Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
FOR THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE .
FREEMASON PROLOGUE .
WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY MR . WOODS , At the Theatre Royal , EDINBURGH , in Jaliuary 17 S 3 . PREVIOUS TO THE COMEDY OF " WHICH IS THE MAN ?" By Desire of the Right Honourable and Most Worshi pful DAVID STEWART ERSKINE , EARL OF BUCHAN ,
GRAND MASTER , ASD THE WORSHIPFUL FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEETED MASONS . ¦ ' — __
' IN early times , ere Science , like the sun , Beam'd forth , and worlds from mental darkness won > What wretched days mankind for ages knew , Their cares how selfish , and their joys how few ; How tasteless was die cup on mortals prest , By social arts untended and unblest . .. . <>
If Nature now a brighter aspect shew , s | Improv'd by graces Science only knows ; In tracing knowledge to its first essays , How much FREEMASONRY deserves our praise ! Whose early efforts Wit and Genius lov'd—When HIRAM plann'd , and DAVID ' S SON approv'rt : HIRAM ! whose name still leads enquiring youth *; The chosen star , that points the way to truth .
Cities , where Commerce keeps her golden store , Temples , where grateful saints their GOD-adore , Th' abodes rever'd fi om whence fair . Science springs , And palaces that mark the pow ' r of kings ; These stamp the MASON ' S fame ; yet higher art He nobly tries—t' amend the human heart . Hence , 'midst the ruins of three thousand years , Unhurt , unchang'd , FREEMASONRY appears .
Her tow ' rs and monuments may fade away , Her TRUTH and SocrAS . LOVE shall ne ' er decay . These she with care extends to distant lands , 'Cross frozen seas , o'er wild and barren sands f ; All who can think and feel she makes her friends , Uniting even foes for moral ends . The wand ' rer ' s drooping heart she loves to cheer , The wretch ' s comfort when no aid seems near ;
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
FOR THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE .
FREEMASON PROLOGUE .
WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY MR . WOODS , At the Theatre Royal , EDINBURGH , in Jaliuary 17 S 3 . PREVIOUS TO THE COMEDY OF " WHICH IS THE MAN ?" By Desire of the Right Honourable and Most Worshi pful DAVID STEWART ERSKINE , EARL OF BUCHAN ,
GRAND MASTER , ASD THE WORSHIPFUL FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEETED MASONS . ¦ ' — __
' IN early times , ere Science , like the sun , Beam'd forth , and worlds from mental darkness won > What wretched days mankind for ages knew , Their cares how selfish , and their joys how few ; How tasteless was die cup on mortals prest , By social arts untended and unblest . .. . <>
If Nature now a brighter aspect shew , s | Improv'd by graces Science only knows ; In tracing knowledge to its first essays , How much FREEMASONRY deserves our praise ! Whose early efforts Wit and Genius lov'd—When HIRAM plann'd , and DAVID ' S SON approv'rt : HIRAM ! whose name still leads enquiring youth *; The chosen star , that points the way to truth .
Cities , where Commerce keeps her golden store , Temples , where grateful saints their GOD-adore , Th' abodes rever'd fi om whence fair . Science springs , And palaces that mark the pow ' r of kings ; These stamp the MASON ' S fame ; yet higher art He nobly tries—t' amend the human heart . Hence , 'midst the ruins of three thousand years , Unhurt , unchang'd , FREEMASONRY appears .
Her tow ' rs and monuments may fade away , Her TRUTH and SocrAS . LOVE shall ne ' er decay . These she with care extends to distant lands , 'Cross frozen seas , o'er wild and barren sands f ; All who can think and feel she makes her friends , Uniting even foes for moral ends . The wand ' rer ' s drooping heart she loves to cheer , The wretch ' s comfort when no aid seems near ;