Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The "Freemasons' Quaterly Revieew,"
TO THE EDITOR OF THE " FREEMASONS' QUATERLY REVIEEW , "
ON THE ACTEAItAKCE OF A NEW SEIUES .
WHEN first the neophyte appears , Who , although young in years , Is ripe in intellect , and wise Beyond his elders , how our eyes Are gladden'd as the light
Falls on his wond ' ring sight ! And how our hearts rejoice When hand , and voice , We welcome him among the free ! For we already see His course of usefulness made clear
Before him ; and we feel no fear Whilst such as he are found With Masonry ' s high honors crown'd , That we shall ever lose our vantage ground !
Thus , Brother ! feel we now , That , radiant promises upon thy brow , Thou comest to renew That compact true , Thy worthy predecessors kept ! Else had we wept ,
And , in the fulness of our sorrow said , " The erudite are dead To us for ever , and the noble race Of emulation must give place To apathy , neglect , and ignorance;—We can no more advance
The Banners of the free , Unworthy as we are of Masonry I " Thrice glad are we to know It is not so ;
And thus to greet thee with the great " all hail ;"Thrice welcome , Brother ! —let the truth prevail ! J . LEE STEVENS . MARCH , 1843 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The "Freemasons' Quaterly Revieew,"
TO THE EDITOR OF THE " FREEMASONS' QUATERLY REVIEEW , "
ON THE ACTEAItAKCE OF A NEW SEIUES .
WHEN first the neophyte appears , Who , although young in years , Is ripe in intellect , and wise Beyond his elders , how our eyes Are gladden'd as the light
Falls on his wond ' ring sight ! And how our hearts rejoice When hand , and voice , We welcome him among the free ! For we already see His course of usefulness made clear
Before him ; and we feel no fear Whilst such as he are found With Masonry ' s high honors crown'd , That we shall ever lose our vantage ground !
Thus , Brother ! feel we now , That , radiant promises upon thy brow , Thou comest to renew That compact true , Thy worthy predecessors kept ! Else had we wept ,
And , in the fulness of our sorrow said , " The erudite are dead To us for ever , and the noble race Of emulation must give place To apathy , neglect , and ignorance;—We can no more advance
The Banners of the free , Unworthy as we are of Masonry I " Thrice glad are we to know It is not so ;
And thus to greet thee with the great " all hail ;"Thrice welcome , Brother ! —let the truth prevail ! J . LEE STEVENS . MARCH , 1843 .