Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
And ye , who skilful to assuage the pains , The irksome heritage each mortal gains , No drug like Love fraternal e ' er will find So apt to heal the sickness of mankind—No famed elixir to prolong the span E ' er death shall close the short career of man—Like HOME ' dear comfort , earn'd , in days gone by ,
Before the nipping hand of Want was nigh , By lib'ral deeds in holy Mercy ' s name , Whene ' er a Brother felt misfortune ' s bane . When the GREAT ARCHITECT earth's fabrick piled , With skill divine , from atoms floating wild , The meanest creature of creation ' s morn He made a shelter from the coming storm : —
The leaf the fragile insect safe embowered , Within a rock the panting tiger cower'd , The finny tribes their coral caverns sought , The birds the mossy dell ' s soft bosom caught , All , all were cared for in the wondrous scheme , Too high—too mighty—for a mortal's theme ! Though we must mourn that human skill still fails
Perfection ' s mark to reach , it yet avails To feebly shadow forth the Art supreme—CREATION !—like the dimness of a dream , Imperfect ; or the semblance of a truth But ill developed , as the thews of youth 1
That structure is at fault , abortive , void , Or by a passing gale too soon destroy'd , Whose base extends not on a just design , Where wisdom , strength , and beauty , all combine—Wisdom , whose piercing eye beholds the end ; Strength , that unswerving principles can lend ; Beauty , whose form harmonious ever charms
. And cynic Discontent at once disarms ! Then , shall the moral fabrick Masons teach Be long deform'd by an unsightly breach—The vacant spot , whereon the "OLD MAN'S HOME " Should raise to heaven its venerable dome , To point Time ' s finger to one sacred spot Where Man his Brothers' wants had not forgot !
One voice her summons sends to bid ye speed , For reverend heads a peaceful shelter need , Fraternal Love , her aged votaries' cause Pleads with a fervour that admits no pause ! Then take your " level" ( Justice !) and supply A minaret , that , tow ' ring to the sky , Shall nobly crown fair Charity ' s abode , And rest the weary pilgrim on his road To tlie bright land where Mercy ' s deeds are sung AVith raptur'd eloquence b y old and young ! J . \ NK DAVIS .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
And ye , who skilful to assuage the pains , The irksome heritage each mortal gains , No drug like Love fraternal e ' er will find So apt to heal the sickness of mankind—No famed elixir to prolong the span E ' er death shall close the short career of man—Like HOME ' dear comfort , earn'd , in days gone by ,
Before the nipping hand of Want was nigh , By lib'ral deeds in holy Mercy ' s name , Whene ' er a Brother felt misfortune ' s bane . When the GREAT ARCHITECT earth's fabrick piled , With skill divine , from atoms floating wild , The meanest creature of creation ' s morn He made a shelter from the coming storm : —
The leaf the fragile insect safe embowered , Within a rock the panting tiger cower'd , The finny tribes their coral caverns sought , The birds the mossy dell ' s soft bosom caught , All , all were cared for in the wondrous scheme , Too high—too mighty—for a mortal's theme ! Though we must mourn that human skill still fails
Perfection ' s mark to reach , it yet avails To feebly shadow forth the Art supreme—CREATION !—like the dimness of a dream , Imperfect ; or the semblance of a truth But ill developed , as the thews of youth 1
That structure is at fault , abortive , void , Or by a passing gale too soon destroy'd , Whose base extends not on a just design , Where wisdom , strength , and beauty , all combine—Wisdom , whose piercing eye beholds the end ; Strength , that unswerving principles can lend ; Beauty , whose form harmonious ever charms
. And cynic Discontent at once disarms ! Then , shall the moral fabrick Masons teach Be long deform'd by an unsightly breach—The vacant spot , whereon the "OLD MAN'S HOME " Should raise to heaven its venerable dome , To point Time ' s finger to one sacred spot Where Man his Brothers' wants had not forgot !
One voice her summons sends to bid ye speed , For reverend heads a peaceful shelter need , Fraternal Love , her aged votaries' cause Pleads with a fervour that admits no pause ! Then take your " level" ( Justice !) and supply A minaret , that , tow ' ring to the sky , Shall nobly crown fair Charity ' s abode , And rest the weary pilgrim on his road To tlie bright land where Mercy ' s deeds are sung AVith raptur'd eloquence b y old and young ! J . \ NK DAVIS .