Freemasonry—Its Persistence And Work.

martyrs fills tho imagination with glory the past sheds its li ght on our advancing order , and we are henceforth attended by an invisible escort of heroes . In discussing the Work of Freemasonry , ive stand upon the solid earth . Before

our path has lain among abstractions and memories and ideals—not unlovely , but high and sometimes distant and difficult of analysis . Princi ples of morality , qualities of brotherl y IOA'C , powers of enduranceappeal to our imagination and

, aAvaken the slumbering poetic sense , as might the first sight of stars ancl planets , that , in the great ni ghts , go sailing down the soft blue seas of Heaven , like celestial ships upon its bosom , bearing their freight of burning beauty on to the unnamed

ports of an unknown eternity . But Ave are no longer workers in dreams , but stern and angular realities . The path of our ancient renown runs backwards , and our faces arc fixed towards the rising sun . The bed of our past glory affords no repose

for the aggressive spirit of to-day . We , of the Nineteenth Century , have fallen heir to an immense estate—Avide as the millenium . Tho legacy of HARD WOHK is ours ; and this that might be counted the adversity of the weak , is in truth the triumph of the strong .

And now , what is modern Freemasonry ? A statement of its objects will be the best argument of its work Masonry is a moral principle working through an organization of Lodges for the realization of the God-thought of peace on earth and good Avill to men . It is the combination

in one Order of three sovereignties—that of right over force ; of intelligence over prejudice ; of brotherhood over selfhood . It is the gospel of social ri ghts ; a charter of manhood , a religion of to-day , a charter of humanity . " It aims to efface from

among men the prejudice of caste ; the conventional distinctions of colour , origin , opinion , and nationality ; to extirpate private and public discord ; to mitigate the rigours of life , and to arrive b y free and pacific progress at one formula of

eternal and universal ri ght , according to which every human being shall be free to develope every facult y with which he may be endowed , and to concur , with all the fulness of his strength , in the bestowment

Freemasonry—Its Persistence And Work.

of happiness upon all , and thus to make of the whole human race one family of Brothers united by affection , wisdom , and labour . " ( To be continued . )

Cousin Will.

COUSIN WILL .

BY PHILIP 3 IORSE . From "Scrilmer ' s American Monthly . " I STROLLED last night in musing mood , Reflecting on my lonely state ; Till , wearied out at last , I paused Ancl leaned upon a garden gate .

The old moon ' s melloiv radiance hung In golden mists among the trees , Faint odours , borne from distant flowers , Ebbed idly on the eA'ening breeze .

As thus I stood , absorbed in thought , I pressed against the gate too hard , It opened with a sudden jerk , — I found myself within the yard . A form came gliding clown the walk;—Soft arms embraced meas lexed

, , perp , I stood one blissful moment , while A sweet voice soothed my ear ; the next It rose into a shriek , then sobbed : " Oh sir , how could you keep so still ! When all the time I ' know you knew I thought you were my cousin Will . "

* * * * » These stars are moons , or rather months ; Just five have flitted since that ni ght , And two of these have calml y shone Upon our wedded life . It quite Surprises me to think of it .

And she is queenly , tall and fair , AVith lustrous eyes , and such a ivealth Of—well we call it auburn hair . * * * * *

" So late " I ' ve just come from the club ; My wife sits silent , but a light , Unseen before , lurks in her eye . Once more I muse on that calm ni ght AVhen first she met me at the gate , And wonder , while her eyes flame still , If ever I , in clays to come , Shall wish it had been cousin Will .