That is, I might with learned words abound,

And all I said with mystery surround;

But the real secrets will I now impart,

For TRUTH REIGNS EVER IN A MASON'S HEART;
The gold which we in Lodge try to procure,

Is true contentedness, which doth ensure
Far, far more happiness to man than gold;
Then the Fraternal Union we uphold
Melts many hearts; like diamonds, they unite,
And form a precious diamond large and bright;
No horde of ghosts our hallowed fane dismays,
It is the wisdom of the dead we raise;
Our philters are, we seek to be improved

In all that makes man worthy to be loved;

Death, which we learn to brave, but not despise,
Makes us invisible to mortal eyes;

Our universal medicine has been

Long since revealed-it is a mind serene.

The man whose mind and conscience are at ease,

May brave misfortunes, and defy disease:
Now I have told you much, and you must see
That there is nought but good in Masonry.
Still does the sev'nth mysterious grade remain,

Which ev'ry worthy Mason should obtain ;
For he who has attained that high degree,
Has man's best lot, whate'er his rank may be.
Yes! 't is a talisman which can command
Bliss and content in every age and land;
Yet would a man alone attempt in vain
This greatest earthly jewel to obtain;
For true love must assist him ere he can
Become the owner of this talisman-
Its name DOMESTIC HAPPINESS, in life
The greatest joy, unknown without a wife-
Is not this worthy all our toils and pains?
This once acquired, what happiness remains!
So, dearest Caroline, reject not now

The man who dares not break a solemn vow;
For could I yield, you would yourself disdain
The man who basely sought your heart to gain ;
And he who has to Masonry been true,
Will also be most faithful, love, to you.
Then hear me, dearest ; earnestly I pray,
Continue not my anguish by delay;

Love has its secret words and tokens too,
Which should no longer be unknown to you.
Let me impart those words and signs of bliss.
CAROL. The word is-

CAROL. You must not think that curiosity
E'er had, my lord, so firm a hold in me,
That I at once could cast you from my heart,
For being true to your mysterious art;
And I should scorn you, if you could reveal
The secrets you have promised to conceal.

BAR. But since I have been able to withstand

All your attempts, may I now claim your hand?

CAROL. Patience, my lord-and let me now teach you; Love has its mysteries and secrets too.

In the first grade, love has expressive sighs,

And in the next, converses with the eyes;

In the third, may the candidate express

His love in words; in the fourth, gently press

The loved one's hand. Then in the fifth he may

Beg for a kiss; but after much delay,

In the sixth, he proposes for her hand;

She smiles-and blushes-gives no answer-and"Then does the sev'nth mysterious grade remain, Which every worthy Mason should obtain ;"

And if successful, and possessed of this,

He then has gained

BAR.

The greatest happiness.

Well, in the Lodge, when 't is the Master's will,
And candidates show courage and great skill,

They climb at once through several degrees;

CAROL. Indeed I have already four degrees.

COUNT. (Aside to CAROL.) What! in so short a time, I can't believe

CAROL.-(Aside.) And very soon the sev'nth I shall receive;

I learned them easily they are so clear.

COUNT. (Aside.) And very horrible, I'm sure, my dear.
CAROL.-Oh! no.

COUNT. (Aside to CAROL.)
CAROL. (Aside to COUNT.)
COUNT. (Aside to CAROL.)
CAROL. (Aside to COUNT.)
COUNT. (Aside to CAROL.) And led you to the Fatal Room?

Then tell me all without delay.
Since you desire it, uncle, I obey.
He bandaged both your eyes-eh?
It may be.

CAROL. (Aside to COUNT.)

It seemed a room blazing with heav'nly light,
Wherein dwelt ev'ry pleasure and delight;
Like eastern garden, or like spicy grove,

The Mallet, you must know, was held by Love.
COUNT. (Aside to CAROL.)
CAROL.-(Aside to COUNT.)

To me

You are not speaking of Freemasonry?
Free masonry?, I am no longer free.

COUNT. I thought so; for this dev'lish Craft must bind

By wicked sorcery the human mind;

Else long since would its secrets have been known,

And all its mysteries have been overthrown ;

Dearest, since you for me your love avow.

Yes! Count, your niece is a Freemason now:
The Lodge wherein she learned Freemasonry
Was, you'll admit, a Lodge of purity;

Love in the Lodge as Master took the chair,
Reason and Constancy our Wardens were ;
True Confidence was Orator, and told
The mysteries which I cannot unfold;
Hope was our Treasurer, and Order, too,
Was Secretary, to their duties true;
Our Master of the ceremonies there,
Indulgence, bid us for all joys prepare.

