Poetry.

Poetry .

TO THE CRAFT . " Esio Perpetua .. " A health to the Craft—the brave old Craft Which hath lived in the Old World long ,

Here ' s health and renown to its " Triple Crown ' And its myriad sons so strong ; There ' s aid in its arm in the day of harm , When the tide of life ebbs away ; Ancl it proves its might on misfortune ' s night , AVhen storms round a brother play .

CHORUSThen hurrah for the Craft—the brave old Craft , Which hath stood in the wide Avorld long ; And still may it stand , the pride of the land , AVhen ten thousand years have gone . Ifc saw the old times , Avhen the " Temple ' s" chimes

Pealed forth the wondrous work was done , And it lives at this day in bright array , 'Tho tivo thousand years have gone ; But death Avields a sway Avhich all must obey , And a ruthless King is he : Yet the Craft will live , and its " sign " give AVhen a king he'll cease to be .

CHORUSThen hurrah for the Craft , & c . In days of yore our " Templars" bore Their " Red Cross " through the world , But noiv our shield has the azure field , AVith " Peace and Harmony" unfurled ; Oh ! o ' er the grave of the young and brave

The sunlight plays , the floAvcrs bloom , But the WidoAv ' s prayer and the Orphan ' s tear Are shed o ' er the Mason ' s tomb . CHORUSThen hurrah for the Craft , & c . And now 'tis the story ivhen the brethren may

AVith pride look back to the past ; For on History ' s page the brightest age But a feAV short years can last . Empire ' s old , AA'ith their Avarriors bold , Their cities proud—their peopled plains , Are lost in tbeivave—of the yawning grave

But the OLD CEAPT—IT still remains . CHORUSThen hurrah for tbe Craft , & e .

KEYSTONE .

AVHAT IS FREEMASONRY ? BY DR . J . G . AVINECJAHDEN . AVhat is Freemasonry AA ith all its mystic rites ;

Its symbol . ? , signs , and secrecy , Seen only by its lights S

It labors in the stilly night , With , most untiring zeal , Closely concealed from human sight , And guarded by true steel ! Ifc is Morality , In truest , purest form ,

"Veiled in chastest allegory , AVhich symbols fair adorn I Its labors all are to promote The happiness of man ! Its many symbols all denote Some step in the great plan ! Think not erroneously That evil is its Avork ,

Or that it seeks feloniously A single soul to hurt ! It labors in the sunny day , As Avell as in the night , The blackened hand of vice to stay , And vindicate the right . Go ask good Charity ,

AVhence greatest help doth HOAV ; Inquire of Vulgarity AVho is her fellest foe ! Intemperance , who treats with scorn Thy bloated , senseless life ? Aud Avar , how are true brothers born

Amid thy bloody strife ? Go ask the anguishing—The Avidow pale and sad , AVith little orphans languishing—Who hath them fed and clad ! Ask Innocence , so sweet ancl pure ,

AVbo doth ber virtue guard ? Ask Slander who is ahvays sure Her stories to discard . Go ask proud Royalty AVho are her chosen ones ! Ask true devoted Loyalty

Who are her bravest sons ? Fidelity , who ' s freest of Adultery and lust ? AVho shares thy deepest , warmest love , And guards thy dearest trust ?

It is Freemasonry That thus each virtue guards ; AA'hose hand , with true complacency , All evil aims retard ! AA ho labors long and zealously To spread the light of Science !

Preserving Art most jealously Through beatiful alliance ! Forbear most strenuosly From all future abuse ; Nor join those who most heinously Freemasonry traduce . '

For every time you blamefully Denounce this brotherhood , You outrage virtue shamefully , And stain her motherhood !

MASONIC ADVOCATE . ma _ y