Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: BOOK II. General Remarks: Including An Illustration Of The Lectures; A Particular Description Of The Ancient Ceremonies; And The Charges Used In The Different Degrees. SECT. I. General Remarks. Masonry is an art useful and extensive. In every art there is a mystery, which requires a progress of study and application before we can arrive at any degree of perfection. Without much instruction, and more exercise, no man can be skilful in any art; in like manner, without an assiduous application to the various subjects treated in the different lectures of Masonry, no person can be sufficiently acquainted with the true value of the institution. From this remark it is not to be inferred, that those who labour under the disadvantage of a confined education, or whose sphere of life requires assiduous attention to business or useful employment, are to be discouraged in their endeavours to gain a knowledge of Masonry. To qualify an individual to enjoy the benefits of the society at large, or to partake of its privileges, it is not absolutely necessary that he should be acquainted with all the intricate parts of the science: these are only intended for persons who may have leisure and opportunity to indulge the pursuit. Some may be more able than others, some more eminent, some more useful; but all, in their different spheres, may prove advantageous to the community; and our necessities, as well as our consciences, bind us to love one another. To persons, however, whose early years have been, .dedicated to literary pursuits, or whose circumstances and situation in life render them independent,the offices of the lodge ought principally to be restricted. The industrious tradesman proves himself a valuable member of society, and worthy of every honour that we can confer; but the...