In defence of the following short essays I will only say that my attention being drawn to the explana- tions in the established lectures on Masonic trac- ing boards I set myself to investigate their accuracy, with what result I shall presently show. I do not claim any originality for what I have written: it is simply the result of a considerable amount of, unhappily, somewhat desultory reading; and those who have happened to study the works of Dulaure, Dupuis, Sainte Croix, Knight, Faber, Higgins, In man, Cory and many others treating on kindred subjects will be at no loss to discover whence I have drawn my information. I believe that to a large number of Masons the eso- teric meaning of the symbols and ceremonies in constant use and practice amongst us is either unknown or dis-regarded; but it surely cannot be uninteresting, even as a matter of history, to know whence they were derived, and to see how, even in our ancient and honourable Society, the jewel truth has become encrusted until to outward view it is like the pebble ignorance. Finally, I would urge that the mission of Masonry is not yet ended; its practical services in preserving knowledge in days when the possession of such knowledge was too often the passport to a shameful death deserve to be ever kept in remembrance, and even now it may be that in a Lodge close tiled we can impart to each other matters of deep interest which yet it may not be well to publish for the indiscriminate use of the outer world.