Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Parnassian Spring.

An EULOGY On MASONRY.

THROUGH many an age, amidst the shock
of arms,
Religion's jars, and party's fell alarms,
Mid folly's lies and slander's forged stains,
Still unsubverted MASONRY remains;
Begot by wisdom and upheld by truth,
Still feels the vigor of unfaded youth:
The mystic building stands mid envy's flood,
And evil finds itself o'ercome by good.
But what our order teaches, I will show.
The lessons you must love, when once you know;
It always bids us humbly to adore
The Almighty Architect by whose great power
The universe was built, to his decree
Which wisdom ever guides design'd to be;
It makes us zealous in our country's cause,
True to its trust and faithful to its laws,
Forever bids us with the strictest care,
To act with all mankind upon the square;
With true philanthropy it warms our breast,
With useful zeal to succour the distrest,
Bids us show mercy when we have the power.
And to the houseless stranger ope the door,
The naked with warm vestments to infold,
And guard the shiv'ring wanderer from the cold,
To feed the hungry, bid them eat and live,
And to the thirsty lip the cup to give,
To visit wretches tortur'd by disease,
Make smooth the bed, and pour the balm of ease,
The widow's tale, the orphan's cry to hear,
And from their eyes wipe off affliction's tear,
To know each offer'd each endearing tie,
Of soft ey'd, Heaven descended charity,
When to the Lodge we go, the happy place,
There faithful friendship smiles in ev'ry face;
What tho' our joys are hid from public view,
They on reflection please and must be true;
There we (in moral architecture skill'd)
Dungeons for vice, for virtue temples build,
There on a pleasing level all appear,
And merit only, is distinguish'd there.
To you ye Fair, adorn'd with ev'ry grace,
Tho' ancient custom has deny'd this place,
'Tis not because we think you would reveal,
What we as Masons wish you to conceal,
But we're afraid (and sure our fears are true)
Were you admitted, Love would enter too,
That jealousy might then our hearts inflame,
And to a rival's turn a brother's name,
Break all our bonds. annihilate our joy,
And soon our ancient custom quite destroy.
We know your worth. your excellence we prize,
We own your charms, the magic of your eyes';
The wretch who loves not you, upon this plan,
Forfeits the name of Mason and of Man.