Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

Find favour with them— from the Pole to the Line . Who knows what the seed lig htly sown may produce ; A noble invention thus brought into use Impossible is not a word for our times ,

Not e ' en when it deals with those terrible climes . And this is the lesson —experience oft reads—AVhere one method fails , why , another succeeds .

Brave sons of adventure ! long may ye remain Content with your laurels—nor risk them in vain .

But it eer to the Northward again ye should stray , I have shown you , I think , ' a more excellent way !' Who knows , if adopted , what Fate has in store For oue glorious effort—for one voyage

more ! At the gaol so long sought , Britain ' s flag may unroll , And the Empress of India be Queen of the Pole I " I am not savant enough in these matters

to decide whether my poetical friend's project is really practical ; but if my readers ever hear of me going in the balloon , they may rest assured that a stronger arm than that of the delicate and accomplished authoress of the above lines has been used

to compel me . Every Britisher , no doubt , would feel proud to hear that the Union Jack aud no end of Standards were floating there , just as Brother Jonathan would rejoice to hear of his Stars and Stripes ( the latter no longer reminding one of the vile sin of slavery in a republic which declares

" all men are born free and equal / ' ) but , for myself I think that there is much better work for us to do , in peopling the vast uninhabited countries which offer such tempting opportunities to colonize them , ancl also in truly civilizing the nomad

populations of the earth , as well as the worse than savages in the centres of civilization . And yet , after all , how utterly insignificant are all that have perished , and all that ever will perish , in attempting to reach the North Pole , compared with the numbers lost in fighting a single unnecessary battle !

No man can be a true Freemason , however much he may be adorned with Masonic medals , ancl however many degrees he may have passed through , unless his heart yearns with compassion , not only for all poor aud distressed Masons ,

whereever they may be scattered around the habitable globe , but also for " all that are in danger , necessity , and tribulation , " and will do his best to relieve " all those who

are anywa 3 * s afflicted or distressed , m mind , body , or estate . " I am glad to see that Bro . J . Lawrence Hamilton , of 34 , Gloucester Terrace , Hyde Park , has addressed a neat and sensible letter to the correspondence columns of The Freemason . in which he says : — " Dear Sir and Brother . All who have any acquaintance with the interiors of our London hospitals must have been struck with the excessive

dreariness of most of the wards , It is time that this should be remedied , ' A little energy on the part of a few philanthropists and artists , aided by subscriptions from the general public , would suffice to accomplish this improvement . I advocate the

brightening of the wards ancl the cheering of their inmates by the addition of suitable pictures , plate , bronzes , carvings , bric-a-brac , old armour , china , sculpture , ornamental clocks , fancy glass , tasteful glazed tiles , parquet floorsand other art

, decorations of all sorts . I will gladly give one hundred guineas to a responsible committee , as soon as one is formed , to promote the Art Fund for the Hospitals of London . Pray generously grant this scheme the moral support of your valuable

paper . ' And he adds that "two models will be exhibited to the public , one to show the usual sick ward , the other to represent the use of art in the various kinds of hospitals . " Every benevolent mind will wish success to our respected Brother ' s project . But it is not in London

alone , but throughout the country generally , that we must accomplish this desirable object . Freemasonry is not a mere matter of ritualism and feasting , but includes the practise of every moral and social virtueand the cultivation of

litera-, ture , science , and art ; so that eveiy Masonic lodge should be a centre of civilization . Let us only faithfully carry out the sublime precepts of our dear old Craft , and bigots of all shades of opinion , be they