Ode On The Installation Of H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales,

ODE ON THE INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES ,

As Most Worshipful Grand Master , at the Albert Hall , mh April 1875 . BY BRO . AA'ALTER SPENCER , OF LODGE 263 . Transmitted by the Author . Remotest Past hath left its prints sublime ,

Its ruined Temples everyAvhere remain Admonishing through change of place and time By monuments not thus bequeathed in vain , That all things here must suffer

changesave TRUTH . lake sand by sand , earth ' s crust is Avorn away , For Continent and ocean change , as youth Changes to age , as night succeeds to-day .

EevieAv the vanished Empires of our earth AVhich budded , ripened—and then faded out Until , down-trodden in a Avintry dearth , Their very names become the sport of doubt ! Reckon the leaders AV IIO have toiled and

Avroughfc To leave their marks on Hist ' ry ' s pagein vain ; AVhose cherished visions have been brought to nought ; AVhose praises never can be sung again !

Think of the great thoughts that have flashed to light , Thoughts to inspire the coming time and mind , AVhose authors rest neglected , in the night Which gave a bri ghter daAvn unto

mankind ! Even Religions—see IIOAV changed at last The creeds that millions clung to in the Past ! Is there an Ideal in whose spirit-youth There lives enshrined an everlasting

Truth ? Is there a ray beaming through Hist ' ry ' s night AVhich emanated from the primal Lio-ht To shew us antient symbols , that reflect The fiat of the world ' s Great Architect 1

Yes ! Nature ' s Truths extending through the Past As through the Present , shame Man ' s changeful tale ;

And antient Landmarks founded deep , to last , Those primal Truths in graven symbols veil . Our allegory claims them for its OAVU , Echoing a voice which , laden with their

lore Through ages gone , repeats in earnest tone Their solemn formulse for evermore ; And teaches Masons , an immortal lot In " Unh'ersal Charity " to found , Whose centre may be struck at every spot , And Avhose circumference no space can bound .

Those truths , to us in allegory told , With Li ght in the beginning had their birth ; The banded Avisdom of the Arise of old Their moral treasure guarded for the earth . And ever with the Sunthat from the East

, AA ill to ' ards the West its living radiance shed , The sacred flame to glow has never ceased Which for our use departed Brethren fed That we mi ght tend it in our turn : the Avhile

Theynumberedyearsin stone on Carnac ' s bed , Recorded Seasons on Stoneheuge ' s pile Or named the Stars from off the Pyramid .

We work by the inexorable Laws AVhich the great Cosmos OAVIIS for rule of right , Nor Avaste our strength upon the quips and flaws Over Avhich somedismite andbigots fight ! AVe gaze up at the canopies of stone

That from the ground aspire to reach the skies , And ( claiming antient-Masons' art our own By Avhich our spiritual temples rise ) AcknoAvledging a great Ideal divine Embodied thus by Mason ' s toil and sighs

Feel , that the altars Avhich those fanes enshrine Are hallowed by the thoughts Ave symbolise !

FREEMASONS work for love unto the art , Not for the hire alone to serve the Lord ; Infusing fervour into every part AVhich growsanearnestofourrichreivard . For at the last , our earthly labours done If Avorthy , the Great Architect ' s commands