Lights And Shadows Of Scottish Freemasonry.

leaders , ancl though amongst themselves they had many bickerings , still , let them he attacked , and they were as one in mind and determination . So is it Avith our great clan . AVe make bold to say that there is not an initiate in our Scottish fraternity who would yield in a single point to him

or them of any other constitution under the sun . Are you , ye men of England , or Ireland , loyal to your flag ? You cannot be more so than Ave are ; loyal and true we have always been , loyal and true Ave are , and shall be till tbe end . Do you give the stranger a kinder or a more cordial Avelcome than Ave do ? You cannot .

" Nowhere beats the heart so kindly as beneath the tartan plaid . " Are you more earnest in your endeavours to promote peace ancl harmony among your fellow-men than Ave ? You cannot be . Does

the initiate leaving your shores , carry Avith him more loving recollections of times spent Avith his brethren , or heartier good wishes from tbem , or is there a truer ring in the " God speed you" Avhich he hears at parting ? Impossible I Then look ye at yourselvesand see if you have much more

, to be proud of than we poor Scotchmen . Englishmen and brethren , do not be so very , very chary about admitting a Scotchman to your meetings . He has not had the same advantages for instruction that you bave bad . We have more charity .

Do not lift your heads so hi gh , or turn on your heel and say of a brother , " He hails from Scotland , " in such a tone as has more than once raised bitter thoughts within us . AVe have more charity . Do not despise him because , it may be , be has not the

broad-cloth coat on Ms back which most of your members wear . We , though Ave be Scotchmen , and as such are in many cases supposed to know but little , we Avould have more charity . " The rank is but the guinea ' s stamp ,

The man ' s the gowd for . a 'that . ' Brethren , on us all depends the welfare of the Craft . It is not on Lord this , or Sir that , but on each and all of us . No single man , however capable or Avilling , can be of much service in such a vast organization as

ours , except there be many hands and hearts read y and willing to help him . Let us all be ready . Let us each be unremitting in our endeavours to do something , no matter

Lights And Shadows Of Scottish Freemasonry.

how little , that Avill tend to raise the social status of our grand old Fraternity , and let us look up Avith an unfailing trust and confidence to Him AVIIO sits above us , and in all our deliberations ask for His loving counsels to aid us in doing what is right ,

and true , and just , and honourable . Let us confide our cause to His care , ancl in His own good time He will set all things to right ; and Avhen we have run our course , if we have been faithful here below , He will raise us up with a strong unclasping grip ,

and we shall hear the grand word , " Well done , thou good and faithful servant , enter thou into the joy of thy Lord . " There , in His Grand Lodge on high , shall we reign with Him for ever and ever , " Unhurt amidst the Avars of elements , The Avreck of matter and the crash of worlds . " X . Y . Z .

Sonnet.

SONNET .

( For ilia Masonic Magazine . ) 0 , FAIR full moon , uprising from the east ; Unlock'd , again , our monthly Lodge thou hast AVith silver key—thy charms all

beauteous glass'd In each smooth stream . —Now , clos'd our Lodge , and ceas'd Its mystic rites , Ave feast : —Some deem to feast Too much we love;—we rather love to

fast . But IIOAV ?—He , Amoz' son , in ages past , By Heav ' n inspir'd , each brother ' s conscious breast Hath taught—is't an abstaining from a meal ,

God ' s gifts t' eschew , and malice not abjure ? Nay—but to fast from strife , to house the poor , The naked clothe , and to the hungry deal A brother ' s fare ; uor darkly ourselves

bide From our own mystic flesh , to us lovetied . * Bro . Rev . M . GORDON .