Poetry.

Poetry .

ON THE DEATH OF BRO . KENNEDY , P . M . AND TREAS . OF THE OLD CONCORD LODGE ( No . 172 ) . Addressed in respectful sympathy to his Widow . BT A . C . S . Mourner ! has thy loved one left thee , Never , never to return ? Hast thou now the bitter anguish Of his early death to learn ?

Is that form so lov'd and loving Still and cold in Death ' s embrace ? Wilt thou ne'er again in this world See a smile upon that face ? Ne'er that voice so kind and tender Will again delight thine ear ; He hath left this world of sadness ,

Left it for a brighter sphere . Thou art left , bereaved and lonely ; How wilt thou thy suff'rings bear ? How wilt thou support the sorrow That has fallen to thy share . Earth's sweet ties for ever riven ;

Ah ! joy is but transient here , Fair as seem the life ' s surroundings , AVhen with those we love so dear . Ne ' er again wilt thou behold him Gaze on thee with looks of love ; He bath passed away from this world , Pass'd to realms of peace above .

Ne'er again thine orphan children AVill their father's kindness know ; Thought that deepens all thy anguish , Thought that fills thy soul with woe . Yet 'tis heaven ' s dispensation ; He thou mourn'st is with that One

Who consoles each weeping sufFrer , Bids them say , " Thy will be done . " Hope ' s bright angel hovers near thee , AVhisp'ring " God will hear thy prayer , He will take the lonely widow 'Neath His kind protecting care . "

0 ! May resignation soothe thee , O ' er thy grief its solace cast ; And may ' st thou rejoin thy lost one AVhen earth's scenes of trial are past . And whilst here may'st thou feel comfort From religion ' s healing balm ; May tbe Saviour ' s grace and mercy Guide thy thoughts to heaven's calm .

A Masonic Colloquy.

A MASONIC COLLOQUY .

BY J . A . H . A Brother spoke these words one day : — " It is with thankful heart I say , That Masonry hath shed a ray Of beauty on my earthly way . " A stranger , who was standing by ,

Said : — ' Will you kindly tell me why You thus do praise the Craft so high ? Methinks that I to join will try . " " Before I answer , I'll inquire , Does not your spirit ever tire ; Have you not known that troubles dire Are wont to quench the vital fire ? "

A Masonic Colloquy.

The querist said : " Yes , well I wot The sorrows of our mortal lot , And that perchance the Craft has got Some smypathies the world has not . " List now , my friend , the Mason said , If you have oft your Bible read , And humbly seek that you may tread

In pleasant ways by Wisdom lead ; Then understand Freemasonry Is universal sympathy : Its precepts teach that men should be All brethren of one family . " And thus our union doth protest That union is the noblest test To show when men are ever best , And when they are most truly blest . "

Unveiling The Bust Of Edmund Plowden.

UNVEILING THE BUST OF EDMUND PLOWDEN .

The beautiful bust of the celebrated lawyer was unveiled on the 10 th inst . in the fine hall of the Hon . Society of the Middle Temple . The bust has been presented by Mr . Robert Ingram , of Slough , one of the oldest members of the society , and is tho work of Bro . Morton Edwards , of Sc . Luke ' s Lodge , 144 , The bust of the Prince of Wales , also in the possession of the Middle

Temple , is from the chisel of bhe same distinguished sculptor . The ceremony of " unveiling " took place in the presence of upwards of two hundred barrisbers and students of the society , and a number of ladies , who were admitted to the " Minstrel ' s Gallery , " amongst whom it is worthy ' of mention were bhe Misses Plowden , lineal descendants of the great lawyer whose memory the proceedings were to perpetuate ,

Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .

Furbher Subscription received : —Lodge of Hope , 433 , Brigh tlingsea , £ 1 Is .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For. The Week Ending July 11th , 1868.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR . THE WEEK ENDING JULY 11 TH , 1868 .

MONDAY , July 6 th . —Lodges : Royal Alpha , 16 , St . James ' s Hotel , Piccadilly . Robert Burns , 25 , Freemasons * Hall . Joppa , 188 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street .. Chapber : Old Kings' Arms , 28 , Freematons' Hall . TUESDAY , July 7 th . —Colonial Board , at 3 . Audit Com . Girls' School , at 2 . 30 . St . John ' s , 167 , Holly Bush Tavern , Hampstead . La Tolerance , 538 , Freemasons '

Hall . Chapter : Temperance , 169 , White Swan Tavern , Deptford . WEDNESDAY , JULY 8 th . —Com . R . M . B . Inst ., at 3 . Lodges : Doric , 933 , Masons' Hall , Basinghall-street-Montefiore , 1 , 017 , Freemasons' Hall . THURSDAY , July 9 th . —Quarterly Gen . Court Female School , at Freemasons' Hall . Lodges : LilLodge of

y Richmond , 820 , Greyhound , Richmond , Surrey . Capper 1 , 076 , Marino Hotel , Victoria Dock , West Ham . Chapters : Mount Lebanon , 73 , Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . yarborough , 554 , Green Dragon , Stepney . SATURDAY , July llth . —Lodges : Caveac , 178 , Radley ' s Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisburystreet , Strand , London , A \\ C . The Explanatory Notes of the Music given in three previous numbers , and finished in present issue , will be given in next number . P . M , ( Scotland . )—Your letter has been crowded out in present issue , bub will appear next week .