Masonic Portraits. (No. 41.)

have said nothing as to his critical ability . Well , our readers may remember that , last year , ona certain memorable occasion at the Alexandra Palace our noble brother may be said to have earned for himself the title of ' Onr Noble Critic , ' " a title we havo playfully bestowed upon him . He

was pleased to question the justice of certain comments wo had made some time previously on the Province over which he had so long and with such conspicuous ability presided . For ourselves , we do not believe thathad hebeen given opportunity for the full exercise of his judgment he would have

adopted the opinion he gave expression to . As public journalists , we expect , nay , Ave may go further and say , Ave court criticism . All Ave ask is , that we may not be saddled with reasons which never occurred to us , or

with statements we never made . It Avas , perhaps , a little unfortunate that , on the occasion of his first appearance as a critic of a Masonic journal , he should have made choice of an inoffensive article—inoffensive both in statement and

intention—on which to try his critical powers . However , Avhat he did , was done in the fulfilment of what he believed to be his duty . His impression was we had attacked the brethren in his Province , but the impression—so far as it affected the merits of his criticism—was a wrong one .

Nothing more serious followed than a simple rejoinder on our part , and we presume this rejoinder was received in the same fraternal spirit in Avhich it Avas made . If Ave have been too sanguine in this respect , it may be this slight tribute of respect we have felt such pleasure in paying

to one of the brightest Lights of Freemasonry , momentarily disguised as " Our Noble Critic , " Avillnot be misinterpreted . We believe the record is true . We know the opinion respecting him to which we have given utterance is as sincere as it is just .

Masonic Songs.*

MASONIC SONGS . *

REVIEWING on a former occasion the poetical lucubrations of the Craft , we drew attention to the very inadequate presentation of Masonic principles and aspirations which was to bo found in the current song-literature of our Lodges , to the execrable rhyme and questionable grammar of . most of the effusions which had come down to ns from old times . We are therefore agreeably surprised to

notice , in the new edition ( which has been issued by Messrs . Spencer and Co . ) of the little manual called the " Masonic Minstrel , " a marked refutation of our former criticisms . Though based on the old edition with which we were familiar , it has undergone a thorough

renovation j a quantity of the old rigmaroles being left onb and a selection of the more correct and appropriate of its contents being supplemented by numerous modern pieces , many of which have great poetic merit . Of the pieces which remain , we hail our old

acquaintance" Here s a health to each one , From the king on his throne , To him that is meanest of station , If he can contend To have lawfully gain'd The name of an accepted Mason . "

Also" While science yields a thousand gems To dignify the mind , Let us that noble art pursue Which elevates mankind . "

And another old friend-r " Let Masonry , from pole to pole , Her sacred laws expand , Far as the mighty waters roll

To wash remotest land : That virtue has not left mankind Her social maxims prove , For stamp'd upon the Mason's mind Are Unity and Love !"

Which theme is well illustrated in Song LXX . — " We help the poor in time of need , The naked clothe , the hungry feed ,

On onr foundation stone ; We build upon the noblest plan , For Masonry knits man to man , And makes us all as one . "

Song CXIX . runs pleasantly" When Friendship , Love , and Truth abound Among a band of Brothers , The cup of joy goes gaily round , Each shares the bliss of others .

* " The Masonio Minstrel : Songs , Odes , Anthems and Occasional Pieces , & o ., & c . " Spencer's Masonio Depot , opposite Freemasons ' Hall , 23 A Great Queen-street . London : 1877 . Prices , 3 s 6 d , bound in cloth ; or in roan , gilt edges , 4 s ,

Masonic Songs.*

Sweet roses grace the thorny way Along this vale of sorrow ; Tho flowers that shed their leaves to-day Shall bloom again to-morrow !" Bro . Dnnokerley ' s anthem appears

again" Hail , universal Lord ! By Heaven and Earth ador'd . All hail , great God !

