When we take a survey of Nature, we view man in his infancy, more
helpless and indigent than the brute creation; he lies languishing for
days, months and years, totally incapable of providing sustenance for
himself, of guarding against the attack of the wild beasts of the field,
or sheltering himself from the inclemencies of the weather. It might
have pleased the great Creator of heaven and earth to have made man
independent of all created beings; but as dependence is one of the
strongest bonds of society, mankind were made dependent on each other
for protection and security, thereby enjoying better opportunities of
fulfilling the duties of reciprocal love and friendship. Thus was man
formed for social and active life, the noblest part of the work of God;
and he who will so demean himself as not to endeavor to add to the
common stock of knowledge may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a
useless member of society, and unworthy of our protection as Masons.

The Book of Constitutions.

The Book of Constitutions guarded by the Tiler's 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.

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 men, yet that--

[Illustration]

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 the Ark.

The Anchor and the 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 harbor, where the wicked cease from
troubling and the weary are at rest.

Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid.

This was an invention of our ancient friend and brother Pythagoras, who,
in his travels through Asia, Africa and Europe, was initiated into
several orders of priesthood, and raised to the sublime degree of Master
Mason. This wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general
knowledge of things and more especially in Geometry, or