In all thy pristine loveliness,
Descending from above,
Unto our home of weariness,
Thou cam'st on wings of love.
Thy spirit shone around us,
Awaking tender ties;

To Nature's altar bound us,
And pointed to the skies.

Thy handmaids Hope and Charity,
And Faith, with raptured gaze,
Were ministering unto thee,

Around thine altar's blaze.

Unto whose horns in sacrifice,
Was bound our nature's darling vice,
An off'ring meet unto the Lord,
Thy solemn rites so well adored.

CXIX. SONG.

Written in 1799, for a Society whose motto was "Friendship, Love, and Truth."

(By James Montgomery.)

When "Friendship, Love, and Truth" abound, Among a band of Brothers,

The cup of joy goes gaily round,

Each shares the bliss of others.

Sweet roses grace the thorny way
Along this vale of sorrow;

The flowers that shed their leaves to-day
Shall bloom again to-morrow.
How grand in age, how fair in youth,
Are holy "Friendship, Love, and Truth."

On halcyon wings our moments pass,
Life's cruel cares beguiilng;

Old Time Lays down his scythe and glass,
In gay good-humour smiling

With ermine beard and forelock grey,
His reverend front adorning,
He looks like Winter turned to May,
Night softened into morning.
How grand in age, how fair in youth,
Are holy "Friendship, Love, and Truth."
From these delighful fountains flow
Ambrosial rills of pleasure;
Can man desire, can Heaven bestow
A more resplendent treasure?
Adorned with gems so richly bright,
We'll form a constellation,

Where every star, with modest light,
Shall gild his proper station.
How grand in age, how fair in youth,
Are holy "Friendship, Love, and Truth."

CXX.

(By Bro. Robert Morris.)

One hour with you, one hour with you,
No doubt, nor care, nor strife,
Redeems a day of sin and woe
And gives new zest to life.

One hour with you, and you, and you,
Bright links in mystic chain--
Oh may we oft these joys renew,
And often meet again.

Your eyes with love's own language free,
Your hand-grip strong and true,
Your voice, your heart, do welcome me
To spend an hour with you.

I come when morning skies are bright,
To work my Mason's due-
To labour is my chief delight,
And spend an hour with you.

I go when evening gilds the west,
I breathe the fond adieu;
But hope again, by fortune blest,
To spend an hour with you.

CXXI.

Let's welcome the hour when thus happy we meet, May the light of our Order long gloriously shine, While in kindliest feelings, and harmony sweet, All true Brother Masons for ever combine.

Some sage once declared, that a portion of gold In mankind lay concealed, but he ne'er could impart

The secret recess, till our Masters of old

Proved the ore was Free-masonry, lodged in the heart.

Then welcome the hour when thus happy we meet,

May the light of our Order long gloriously shine,
While in kindliest feelings, and harmony sweet,
All true Brother Masons for ever combine.

This bright hidden treasure shone then but in few;
Nor had Masonry's virtue as yet its full scope,
Till illumin'd by Faith, it arose to our view,
And the heart was adorned by the sunshine of
Hope.

The ore even then was unyielding and cold,
Nor as yet had the ensign of light been unfurled,
Till, melting with Charity's glow, the heart's gold
In a stream of warm fellowship flowed through
the world.

Then welcome the hour, &c.

The Craft thence diffuse the rich, pure golden
tide
Of Masonic benevolence, right from the heart
Over all human nature, extensive and wide;
Shedding lustre the order alone can impart.

And now for a toast, fill your glasses, be sure And let each Brother's heart beat in union with

me;

A bumper, my friends, here's "The health of all poor

And distress'd Brother Masons wherever they be !" Then welcome the hour, &c.

CXXII. MASONIC AULD LANG SYNE. (By Bro. Dr. Robert Morris, Past G.M. of G.L. of Kentucky.)

We do not sigh for pleasures past,
Nor fondly, vainly pine;

Yet let us give one memory

To Auld Lang Syne.

With Gavel, Trowel, Gauge, we work,
With Level, Square. and Line;

Come, join the Chain of Love, and sing
Of Auld Lang Syne!

Chorus.

For Auld Lang Syne, my dear,

For Auld Lang Syne;

There's none like we can sing the days

Of Auld Lang Syne.

'Twas sweet when evening's shadows fell,

And taper-lights did shine,

Down from the East to hear the words

Of Auld Lang Syne.

The 'Prentice knocked with Trembling hand,
The Craft sought Corn and Wine,-

The Master stood and nobly fell,

In Auld Lang Syne,

With step so true, with form upright,

We drew the grand Design;

And well we knew "to square the work,"
In auld Lang Syne,

Are your glasses charged in the West and South? the Worshipful Master cries;

They're charged in the West, they're charged in the South, are the Wardens' prompt replies: Then to our final toast to-night your glasses fairly drain

"Happy to meet-sorry to part-happy to meet again, again,

Oh! happy to meet again!

Oh! happy to meet-sorry to part-happy to meet again, again!

Oh! happy to meet again!"

The Masons' social Brotherhood around the festive board,

Reveals a wealth more precious far than selfish miser's hoard,

They freely share the priceless store that generous hearts contain

"Happy to meet-sorry to part--happy to meet again."

We work like Masons free and true, and when our task is done,

A merry song and cheering glass are not unduly

won;

And only at our farewell pledge is pleasure touched with pain

"Happy to meet-sorry to part-happy to meet again!"