The Masonic "Poet's Corner."

The Masonic "Poet's Corner . "

([ Original and Selected . ' ) To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . I am anxious to contribute something original to your " collection of songs and hymns , ancient and modern , " and a very good

friend of mine has , in compliance with my request that he would write something hot and strong in Masonry and set to a popular air , sent me the following , which I should like to see take a place in the " Corner . " He says that he can no more explain why Charles the Second got mixed up with it , than Douglas Jcrrold could tell why a playground full of schoolboys should have suggested to him ( as

The Masonic "Poet's Corner."

he says in the preface to his immortal work that it did ) Mrs . Caudle and the Curtain Lectures , and that he could no more keep the Second Charles out of it than Mr . Dick could keep that monarch ' s royal father out of his petition . He appears to have been reading Bleak House , and to have taken part in a quadrille , in which the air is introduced , in company with a very lively tcrpsichoriste , and this may account for it . He points out that he has managed to get

in that word " trined , " which so took my fancy , and that he intends to publish the song with the music , and reserves the copyright and all his rights connected with the words or their publication , but that any Masonic warbler is at liberty to sing it in the fourth degree . He has only to substitute the chorus for the parenthetical observations , and " there he is . " Yours fraternally , 194 , Clapham Road , May 28 th , 18 S 9 . FRIAR TUCK .

The Masonic "Poet's Corner."

DEAR TUCK , —lam asked to write a song that's Masonic "hot and strong " with a chorus that can easily be caught up by the

throng . I bethink me of a lay of Charles tho Second ' s day , with a catching kind of rhythm which runs somewhat in this way .

" THE MASONIC ABC . "

The Masonic "Poet's Corner."

( You'll understand , I pray , it ' s the tune and not the layjbh & t I ' ve borrowed from the Musicus of Charles the Second ' s day . ) E for Entered 'prentice , a neophyte we prize . F for Fellow-craftsman ( a ' prentice with " a rise " ) . Gr for the Great Architect whose wondrous works we view .

H for the lEram legend , we all believe is true . ( I am well aware rny rhyme is anything but prime , but I hope you like the " Musick " of the second Charles ' s time . ) I for the Initiate all are glad to see . J for the Joy we feel when we receive his fee .

K for King Solomon " in all his glory " drest . While L stands to teach us to do our Level best . ( I'm endeavouring to sing with a true Masonic ring to a melody much favoured by a very naughty king . ) M stands for the Master who occupies the chair . N for the Noble science illustrated there . O for the Orient from whence our secrets come , And P for the Pillars made upright by the Plumb .

( The words to me are due . For the air I got the cue from Carolus Secundus and his very merry crew . ) Q for the Quarrymen who ' ve hewn the stones wo see . While R , represents their Reotangularity . S the Square pavement which in black and white is tiled ; And the

T Tyler as ou . r serving brother ' s styled . ( I apprehend my verse might be more concise and terse , and —except for Charles the Second ' s metre—couldn't well be worse . ) U and V for Virtue and Uprightness combined . W for the Wardens who are with the Master trincd . Z for Zonodochy ( for guests expect a " spread . " ) for of it ancient Chaucer

Y " Ynough , " as Z . ( I ' ve been puzzled by that Z , from the Zenith overhead to the Zoophytes that vegetate upon tho ocean ' s bed . I declined the Zuyder Zee . I let the Zodiac be . I considered unmasonical the Zygnemaca ) , and although I ' ve done my best , I have very much digressed , and I find I ' ve left the chorus out , but this can be redressed ; so I'll finish up my rhyme with a refrain or a chime that ' s fitted to the " musick " of tho merry Monarch ' s time . )