Obituary.

grades in Royal Arch , and had held office in Grand Chapter . Bro . Jennings was much and deservedly respected both in his public and private life , and he goes down to the grave with the sincere regret of all who had the pleasure of knowing him .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE TESTIMONY . " This was a testimony in Israel . " [ Upon tho return of Bro . ROB . MORRIS to the United States , ho prepared and sent to his 4 , 000 ' -co-labourers" in Holy Land exploration , the following linos as a summary of his observations —a kind of poetical report , in fact , of his mission . ]

There is no guiding hand so sure as His AVho brings mo now , a weary pilgrim , home ; There is no utterance so true as this" Go trust in God , and you shall surely come , 11 Though far your pilgrimage beyond the ocean-foam ! " In all my wanderings I've walked secure , I could not go , where God , the Lord , was not ;

Though weak , I leaned on His Almighty Power ; Though ignorant , I had tho infinite thought Which both on Nature ' s page and in His Word is taught . Ton sent me , brothers , to the Holy Land , That dream of youth , that goal of manly age , Birthplace and cradle of our mystic band , "Whoso charities adorn earth's brightest page—Refuge oi loving hearts , the Mason's heritage .

Hear now , from that mysterious land , tho tale Gathered alike from Lebanon ' s snow bills , From Tyre ' s granite heaps , fi om sad Gehal , From Joppa ' s crowned height , fi-om Zarfchan ' s rills , And from Jerusalem , tho world's great heart that fills . I stood in silent awe beside the tomb Where Hiram , King of Masons , had his rest ;

Its covering is tho cerulean dome Most fitting one with honoured memories blest : His sepulchre o ' erlooks old Tyro on tho west . I walked and wept in desolate Gobal ; Of all its glories not a trace is found Save here and there a relic , left to tell The school of mystic lore , tho holy ground Whore Hiram ' s youthful brows with , laurel wreaths were crowned .

I knelt beside tho cedars old ancl hoar , That streak with verdure snowy Lebanon , The mountain eagles o ' er them soar , The thunder-clouds of summer grimly frown , But sturdily they stand , those giants of renown . I mused along the bay from whence tho floats AVont Joppa-ward in old Masonic days ;

Its waters sing as when tho Craftsmen ' s notes Made tho shores vocal with their hymn of praise , And fervent notes and true my grateful heart did raise . I dumb tho slopes of Joppa , at whoso foot Tho uneasy tide of stormy waters beats , Though Craftsmen ' s calls and gavel-sounds are mute , The generous Ruler of tho Port repeats

Our sacred words in lovo , and every Craftsman greets . From Ebal ' s hill I overlooked the site Of Hiram ' s foundries , Zorodatha ' s plain ; Beyond , on Gilead ' s ranges , swelled tho fight , When Joptha drove the invading force amain , And Jordan ' s waves wero tinged with unfratornal stain . On Mount Moriah ' s memorable hill—And in

the quarry , ' neath tho city's hum—And midst the murmurs of Siloam ' s rill—And in Aceldama ' s retired tomb , My Mason-song I sung , though fraught with grief and gloom .

Poetry.

For all in sadness lies Jerusalem ; Queen of the earth , in widow ' s weeds she lies—Shade of historic glory , low and dim , Her day-star gleams upon our eager eyes—Oh , that from her decay lovod Salem may arise . ! Tho spirit of our Craft is reigning yet Through all tho hills and dales of Palestine ;

Strong hands , kind hearts , warm sympathies I mot , And interchanged around our ancient shrine , And bore my wages thence of corn , and oil , and wine . Now homeward come , my "talent " I return , ; . ; To you , warm brotherhood , and true Sons of Light ; My testimony stands—my work is done—Yours be the honour as is just and right ;

Bo all your jewels bright , your aprons ever white . Honour to thoso who boro this generous part , And wrote their names upon the Holy Land ; Honour to every true and loving heart That makes Freemasonry a matchless band : And may tho great I AM among you ever stand .

The "Morning Advertiser" And Freemasonry.

THE "MORNING ADVERTISER" AND FREEMASONRY .

The Morning Advertiser having recently published two letters reflecting on the Order , we were glad to find that some brother had the courage to enter the lists , and we commend Bro . Hosgood for the sensible reply he has made to tho detractors of the Craft at large . AA e give it in extenso : — TO THE EDITOR OE THE MORNING ADVERTISER . SIR , —Mr . AA . M'Donnoll's letter , inserted in you > - valuable

journal of the 23 rd inst ., must be a sufficient excuse for my trespassing on your space . - It appears , Sir , that Mr . M'Donuell ' s friend has been playing a practical joke , and he thus became a victim to misplaced confidence . I do think your correspondent must have been troubled with cacoetlies scribendi against an Order he knows nothing of , he not having entered its sacred precincts . He says , in speaking of the laws on Freemasonry , " I know not , and care not , if this be true or otherwise . " Now , Sir , giving your correspondent credit for truthfulness , he is evidently writing about that which he does not comprehend . Pope

says" And first , of God above , or man below , AA hat can we reason but from what we know ? " So , according to Pope , your correspondent has undertaken an arduous task—that is , to write of what he clearly does not understand . I regret that he should have lost so valuable a review , but if ho will not take the trouble necessary for its restoration we cannot wonder at his " being laughed at as a simpleton . " I beg to tender , Sir , to your correspondent the

gratitude of one Mason for his kind offer and advice as regards the management of this truly philanthropic Order , of which he has never seen the light ; but hope ere long he may be provided with some truthful member of the society who will be in a position to reveal to him that light of which lie now stands so much iu need . A man whose imagination lias been worked up by superstitious notions into a state of fear will have that fear which he thinks essential to his nature ; nothing , in fact , does he fear so much as the idea of having nothing to fear .

But Freemasonry , far from encouraging prejudices , perpetuating ignorance , or tolerating injustice , teaches virtue and science , courage and hope , and , spreading its beneficent light throughout the globe , unites all men of all creeds , of all opinions , and of every persuasion . Truth is its centre , the eternal jioint whence its radii diverge , pointing out to its disciples not only a knowledge of the JEtemal Ruler of the universe ancl the moral laws which He has ordained for their guidance , but of those useful

arts and sciences which alone distinguish civilized men from his uninformed savage brother . Now , let your correspondent turn his looks on the amphitheatre of life . He sees the passions preside over everything ; they rear all and overthrow all . He sees insolence overwhelming modesty ; he sees merit and talent despised , innocence often punished ; while hypocrisy , perfidy , ingratitude , and crime are not only tolerated , but o ' ftentimes rewarded . He sees , in short , that everybody is dissatisfied with his own condition , which he struggles to ameliorate to the flagrant injury of his fellow , for " Lucrum