ment to these
principles will insure a public and private esteem. In the State, you
are to be a quiet and peaceable subject, true to your government, and
just to your country; you are not to countenance disloyalty, but
faithfully submit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to
the government of the country in which you live. In your outward
demeanor be particularly careful to avoid censure or reproach.
Although your frequent appearance at our regular meetings is earnestly
solicited, yet it is not meant that Masonry should interfere with your
necessary vocations; for these are on no account to be neglected:
neither are you to suffer your zeal for the institution to lead you
into argument with those who, through ignorance, may ridicule it. At
your leisure hours, that you may improve in Masonic knowledge, you are
to converse with well-informed brethren, who will be always as ready
to give, as you will be to receive information. Finally, keep sacred
and inviolable the mysteries of the Order, as these are to distinguish
you from the rest of the community, and mark your consequence among
Masons. If, in the circle of your acquaintance, you find a person
desirous of being initiated into Masonry, be particularly attentive
not to commend him, unless you are convinced he will conform to our
rules; that the honor, glory, and reputation of the institution may be
firmly established, and the world at large convinced of its good
effects." Here the initiation ends, and the candidate is congratulated
by his Masonic friends.

After this, the business of the meeting proceeds according to the
by-laws or regulations of the Lodge. Before adjourning, it is a very
common practice to close a Lodge of Entered Apprentices, and open a
Lodge of Fellow Crafts, and close that, and open a Master Mason's
Lodge, all in the same evening.

* * * * *

CEREMONY OF CLOSING A LODGE OF ENTERED APPRENTICES.

A brother having made a motion that the Lodge be closed, it being
seconded and carried, the Master says to the Junior Deacon, "Brother
Junior [giving one rap, which calls up both Deacons], the first as
well as the last care of a Mason?" The Junior Deacon answers, "To see
the Lodge tyled, Worshipful." Master to the Junior Deacon, "Attend to
that part of your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to
close this Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, and direct him to tyle
accordingly." The Junior Deacon step