Fancy.

FANCY .

PLEASANT is kind Fancy ' s realm When the mind in dreaming Leaves the present for the seeming—The thoughts that overwhelm ; And far away , would softly gladly still The fear of coming sorrow , the sense of passing ill . Ohhappyhappy dower

, , Of harrassed mortals here , When we lose the near and dear , When dark clouds above us lower j Then to the far unseen to soar soft fancy dares , And finds in happy dreams a balm for bitter cares . Vainthenthe accidents of time

, , , Idle its petty losses , Its cumbrances , its crosses , For ours are hopes sublime ; And Fancy cheers our toilsome path with flowers , Lifts us from cold decay to bright and peaceful bowers . W

Masonic Legend And Tradition.

MASONIC LEGEND AND TRADITION .

THE following thoughtful paper is written by our well-known brother , Cornelius Moore , and recently appeared in the Voice of Masonry , a very admirable contemporary American journal . We think it well to reprint it for our English readers , adding a few words and comments of our own . An evening recentlspent in the of an old and experienced Mason was an

iny company teresting one to the writer . The venerable brother had been an active and studious Craftsman from early life ; had read whatever came within his reach in relation to the history of Freemasonry ; had formed opinions concerning- the origin and history aud growth of the Order , and was prepared to give a reason for his belief . He is , occasionally , quite communicative on this subject , and when in such a mood it is extremely pleasant to pass an hour or two in his company . On the occasion alluded to I asked his opinion about the origin of Freemasonry—Whence

came it ? Were the stories about its organization among the workmen who constructed the Temple at Jerusalem founded on fact ? In brief , what were we to believe about it , or must we leave it where we found it , involved in fiction , legend , and tradition ? He seemed willing to communicate , ancl I listened with reverence and close attention . I now propose to give yon , substantially , his views in reply to my question . I may not hope to recall his exact language , but as near as 1 can , from my notes taken at the time . " Freemasonryin its form and fashion of to-dayhas a history of onla few centuries

, , y . Fort has collected most of what is known on that subject , and his work is quite exhaustive ; but beyond the facta and documents he has giveu us , there is a dim past , through the centuries of which there is an occasional fact that refers to an association either Grecian or Roman , Jewish or Tyrian , probably some from each source , pointing to a real or supposed association of builders . To those half legendary facts we owe the traditions we so often refer to in