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Those Hidden Mysteries of Nature's might Which timo has dimmed not in his onward flight ! It i 3 the first and noblest art of all , — For it removes the planet's darksome pall ;

And , Lo ! wo see—oh ! wondrous hidden force Each world revolving on its endless course ! Que 8 n Nature we upon her way disoern In paths of pleasantry where'er she turn ; We follow to her most Concealed Recesses

Till she to u 3 her every charm oonfesses ; Charms of the seasons—oharms which still entrance When we survey her limitless expanse f None but an Artist with a skill divine Would e'er have traced this superperfect shrine ! None but an Architect Supreme would dare

Globe upon globe and world ou world prepare ! None but a Master Builder conld erect Sphere upon sphere and ne ' er a flaw detect ! All is in Order full of symmetry Proportions beautiful in oich degree ! Then let us study in our leisure hours

Tho soroll unveiled by Geometry s vast powors ! Still ono more Art , my muse , thou must explore That which is taught in Astronomic lore An Art Celestial , for ' tis of the skies—And heavenly things trno Masons ne ' er despise ! Wo well may ponder on tbe starry space

Which lends to earth so much of heavenly grace ; We well may deem our deeds a puny nought When lost within this boundless bourne of thought ! Nor can we—though by Holy writ imbued Grasp with suocess , this vast infinitude ;

That realm " where age to age mulenial runs Throned in the glory of ten thousand suns !" We feel indeed , whilst 'neath its wondrous sway Weak , feeble mortals—creatures of a day ! Frail , nameless atoms , springing from a clod Who yet would love , and be beloved of God !

Thank God for Masonry ! It elevates All those who enter through its mystic gates : It lifts the soul i i loftier spheres on high , To tho profane lends half its dignity , And those who to its inner depths would probe Are nearer Him who formed this earthly globe !

He smiles npon our mc itings and lends grace To all who meet within et ^ h saored place—Where deeds MaLonic wile the hours away In pleasant laLmr at the olose of day ! Nought may there c ) me to stop or to debar Our Art so Just , Perfect and Regular ;

And may there ba upon our upward way No cloud to hinder and no gloom to stay . May the Most High make us for e ' er imbned With Prudence , Temperance , Justice , Fortitudo ; Giving us Tolerance ns we journey on With Him before ns for comparison . Teaching by His supremo Omnipoten , :

The blessings fraught of true Obedience . Instructing us in Honour hour by hour And filling with His majesty of Power ; Until Fidelity in word and deed Bnrns the vain dross and all the pure is freed ; Taking away the vileness that depraves Till Truth ' s own banner all triumphant waves ; Thus let us Chisol off all vice and sin

Letting God s spirit freely enter in—Then will our hearts be glad and full of cheer And beat rejoicing each Masonic year ! Let us be Meek and Humble and Resigned—Strong in tho Faith and true to all mank'nd—Trno to tbe S . jred Law on whioh is based

The Craft whbh ne er its votaries has disgraced ! True to our i . nets—to our t ) achings true Giving all men their Just and Lawful Dne ! Ours is the ti < ik to tei ih frail man the Right , By Strength of Reas . m and by Wisdom ' s might ; Dispensing Virtue ' s beauties all t ^

ound—Dispersing ignorance whore er 'tis found—Diffusing Light wbeia darkness fain would sway , Guiding the feet of all who ofttimes s vay Upon destructions bro 1 , alluring way . Banishing Vice and easing Misery , Instilling Z ; al with apt i- 'opriety ; I Sowing the seeds of fervent Constancy !

Thu 3 'tis we flourish tho on every side Temptations and seductive wiles abide ; Thus 'tis we conquer tho' besieged full sore , Tho'loud nnd long may bo the battle ' s roar ; Thus ' tis wo yield onr latest < ,-sping breath , Fearing no torrors that can come of Death !

No grim alarm to dread and terrify For our bleet Art still tails U 3 how to die ! So when our free immortal soul takes flight To realms of unextii 'juishable Light , Aud finds a home no mortal feet can tread

Where Gcd ' s own glamour all aronnd is shod ; Wo feel that our brief sojourn hero below Tho' full of caro and bitterness aud woe , Was but probation for that Better Clime Our dwelling fr ? illimitable time ! Thus guided on until at last wo attiid

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Within the borders of the Promised Land That homo of Love where comas no darksome night To gloom the glories of the long delight ! Whilst wo—Eternal now—adore and sing Angelic anthems to onr Heavenly King !

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — LINCOLNSHIRE .

AT tho Masonic Rooms , Lincoln , on Thursday of last week , there was a large assemblage of Royal Arch Masons of tho Province to witness the installation of their Grand Superintendent M . E . Comp . Wm . Harlino Sissons , in place of Comp . Wm . Henry Smyth , who has held this

oxalted offico for 18 years , and who has resigned . Comp . Smyth occupied tho chair , and tbe Grand Superintendent Designate having produced his patent , ho was duly installed , and invested Companions Barrell ( Spalding )

and Russell ( Grantham ) as Second and Third Principals . Companion Alfred Kirk was appointed Treasurer , and tho Officers wero invested . A resolution expressing

regret at tho retirement of Grand Superintendent Smyth , who is in his 50 fch year as a MasoD , was passed , and tho presentation of a banner to the Graud Chapter by Comp . Pearson , of Gainsborough , was cordially acknowledged .

Grand Chapter Of Scotland.

GRAND CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND .

fjlHE Quarterly Communication was held on the 20 fch JL instant , in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh . Major F . W . Allau 32 nd degree Grand J ., occupied the tlirono . There was a good attendance of Companions , the following

business being transacted : — ( 1 ) Ruling of Supreme Committee on the Defensive Band Mark and Chair Lodge .

( 2 ) That the office of Grand Treasurer be added to the ex officio members of Supreme Committee . ( 3 ) Sanction of Bye-Laws . ( 4 ) Presents from foreign Grand Chapters .

Two or three motions were tabled for discussion . Tho admirable tacfc of tho presiding Officer reduced them to a narrow compass . The most formidable was the ono which stood in the name of Comp . W . Ivison Macadam , viz , to rescind the motion carried at the last Quarterly

Communication by nearly two to one . Hero the presiding Officer , in a closely reasoned speech , pointed out tho inadvisability of trifling with the time of the Companions who came there for the purpose of pushing forward , useful legislation . The absurdity of attempting to rescind such

an important pronouncement of tho Companions afc last Quarterly Communication could not , under any circumstances , be tolerated . The motion was consequently withdrawn . This concluded , the Chapter was closed indue form .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV . GRAND LODGE , SOMERSET .

A MEETING was held , on the 20 th ult ., under tho banner of the Else Lodge , No . 102 , at tho Masonic Hall , Weston-super-Mare . There was a large attendance . Lord Duugarven D . G . M ., R . V . Yassar - Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Master Gloucester aud Hereford , and C .

F . Matier P . G . W . Graud Secretary were received with the customary honours . The Prov . G . M . Bro . R . C . Else appointed the Officers for the year . A sum of £ 15 guineas

was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund , aud the alun amounting to ; £ 2 2 s were given to tho Weston-supcr-Maro Hospital . Tho brothrcn subsequently sat down to a bauquofc afc the Graud Atlantic Hotel .

HANTS AND ISLE OP WIGHT

rrUIE annual meeting of the Provincial Graud Lodgo was JL held at tho Masonic Hall , Newport , on tho 20 fch ult ., when Bro . W . \ V . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., presided ,