COUNT. It all sounds pretty-And yet with all this-
I do not know what a Freemason is.

BAR. And why not know? and why do you not ask?
The answer is indeed a pleasant task:
A Mason is a man whose sole delight,
Is to be honorable and upright;
To be a really honest man's his aim;
He sees but vanity in rank or name;

To all who 're in distress, in ev'ry land,
He is a friend, and gives a Brother's hand;
His word 's a sacred pledge of truth, and he
Ne'er utters, e'en in jest, a falsity;
His life in charity he seeks t' employ,
And finds in doing good a heavenly joy;

And when cold cares this worthy man oppress,
His trust in Heaven makes him feel them less;
He fears not, neither deems he death a foe,
But a deliv'rance from this world of wo;
From every superstition is he free,
And hateful to him is idolatry:

Yet is he not an infidel, because

He honors God, his sov'reign, and the laws;
And if blessed with a loving wife, why, then,

He may become the very best of men.

CAROL. One question I would ask.
BAR.

CAROL. Are all so good?
BAR.

Speak Caroline.

To answer I decline.

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS' PROPERTY BESTOWED ON KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN.

In the seventeenth year of the reign of King Edward the second, A. D. 1324, in a Parliament holden at London, "The lands, lordships and possession of the Templars, were given to the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, through the whole realm, to be by them possessed forever, for the defence of Christendom against the Infidels."-Stow's Annals.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND.

OUR correspondent has furnished us with the annual Circular of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, made up to the last annual meeting. It contains some items of interest, which we subjoin, and to which we invite the attention of the Lodges in the neighboring British Provinces, working under Scottish authority.

May 6, 1844. In considering the Question-How far Benefit Societies, in connection with Lodges, are conducive or otherwise to the prosperity of Masonry in Scotland?-the Grand Lodge came to the following Resolution-That all Lodges who may hereafter form Benefit Societies among their own Members, should be prohibited from depriving any of the Members of their Lodges from voting at the Election of Office-Bearers, or being chosen an Office-Bearer; and that those Lodges who already have Benefit Societies connected therewith, should be instructed to make such alterations upon their Bye-Laws and practice as will admit every duly constituted Member of their Lodge, not lying under any Masonic disability, to vote, or to be eligible for office at the election of OfficeBearers. It was also recommended to all Lodges with Benefit Societies to be very careful in keeping the Funds of the Lodge perfectly separate and distinct from those of the Society.

5th August, 1844.-Resolved, That it be an instruction of the Grand Lodge, that no Candidate for initiation shall be advanced from the degree of Apprentice to that of Fellow-Craft-or raised from the degree of Fellow-Craft to that of M. Mason-at a shorter interval than that of two weeks, unless where it shall be certified, by two Brethren of the Lodge in which the Candidate is to be passed or raised, that he is to remove from Scotland within the interval hereby prescribedor in any particular case of emergency, to be allowed by the Master of the Lodge, on its being specially certified to the satisfaction of himself and his Wardens.

10th Oct.―The Grand Lodge this day sold their property in Niddry Street to the Trustees of the late Dr. Bell, the Founder of the Madras System of Education, at the price of £1,800.

4th Nov.-SCOTTISH FREEMASONS' LIFE ASSOCIATION SOCIETY. It was unanimously agreed to recommend this Institution, in the warmest manner, to the cordial support and patronage of the Grand Lodge, as well as of all Lodges upon the Registry of Scotland.

May 5-A remit was made to the Grand Committee to revise the Laws and Constitution of the Grand Lodge. And it was agreed that the Masters of all the Edinburgh Lodges, duly qualified, should be Constituent Members of the Grand Committee, instead of their number being restricted to nine as heretofore.

By the 14th Chapter of the Laws of the Grand Lodge, it is enacted,—

Sec. IV. No Brother whose name is not enrolled in the Books of the Grand Lodge shall be eligible to be a Member thereof, or to be an Office-Bearer in any Subordinate Lodge. Neither shail he have any claim on the Grand Lodge Charity Fund.

Sec. V.-Lodges in Edinburgh, Leith, and Portobello, being one year in arrear, and Lodges in the Country being two years in arrear, shall be deprived of