Before Thy throne we bend , To ns thy grace extend , And to our prayer attend . All hail , great God . "

Tho Rev . G . A . Brown ' s fine ode is appropriately reinserted" Blest Masonry ! 'tis thine to show How mnch to Wisdom ' s gifts we owe ,

How Truth expands the mind ! For rivetted and twin'd with thee , Each tender sympathy we see That gladdens human kind . "

Among modern additions , the "No Singer ' s Song" will be found of use occasionally ; "Three times three , " by Bro . Carpenter , has a healthy ring about it" Three times three shall the token be Of Friendship , Obedience , Fidelity— " & c .

Then "The Crafts of Olden Time , " to the tune of the "Fine Old English Gentleman ; " tho " Lodge of Saint John , " and "A Lilt for every Lodge , " by Bro . Stevens , are lively and in good metro . Son ? XLV ., by Bro . Donglas Jerrold ( well remembered in the Bank of England Lodge , No . 263 ) , is as sound as might be expected from

the talented author of " Clovernook . " " Tho Royal Science , " " The Mason leads a happy life " ( to the air of " The Pope , " & c ) , are both worth considering . " What might be done . " " The Five Points , " " The Level and the Square , " "The Aged Brother , " "The final Toast , " and others similarly emblematic , will be welcome . The

Songs for the Royal Arch , Ark Mariners , Mark Masters , Most Excellent Masters , Red Cross , K . H . S ., aud Rose Croix , will doubtless be useful to . the Orders in question ; whilst those for the Order of the Temple ^ include the " Raising of the Beauseant , " by Professor Aytoun , and the " Temple Knell , " which concludes :

" Aye ! future monarohs shall be proud To fill your Master's place : And the Red Cross shall deck the last

Of Scotland ' s royal race !" The very poetical " Ode on the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , " by Bro . Walter Spencer , here finds a place j and the grand bard of Scotland ' s noble

chant" Hail to the mystic band Join'd here with heart and hand In love to all . Long may their watchword be Freedom and Charity ,

Bright links of Masonry , That ne ' er can fall . Not temples toVring high , Whose domes may touch the sky ,

Alone they prize : But in a nobler sphere , To love , to virtue dear ; They stay the falling tear From weeping eyes !"

Ode XVII . to " Brotherly Love , " speaks of aspirations broad and high for humanity ; Eliza Cook ' s poetical " Address to Freemasons " reminds us of " Moore ' s Paradise and the Peri , " and " The Perfect Mason " is a most beautiful adaptation of imagery to the grand aim of Masonic life , disclosing in a vein of exalted sweetness , seldom

surpassed in verse , the monumental " angel within . " Humorous pieces are not wanting for the use of brethren facetiously inclined , among them " Tbe New-made Mason" ancl the rare old ditty of " Old Kynge Colle , that regal olde sowle " who so " much wished to knowe what benefitt conlde flowe , Fro a

knowledge of Masonriej" though we are not at once prepared to accept the statement that our ancient brethren intended nnder this name to parody King Charles II .

Instead of the fanciful and not first-rate oratorio of " King Solomon s Temple , " which appeared in the former edition , the editor has substituted the truly magnificent poem nnder that title , by Bro . Duganne , of New York , from which we cannot refrain from some quotations .

" The house of the past hath it ' s tongues of stone , Yea , its voices of marble and brass—From the sands of the desolate desert npthrown , And the mould of the wilderness grass ! Tho' the myth of their awful meanings

Too often we idly pass ! Where the Nile flows down by its pyramid tombs ; Where the ruins of Tadmor lie ;

Where the Petrasan cities , from cavernous glooms , Like sepulchres , startle the eye— ^ Oh ! the voices of granite and marble To our souls make audible cry !

" Thro' the twilight of oaks and of mistletoe bowers , The hymns of the Druids I hear ; And the Faerie . Queene , thro' lab ' rinths of flowers , Lures me with her melodies clear ; From the echoes of ' woodly Morven , ' To the murmurs of sweet Windermere :