b teaches us to walk uprightly, in our several
stations, before God and man; squaring our actions by the square of
virtue; and remembering that we are traveling on the level of time to
that 'undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler has
returned.' I further present you with three precious jewels; their
names are Faith, Hope, and Charity; they teach us to have faith in
God, hope in immortality, and charity to all mankind." The Master to
the Senior Deacon, "You will now conduct the candidate out of this
Lodge, and invest him with what he has been divested." After he is
clothed, and the necessary arrangements made for his reception, such
as placing the columns and floor carpet, if they have any, and the
candidate is reconducted back to the Lodge; as he enters the door, the
Senior Deacon observes, "We are now about to return to the middle
chamber of King Solomon's Temple." When within the door, the Senior
Deacon proceeds, "Brother, we have worked in speculative Masonry, but
our forefathers wrought both in speculative and operative Masonry.
They worked at the building of King Solomon's Temple, and many other
Masonic edifices; they wrought six days; they did not work on the
seventh, because in six days God created the heavens and the earth,
and rested on the seventh day. The seventh, therefore, our ancient
brethren consecrated as a day of rest; thereby enjoying more frequent
opportunities to contemplate the glorious works of creation, and to
adore their great Creator." Moving a step or two, the Senior Deacon
proceeds, "Brother, the first thing that attracts our attention are
two large columns, or pillars, one on the left hand, and the other on
the right; the name of the one on the left hand is BOAZ, and denotes
strength; the name of the one on the right hand is JACHIN, and denotes
establishment; they collectively allude to a passage in Scripture,
wherein God has declared in his word, 'In strength shall this house be
established.' These columns are eighteen cubits high, twelve in
circumference, and four in diameter; they are adorned with two large
chapiters, one on each, and these chapiters are ornamented with net
work, lily work, and pomegranates; they denote unity, peace, and
plenty. The net work, from its connection, denotes union; the lily
work, from its whiteness, purity and peace; and the pomegranate, from
the exuberance of its seed, denotes plenty. They also have two large
globes, or balls, one on each; these g