An Early Masonic Book.

rituals make any allusion to this higher and more illuminated system 1 The question is worthy of investigation , and hence this book of Philalethes introduces a new element in the historical problem of Masonry . And it is for that reason that I have made such copious extracts from it , as the book itself is , if not unique , certainly very rare .

Sonnet.

SONNET .

( For tlie Masonic Magazine ) BY BRO . REV . K . GORDON . How sweet to breathe the pure transparent air Of these blue mountains hihthat far

g , recede Into the distant cloudy skies , and lead Bfy thoughts to that far loftier mountain , where

The angel did the lov'd disci ple bear In spirit , and from thence did bid him heed The heav ' n-wall'd city which with golden reed , He measur'd , and whose structure lies

foursquare , Equal alike in length , and breadth , and hei ght , By which Paul metes the Architect ' s vast love , Which passeth knowledge . 0 , ye sons of b

ght , Mark here , then , your instructions from above—Love ' s mystic lore , declare ! by Paul and John ; And know the sacred square ye stand upon .

May Mason.

MAY MASON .

( From the Craftsman . ) JEAN GOI , D . " George , where had I better send 1 " | ' Eh , what ?" ' . 1 do believe you have not heard one word I have said . " " Oh yes my dear , Ginx ' s baby , to go to

the poor-house is the question before the house . " " Ginx ' s baby indeed ! George , if you will be kind enough to put that everlasting old paper down for a moment , I will be greatly obliged , for there is a question before the house in truth . "

" Well , well , my dear do not get excited , there is time enough . There , I am all attention . What is it ? " " I suppose I shall have to tell it all over again . Do you remember about a woman with a baby who came to Mrs . Adams' last fall 1 She gave her name as

Martha Gray , and had a marriage certificate bearing the same . If you ever halfway listened to me , you might have known she is dead and was buried yesterday . Of course Mrs . Adams can not keep the child . She would not have taken the woman in

had she not come in a storm and begged so piteously . You have probably forgotten Mrs . Adams , but she is a poor woman mother used to help ; she as all she can do to take care of her own family , and something must be done with the child . It

seems a shame to send it to an orphan asylum and worse to the poor-house . " " Regular little Ginx , " chuckled George , " committee mustbeappointed immediately to look after it , "

" A committee of one will do all the work , as usual , " she imposingly said , as she arose from the breakfast table , " as you do not seem to look upon it except as a matter for fun . " " Pardon me , " said her brother , a good n attired old bachelorwho was a little more

, apt to see the ridiculous side of things than his younger and more energetic sister . "I hope you do not want me to make it serious , for I really cannot ; you certainly do not want me to adopt a six months ' babyV

" I am not a simpleton quite , besides the child is two years old . But you do not seem to have heard , or remembered at least , what I have told you before , that the mother had papers showing herhusband to have been a Mason . Mrs . Gray said

her husband , when dying , told her to apply to the Masons for help , for they had neither kith nor kin nor friends in this country , and the child has not a relative nearer than a great-aunt or cousin in in England . While her husband could