a necessary duty, strictly to comply with the orders of your superiors. Thirdly, by the pardon procured for this zealous brother, you may learn, how easily the heart of a good king is influenced to be merciful. You also see how necessary it is to have friends, who will interest themselves warmly for us on critical occasions. And, now, my dear brother, we will put an end to this discourse, by applauding your reception with 8 and 1,

0

Q. Brother, are you a master elect.

A. I have been made acquainted with the cave. Te wond Q. What have you seen in the cave.

A. A light, a poignard and a fountain, with the traitor Ehyroh.

Q. Of what use to you were these things..

A. The light to dispel the darkness of the place, the dagger to revenge the death of our respectable master Hiram Abiff, and the fountain to quench my thirst.

Q. Where were you made a master elect.

A. In the hall of audience, in Solomon's palace.

Q. How many intendants of the building were there present at that time.

A. Nine, of which I was one.

Q. From what order or number of people were those chosen. A. From upwards of ninety, mostly intendants of the building and some masters.

Q, By what motive were you prompted to become a master elect.

A. The desire of revenging the death of our respectable master, Hiram Abiff, by destroying his murderer Ehyroh

Q. Where did you find the assassin.

A. At the bottom of a cave, situated at the foot of a burning bush, by the sea side near to Joppa.

Q. Who shewed you the way.

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A. An unknown person.

Q. What road did you pass through.

A. Through dark and almost inaccessible roads.

Q. What did you do when you came to the cave.

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A. I laid hold of a dagger, there found, and, with it, struck

the villain so forcibly on the head and the heart, that he immedi1ately expired.

7Q. Did he say any thing before he expired.

A. He only uttered one word.

Q. What was it.

A. N-m, which signifies revenge.

Q, How was your election consummated.

A. By revenge, disobedience, clemency and 8 and 1.
Q. Explain this.

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A. By revenge, I destroy the traitor; by disobedience, I ex ceeded the orders given to me by the King; by clemency, through the intercession of my brethren, I obtained the King's pardon; and, lastly, by 8 and 1, as we were only nine chosen for the e business, T lege ya Sarposzib Q. What did you do after killing the traitor. A. I cut off his head, quenched my thirst at the spring, and

quite fatigued, laid myself down to sleep, where I remained until my companions entered the cave crying out revenge.

Q. How did Solomon receive you on your presenting the headof the traitor to him.

A. With indignation, as he had proposed to himself much gratification in punishing the villain and even doomed my death; but on account of my zeal forgave me.

Q. What did the dark chamber represent, into which you were conducted before your reception.

A. It is the representation of the cave, where the traitor was found by me.

Q. How came you to be left there blindfolded,

A. To call to my mind the traitors sleep, and how often we may think ourselves secure, after committing a crime, when we are in the most danger.

Q. How did the elect walk.

A. Darkness obliged them to put their hands before their heads, to prevent injury, by coming against an obstruction. And as the road was bad and uneven, they were obliged to cross their legs, and, for that reason, we sit in that posture in the chapter.

Q. What does the dog represent, which you see in the draft.

A. The unknown person, or good citizen, who conducted the elected.

Q. What does the naked arm with the dagger mean.

A, That revenge ever attends guilt.

Q. What does the black ribband with the poignard signify.

A. The grief still subsisting for Hiram Abiff, though his murderer was punished, as it was perpetrated by masons, and some of them yet unpunished.

Q. What emblems do you use to explain the number of nine elected.

A. First, nine red roses, at the bottom of our black order. I Second, nine lights in the chapter. And third, nine strokes to gain admittance. These are the emblems of the nine elected, and red is the emblem of the blood that was spilt in the temple and ordered to remain there, till revenge was completed.

Q. How do you wear the black order in this chapter.

A. From the left shoulder to the right hip, with a poignard hanging to the bottom of it.

Q. What colour is your apron.

A. A white skin bordered and lined with black, spotted with red, and, on the flap, is painted a bloody arm holding a bloody dagger.

Q. With what is this chapter hung.

A. White; red and white mixed with flames; white flames and.. red flames; and red on the white. The one indicates the blood that was spilt, and, the other, the ardour and purity of the elect

Q. Why have you no more than one warden.

A. Because the chapter was always held in Solomon's Palace, where there was no one but his favourite privy to what passsed, Q. What is there more to be done.

A. Nothing, as every thing is achieved, and Hiram Abiff revenged.

Q. Give me the pass-word.

A. N-m.

Q. Give me the grand word.

A. Begulgal, is a word which signifies faithful guardian or chief of the tabernacle, friend or chosen favourite.

Q. Have you any other pass-words.

A. There are two.

Q. Give them to me.

A. Stolkin, Joabert.

Q. At what time did the nine elected set out on their journey to the cave..

A. Just at dark.

Q. When did they return.

A. At the break of day.

Q. How old are you.

A. 8 and 1 perfect.

Form of closing the Chapter.

Solomon makes the sign, by putting his hand to his forehead and says:-My brethren, let us renew our obligation. The brethren make the sign with their daggers, first striking the head and then the heart. Solomon strikes 8 and 1: Stolkin does the same and the chapter is closed.

TO MR. RICHARD CARLILE DORCHESTER GAOL.

DEAR SIR, Hull, 16 August, 1825. THE account you published of the late Wm. Stephens, of this place was perfectly correct.-In his manners he was mild and inoffensive, and so far was the acquirement of knowledge from making him averse to labour, as some imagine, that, though he was a slender man, he would frequently perform as much work as two ordinary man.

My wife visited him a short time before he died,-He desired her to assure me, that he should die a true Materialist, and parodying the expression of Addison, when on his death bed, he added "See how a Materialist can die."

Several Christian writers have exulted at Addison's exclamation, as affording a complete proof of the truth of the Christian religion-Was you disposed to imitate their logic, you might now adduce a similar proof of the truth of Materialism--I continue so sceptical as to reject such proofs of any Creed, but remain with best wishes for your welfare, Dear Sir, your obedient Servant,

J. JACKSON,