South Australia.

the second in Adelaide , about twenty-four years ago . The same ritual has continued ever since , and Past Masters and others from England have confirmed its correctness . One or two interested persons are questioning it : having quarrelled elsewhere , they are seeking to sow the seeds of dissension here also . I do not think they will succeed . "W . A . H .

[ AVe should deeply regret that any reply of ours should sow dissension amongst the brethren , but we repeat that all published rituals are prohibited by the laws of the Grand Lodge of England , and the one alluded to is the most worthless of the lot , and the P . M . ' s who confirmed its correctness could not have known their duty . AVe , moreover , regret thatin re-publishing our observations , a brother , in

, alluding to the FUEEMASOSS MAGAZINE , should have put into print the following sentence : — " In perusing the latter I would respectfully remind you that whatever appears in that periodical is under the express sanction of the Grand Master of England , and which authority is indisputable . " The only sanction we have from the Grand Master is for the publishing of reports at Masonic meetings , on our own

responsibility as to their accuracy . The M . AV . G . M . in no way gives his sanction to the opinions we express , and must not be supposed to be answerable for [ them . Had the brother ivho originally asked the questions in the slightest intimated to us his opinion that we drew our inspirations from authority , we ivould not have answered them , excepting by a courteous acknowledgment of their

reception . If any brother holds the opinion that the replies to correspondents hi the FREEHUSOXS MAGAZINE—or any article it contains—is at all official , the sooner he is disabused of the idea the better . AVe have hoisted the flag of independence , and we ivould decline to fight under any other . —ED . ]

Poetry.

Poetry .

ISHMAEL . ET THE LATE JOHN WALEEB OBI ) . " I will make him a great nation . "—GEJ-ESIS , Chap , xsi ., terse ISth . "And God was with the fad ; and he grew , and dwelt in the wilderness , and became an archer . "—Ibid , terse 20 th . Heaven ' s storms before , ancl earthly frowns behind , A matron jealous , and a sire unkind ;

Such , youthful Islimael , was thy bitter doom ! Condemn'd an exile o'er the world to roam . Spurn'd from thy native fields , no gentle star Guided thy cruel pilgrimage afar : No father's hand thy feeble footsteps led ; No father's blessing crown'd thy naked head . Onward he journeyshy no dread opprest

, , In danger nurtured , and in fear caresst ; Onwards he wanders , young and innocent , His soul untroubled , cheerful , and content . Fair was the child : yea , radiant as a gleam Of sunlight resting on some mountain stream ¦ , Sounds as of falling waters fill'd each tone , And in his eyes a seraph lustre shone ;

Luxuriant health rejoicing on his cheek , Gloiv'd like a cherub through each rosy streak ; Thick on his ample brow and polish'd head The heavy locks in golden clusters spread ; Bold ivere his footsteps , ancl his motions free , Offspring of thine , my darling , Liberty ! But he who fed Elisha in his need . And to the

Heaven ' s own manna Jews decreed ; He fed the spring ivhich bubbled at their feet , He scatter'd plenty from His mercy-seat ; Ancl from His heavenly throne , engirt with flame , To Ishmael promised empire and a name . Then Midnight spread her mantle o ' er the scene , Gemm'd like the robe of some proud eastern queen ; The silver orbs came sparkling one hy one , And the pale moon unloosed her belted zone . Cold blew the autumn winds o'er heath ancl dell ,

And the loud storms their trumpet-chorus swell ; Drear , black , ancl awful is the vast profound , A shoreless waste , a desert without bound : The clouds for canopy , no moss for bed , But the hard cliff to rest their weary head . How dreadlessly they braved each mountain path , Where the fierce torrents strug-gled in their wrath ! Arnicl the cedar-groves and forests strong

The banish'd pair undaunted strove along . The wild-goat , on his summit towering high , Fled trembling to behold the wanderers nigh ; The hawk and raven , in their cliffs afar , In terror hover'd round that hapless pair . In clouds , and storms , and darkness , on they press ,

O'er rocky height and heathy wilderness ; Feebler bis steps , more pale thafc gentle face , Timid his motions , and relax'd his pace . Pale and aghast the boy sinks down to die , Ancl floods of tears run fast o ' er Hagar's eye , Of Abram ' s cruise no fragment now remains—No hope iimidst those wild and sterile plains . For them the purple grape no longer shines ,

Nor the dusk tamarind its bowers entwines ; No more the heavy sheaves of golden corn Bleat early welcome from the neighbouring rock ; The house of plenty greets their steps no more ; The hours of joy and happiness are o ' er ; AA'ith the fierce wolf and elk they now partake Uncertain sustenance on hill and brake ; Plucking the roots of wild-flowers as their food , Ancl the coarse berries of the solitude .

Thus on the lonely hills ancl mountain ways , Fearless of danger , l-oll'd his youthful days . Strong , tall , majestic , not the desert deer More swiftly rush'd before the hunter's cheer : In rude , athletic toil his hours were past , Nor terror daunted , nor despair o'ercast . The summer heats ne'er droop'd his eager form : Dreadless he dared the fiercest winter storm .

To match the antelope in all his glee , To bound the forest depths in liberty , To leap , to wrestle , mingle with the chace , And with the elk or swiftest panther race ; These were his sports , his labour and delight , His joy by day , his visions of the night . Glory and Power was his , resistless as the sword

Of the earth ' s mightiest , most victorious lord;—Glory that sprung from Nature ; from the sun , Golden and bright , ere evening's course is run : From mountain torrents , white with angry spray , Or gleaming in the orient beams of day ; From the wild voices of each desert bird , Far midst fche silver clouds of morning heard ; From the rich mosses and the purple flowers , Rejoicing Autumn in ten thousand bowers ; From that dread calm , so awful , so profound , Cheer'd only by the plover ' s plaintive sound .

The tented dwellers of that vast domain His rule acknowledged , own'd his sov'reign reign The swarthy robber and the bandit rude , The lawless wanderers of the solitude , Impetuous crowded to his mountain throne , There lives , their wealth , their liberties his own : Empires unconqnei- 'd there proclaim'd him lord , Or cpiail'd beneath the lightnings of his sword .

Nor unfulflH'd the inscrutable decree .- — "Gigantic empires yet shall spring from thee : Thou shalt be father of a princely race , The hills their throne , the rocks their resting-place ; A mighty host of fierce , impetuous mood , Kings oi' the desert , lords of hill and wood ! O'er whom shall glow heaven's empyreal dome ,

Tents for their temples , mountains for their home : Simple and brave , indomitable , proud , Patriots and heroes , fearless , unsubdued ; And long as Ishmael ' s heritage and name " ) His sire and glorious origin proclaim , > Their chief be consecrate to endless fame . " ) Tweddell ' s Yorshire Miscellany .