498 MASONS Y. 
The Grand Lodge was re-called to labour ; when, as the firft aft of the United Fraternity, his Royal Highnefs the 
Duke of Kent, after an elegant introduction, moved—“That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Royal Highnefs 
the Prince Regent, refpeCtrully to acquaint him with the happy event of the Re-union.of the two Grand Lodges of 
Ancient Freetnafons of England—an event which cannot fail to afford lively fatisfaCtion to their illuftrious Patron, 
whoprefided for fo many years over one of the Fraternities, ar.d under whofe aufpices Free Mafonry has rifen to its 
prefent llourilhing condition. That the unchangeable principles of the Inftitution are well known to his Royal 
Highnafs, and the great benefits and end of this Re-union are to promote the influence and operation of thefe prin¬ 
ciples, by more extenfively inculcating loyalty and affeCtion to their Sovereign—obedience to the laws and magif- 
trates of their country—and the practice of all the religious and moral duties of life—objeCts which mult ever be 
dear to his Royal Highnefs in the Government of his Majefiy’s United Kingdom. That they humbly hope and pray 
for the continuance of the fan £1 ion of his Royal Highnefs’s fraternal'patronage ; and that they beg leave to exprefs 
their fervent gratitude for the many blelfings which, in common with all their fellow fubjeCts, they derive from his 
benignant l'way. That the great Architect of the Univenfe may long fecure thefe blefiings to them and to their coun¬ 
try, by the prefervation of his Royal Highnefs, their Illuftrious Patron !” This motion was feconded by the Ho¬ 
nourable Wafhington Shirley, and palled unanimoufly, and with mafonic honours. 
This was followed by a motion,—“ That the grateful Thanks of this United Grand Lodge be given to the Moll 
Worlhipful their Royal Highneffes the Duke of Kent and Duke of Suffex, for the gracious condefcenfion with 
which they yielded to the prayer of the United Fraternities to take upon themfelves the perl'onal conduct of the Ne¬ 
gociation for a Re-union, which is this day, through their zeal, conciliation, and fraternal example, fo happily com¬ 
pleted ;” which was alfo unanimoufly approved 5 and was followed by a Motion of Thanks to the fix Cornmiffioners 
appointed by the two Fraternities to affift the illuttrious Princes in the laid Negociation—for the zeal, conciliation, 
and ability, with which they difcharged their important trult therein. 
The following Refolutions were alfo feverally put, and carried in the affirmative unanimoufly. 
That Books be opened by the Grand Secretaries for the regular entry and record of the proceedings of this United 
Grand Lodge ; and that there be inferted therein, in the firll inltance, an account of all the Refolutions and Proceed¬ 
ings of both Grand Lodges with refpeCt to the Negociation for the Union, and of the conferences of the Commif- 
ffoners thereon ; together with a copy of the Articles of Union, and the confirmation thereof; alfo copies of the 
Letters written by their Royal Highneffes the two Grand M-afters, and Grand Secretaries, addrelled to the Mod 
■Worlhipful the Grand Mailers, and Grand Secretaries, of Scotland and Ireland, announcing the fame, together with 
the Refolutions of thefe Grand Lodges in reply. 
That the proceedings of this day be communicated to the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland, and to exprefs 
to them that this United Grand Lodge feels with the molt fenfible fatisfaCtion the fraternal intereft which they take 
in the important event of this day. Toaffure them that it is the anxious d.efire of this Grand Lodge to maintain the 
moll conllant, cordial, and intimate, communion with the Sifter Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom ; to which 
end they are perfuaded that nothing is fo effential as the prefervation of one pure and unlullied fyltem founded on 
the Ample and ancient traditions of the craft. 
Several other Refolutions were alfo palled relative to the internal management of the Fraternity; after which the 
United Grand Lodge was clofed in ample form, and with folemn prayer. 
