Bro. John Cunningham.

BRO . JOHN CUNNINGHAM .

LONDON , SATURDAY , ATTG-UST 19 , I 860 .

Among the fe . v contributions in praise of Masonry in song or ode , onr readers -will doubtless remember those of John Cunningham , a pastoral poet and dramatic writer . We know , hoivever , of but one drama in tAA o acts , entitled

"Love in a Mist / 5 AA'hich had , we are told , a considerable ran . Cuuningham Avas born in 1729 , in Dublin , in Avhich city his father carried on the business of a wine cooper . He failed , while the son Avas at school , who , consequently ,

had to turn out in the Avorld , and , at seventeen , produced the drama referred to . Getting no regular employment , he engaged himself Avitb an itinerant company of comedians , Avith whom he came to England , but Avanting the essential

requisites of an actor—figure , voice , and expression—he never attained any eminence . After passing two or three seasons at Edinburgh , under Mr . Digges , he Avent OA er to Newcastle-on-Tyne , Avhere he formed a connection Avith Mr . Slack , a

printer , and by Lis services in conducting the Newcastle Chronicle , so ingratiated himself Avith his employer , that his regard for Cunningham terminated only with his life .

It is related that , during his stage career , his finances Avere very slender , and on one occasion he was seen fishing in the Wear on a Sunday by a divine who Avas passing , and rebuked for breaking the Sabbath . The poor actor mildl y replied

that he hoped God and his reA erence Avould forgive his seeming profanity , as his dinner for that day lay at the bottom of the river . The journal Ave have referred to recentl y completed the hundredth year of its existence , and

the proprietor celebrated the event iu a graceful ivay . Cunningham died September 18 tli , 1773 , m his 45 th year , and Mr . Slack placed a memorial over his remains , with this inscription : — "Here lie the remains of John Cunningham .

Of his excellence as a pastoral poet , his works will remain a monument for ages , after this temporary tribute of esteem is in dust forgotten .- " The monument , although not in dust , is in decay ; and the attention of the pi'eseufc proprietor

of the Chronicle having been called to its condition , with a suggestion that a memorial AvindoAv 3 r » the church might be preferable to a restoration of the stone , he acceded to the proposal , and a Gained glass window , executed by Mr . H . M .

Barnett , of the Glass Works at Newcastle , has been placed on the east side of the south transept in St . John's Church , the three lights being filled with the figures of Faith , Hope , and Charity , with an inscription descriptive ofthe object , and stating

that it was placed there by the present proprietor ofthe Chronicle , Joseph Cowen , ofBlaydon-upon-Tyne . Cunningham ' s pastorals , like those of Shenstone , Avere the delight of our grandsires ; and one

song , " Kate of Aberdeen , " retained its hold as a favourite to a comparatively recent period . He is , however , best known to us for his enthusiastic

effusions on Masonry , and he wrote many songs , odes , prologues , epilogues ; the best is As EULOGIU . ! SPOKEN BY MR . DlGGES , AX EDINBURGH . Say , can tbe garter or the star of state , That on the vain or on the vicious wait , Such emblems Avith such , emphasis impart ,

As an insignia near the Mason ' s heart ? Hail , sacred Masonry , of source divine , Masonry , mistress of the faultless line , "Whose plumb of truth , Avith nevei ' -failing sway , Makes the joined parts of symmetry obey . Hail to the Craft , afc whose serene command The gentle arts in glad obedience stand ,

"Whose magic stroke bids fell confusion cease , And to the finished orders yield its place ; Who calls creation from the Avomb of earth , And gives imperial cities glorious birth . To works of art her merits not confined ; She regulates the morals , squares the mind ; Corrects Avith care the tempest working soul

, And points the tide of passions Avhere to roll ; On virtue ' s tablets works each sacred rule , And forms her lodge an universal school , Where nature ' s mystic laws unfolded stand , And sense and science joined go hand in hand . 0 , may her sacred rules instructive spread Till truth erect her long lected head :

neg Till through deceitful night she darb her ray And beam full glorious in the blaze of day . ' Till man by virtuous maxims learn to move , Till all the peopled Avorld her laAvs approve , And the whole human race be bound in brother ' s love .

Let Masonry from pole to pole Her sacz-ed laws expand , Ear as the mighty Avaters roll To wash remotest land . That virtue has not left mankind Her social maxims prove ; For stamped upon a Mason ' s mind

Are unity and love . Ascending to her native sky , Let Masonry increase ; A glorious pillar raised on high—Integrity its base . Peace adds to olive boughs entwined An emblematic dove , As stamped upon a Mason's mind Are unity and love .

Will some of onr Northumbrian brethren inform us to Avhat lodge Bro . Cunningham belonged , and if his kind-hearted employer , Mr . Slack , was a member of the Craft ?