Response Of The Pilgrim.

RESPONSE OF THE PILGRIM .

A Aveary pil grim by my side , His staff aud sandals laid , And to my queries quaint , replied , As thus to him I said : " Thou seekest aid—thy garb commends Unto our hearts all pilgrim friends ; I do not Avish to knoAV thy name—I only ask ye Avhence ve came 1 "

" From Avhere the cypress blossoms bloom Upreared above the Saviour ' s tomb ; AATiere many a Templar lost his life Amid the din of battle ' s strife , And Infidel did rue the clay The Pilgrim AVarrior passed that way . From Avhere bold Godfreyvaliant Kniht

, g Did lead the van , in many a fight , That our true cross might eA-er AvaA'e In peace above the Saviour ' s grave . From John the Saint , blest be his name-Jerusalem !—from thence I came . "

" Art thou a brother—firm and true—If so , what came ye here to do 1 " " I am a brother . Proud am I To be one of that mystic tie That binds us in the bonds of love , Our truth and friendship thus to prove .

I've crossed the portal , as did you , My earthly passions to subdue ; And in the arts to still improve To fit my soul for realms above . Entered Apprentice I have been , Then passed to rank Avith journeymen ;

As Master , raised Avith greatest care—And grip'd a grip both strong and square Hard have I toiled in quarries dark , And graven there my Master ' s Marls , ; Inspection passed—firm , square and true , As none but Master ' s Avork can do .

I've travelled East and filled the chair Placed by the Orientals there ; And with companions made the march Beneath the living Royal Arch ; With Masters Royal and Select In Council sat ; and did reflect

Within the chamber by the light , Before I took my vow of Knight ; I ' ve stood beside our Hiram ' s tomb , AVhen every heart was filled Avith gloom ; A Provoso and a Judge I ' ve been , And justice dealt unto all men ; Intendant , too—I helped to build , And gave the plans to Avorkmen skilled ; I am a Knight Elect of Nine ,

Of Fifteen , and a Knight Sublime ; I ' ve sat beneath Perfection ' s light , Where the lost word is brought to sight ; Far in the mysteries I ' ve wrought—Diligently for lore I ' ve sought . "

" Then , by thy speech and cunning Avay , Thou art a Mason , I should say . " " I heed thy words , and greet thee fair Upon the level and the square ; For ' mongst all men AVIIO knoAV me Avell , For one I ' m taken : time Avill tell

If honoured in their ranks I stand , Or Avorthy prove to grasp thy hand . AVhen years ago , I did them join , I found a Avarm hand clasped in mine , That led me paths I knew the least , And placed my feet in the North-east .

Since then alone I ' ve Avorked my Avay , Yet Avilling hearts did by me stay , And kindly hands Avere by my side , Outstretched at once , my aid and guide ; I am a Mason , and a brother , And haste to greet thee as another . "

" Thou may ' st be worthy , a Mason free , But IIOAV dost know tl ^ 'self to be 1 " "Mine age you see in falt'ring limb , My feeble footsteps , eyesig ht dim , My straggling hairs , long turned to grey , For fourscore years have passed aAvay ,

Last of my race—the only one-All those Avho raised me dead and gone . But lessons taught me still will last Until I ' m numbered with the past ; For knowledge learned by years of toil Is ne ' er forgot ; it is the oil

That feeds the lamp and gives the light That serves to make the Mason bright ; And though I often have been tried , I never once haA'e been denied . "

" Denied , thou never yet may be , But how Avilt prove thyself to me 1 " " I have the sign , as well as token , The proof—' tis plain—a column broken , A weeping virgin by its side—The point and circle for my

guide—An eye that everything can see—An emblem in the letter ' G 'Level and plumb , unerring square —• Those jewels that most precious are—TroAvel and compass , Holy Writ , And lesser lights that round it flit—All these I have , and many more , Whereby the craftsmen set great store . "