With the above particulars of the accomplifhment of 
an Union fo defirable to the whole body of Mafons, it 
will be proper to terminate the hiftorical part of this ar¬ 
ticle j as it will form a molt memorable era in the annals 
of the inftitution. 
\Ye ffiall now turn our attention to the figurative or 
fymbolical part of Mafonry; which, indeed, may be de¬ 
fined, by calling it a peculiar fyltem of morality, founded 
in allegory, and illuftrated by fytnbols; for there is not a 
character., figure, or emblem, adopted by the fraternity, 
which does not poffefs a moral tendency, and ferve to 
inculcate the principles of virtue, or to irnprefs ferious 
and folemn truths, on the mind of every one by whom it 
is duly contemplated. 
Mafons, as Mr. Hutchinfon (Spirit of Mafonry) tells 
us, profefs innocence as one of their firft principles ; and 
they put on white apparel [apron and gloves ) as an emblem 
of that character; which befpeaks purity of foul, gentle- 
siefs, and humility. The ancients, as we read in the Bio- 
graphia Ecclefiaftica, were alfo wont to put a white gar¬ 
ment on the perfon baplifed, to denote his having put off 
the lulls of the fleffi, and his being cleanfed from his former 
fine; and that he had obliged himfelf to maintain a life of 
.unfpotted innocency. The white garment tiled to be de¬ 
livered to them with this folemn charge, “ Receive the 
white and undefiled garment, and produce it without fpot 
before 'the tribunal of our Lord Jefus Chrilt, that you 
may obtain eternal life.’ 5 —Thofe of our readers who are 
Mafons well know that a very folemn charge (though in 
other terms) was received by them from the Mafters of 
tke Lodges by whom they were refpeCtively initiated, at 
their invelliture with this badge of innocence (white 
apron), and this bond of friendlhip (white gloves). In 
fhort, generally fpeaking, the’well-informed Mafon knows, 
that the jewels , as they are emphatically called, of the 
Lodge, are only enfigns of the inward man. The ftruc- 
ture of the Lodge itfelf is a pattern of the univerfe; and 
the firft entry of a Mafon reprefents the firll worlhip of 
the true God. 
Mafons retain the Egyptian fymbols of the Sun and 
Moon , as the emblems of God’s power, eternity, omnipre¬ 
fence, and benevolence. The ethereal manfions of the 
bleffed, for poffeffion of which all men hope, are typified 
by Seven Stars. The tcjjelated or mofaic pavement continu¬ 
ally reminds the contemplative Mafon of the variety of 
objects which decorate and adorn the creation ; and like- 
wife of the chequered diverfity and viciffitude of human 
affairs; it intimates to him, that, though to-day he may 
tread the flowery mead of profperity, he rnay to-morrow 
totter on the rugged track of adverfity; and that, there¬ 
fore, he fhould not fet his heart on the things of this 
world, but lay up his treafure where the ruft cannot de¬ 
face its poliffi or luftre. While he treads on the mofaic 
pavement alfo, the genuine Mafon will never lofe fight of 
the grand principles of his Order, Brotherly Love, Re¬ 
lief, and Truth; he will never forget thofe principal ma¬ 
fonic points. Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Juf- 
tice; but, above all, as the mod effential virtues of every 
creature who looks to a future and a better world, recol¬ 
lect that his every aCtion in life lhould be founded in 
Faith, Hope, and Charity. 
Among the moft prominent of the architectural imple¬ 
ments which are appended to the perfons of the principal 
officers of a Lodge are, the Plumb-rule, the Level, and the 
Square-, of which the firft is viewed as an emblem of up- 
rightnefsand integrity; the fecond, of equality and union; 
and the third, of morality and harmony. 
The Rule direCts that we fhould punctually obferve our 
duty, and prefs forward in the path of virtue; neither 
inclining to the right hand nor to the left, for the lake 
of any tranfient gratification whatfoever; and in.all our 
actions to have eternity in view. 
The 
