The Pope And Freemasonry.

same symbols were in universal use all over the Avorld—that within the historic period the Essenes among the JOAVS preserved the interpretation of them , whilst the spurious lodges Avere groping in the dark , and that the modern society still retains

them . I will conclude by stating that the principles of Masonry may be summed up in the Avords ^ of St . Peter when he urges the faithful to " love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the king , " ancl principles such as these have no need to be condemned by the Pope or any other man .

Masonic Poets Of Scotland—No. Iii.

MASONIC POETS OF SCOTLAND—No . III .

JAMES HOGG . ' * By Hie EEV . ANDEEAV "R . BONAK , Minister of First Charge of Canongate , Edinburgh . ( Continued from paye 105 . ) James Hogg , the " Ettrick Shepherd , " immortalised as much by the impersonations of him

viewed under a highly-coloured and exaggerated aspect on the part of the late Professor Wilson , in the once-renowned " Noctes Ambrosianas , " Avas altogether a remarkable man . Like not a few Avho have succeeded in emerging from the clouds of

obscurity , and the disadvantage attendant upon lowly origin , —his self-esteem seems to have been not unnaturally developed ; while yet it Avere improper to deny that there was some reason for the weakness referred to .

Hogg was bom on the 25 th of January , 1772 , in a cottage on the banks of the Ettrick , in Selkirkshire , and was descended from a race of shepherds who had in succession folloAved that calling . Hogg ' s mother , Margaret Laidlaw , Avas a self-taught person , of an imaginative ancl even enthusiastic turn of mind . Her son Avas but little

indebted to outward aid for AA hat progress he made in education , having attended the parish school only for the space of a feAv months , though during one Avinter he was alloived to be present at the lessons given to the children of a neighbouring

farmer . Hogg , when but seven j-ears old , began out-door occupation as a herd-boy , but even then he showed liking for such marvellous tales and legends as were current among the Scottish

peasantry . Hogg thus describes 'his . early experience : —¦ " When only eight years of age I Avas sent out to a bught called Broadheads , with a rosy-cheeked maiden to herd a flock of new-weaned lambs , and

I had my mischievous COATS to herd also . But as she had no dog , ancl I had au excellent one , I AA as orclei * ed to keep close by her . Never Avas a master's order better obeyed . Day by clay I herded the cows and the lambs , and Betty had nothing

to do but to sit ancl SBAY . Then Ave dined together every day at a AA ' BII near to the Shiel dyke-head , ancl , after dinner I laid my head down on her lap , and pretended to fall sound asleep . One day I heard her say to herself , ' Pair little laddie ! he ' s

just tired to death ; ' ancl then I wept till I Avas afraid she would feel the warm tears trickling doivn on her knee . I wished my master , who Avas a handsome young man , would fall in love Avith her and marry her , wondering IIOAV he could

be so blind ancl stupid as not to do it . But I thought , if I Avere he , I Avould know well what to do . "

When but fourteen years of age , Hogg , at the cost of a few shillings , became possessor of an old fiddle , practice upon which helped to Avhile away many an hour that might else have passed heavily . He served as shepherd at various farms in

succession , at Singlee , Elibank , Williamslea , and next at Blackhouse , the tenant of which was Mr . Laicl law , who kindly alloAved him to have access to a tolerably good store of books , a permission much appz-eciated hy the young man . When

twentyfour years of age Hogg began to write verses , rude enough , doubtless , yet not devoid of touches evidencing genius and ori ginality . In 1797 he fiz-sfc heard of Burns , Avhose " Tam o'Shanter" in

particular Hogg dwelt upon Avith delight , and was so fascinated by the spell that he was soon able to repeat the whole poem . The success of Burns roused Hogg's ambition ; ancl having become acquainted , in 1791 , with Sir Walter Scott , the

latter induced the late Mr . Constable to publish the " Mountain Bard , " as Avell as—strange conjunction !—a " Treatise on Sheep . " These productions , hoAvever , brought in to Hogg a considerable sum of money—about , it is said ,

£ 300—yet an amount insufficient for the object he had in vieAV , that of setting up a store farm , the attempt was unsuccessful , ' and after a depressing struggle for two or three years , Hogg betook himself to Edinburgh with the fallacious