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Article NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.
" Then , if a weaker brother err , Let kindness with your counsel blend , And of success do not despair , — ' It never is too late to mend . ' '"
The followino- tribute to two of the best delineators of character in our glorious English literature p leases me much : — " The glory-roll of England bears a name Which love and genius will for ever guard Within the portals of immortal fame!—The glorious name of Avon ' s peerless bard!—Of onebut oneif not inspiredyet far
, , , Exalted in the altitude of mind Above lu ' s fellows , like a full-orb'd star Amid the lesser hosts : who judged mankind And human nature as a demi-god , — Sounded their depths and shallows , and pourtray'd With master hand , their faults and foibles ; awed
A wond ' ring- world by niirrowmg each shade Of life ancl character , —and deftly limn'd Men ' s passions , virtues , vices , hopes , and fears ; SIIAKSPEBE ! whose genius shall remain undimm'd , While English hearts throb on through future years Of smaller magnitude , yet softly bright , Aud chaste as Hesperus , serenely gleams Another orb , which sheds its hallow'd light ( Like Hope ' s fair iris-tints through lovers' dreams ) Over the spacious round , where Fame records
The worth of Britons . Oh ! how sweet the name Of him , who , spurning tinselly rewards And empty titles , stamp'd the brand of shame On foul injustice , —trampled on the head Of base liypoorisy , and "boldly strove To tear the mask from ignorance : who sped The streams of kindness , charity , and love Through homes and hearts innumerable ; sought
The people ' s welfare and his country ' s good , — To aid the poor and weak ; and ever wrought To bind all men in love ancl brotherhood;—Who shed a halo round our hopes and fears , And taught us to he heroes in earth's strife , — The gentle master of our smiles and tears , — DICKENS , the Shakspere of familiar life ! "
Fine , too , is the allusion to those immortal mansions from whence all goodness emanates , which eveiy true Mason hopes , by square conduct , level steps , ancl uprig ht intentions to arrive at : — " There is a land of beauty , rest , and peace , Beyond the limits of life ' s angry sea , Where love Divine with gentle sway presides Amid the bowers of immortality . "
Here , again , is "A Seasonable Appeal , " trul y Masonic in character ; for the genuine Freemason is one to whom the distressed will never have unburdened their sorrowing souls in vain : — " How many homes around us now are drear , And bare , and comfortless ! how many souls Are drooping now in hunger-smitten forms ,
Which shiver iu the scanty , tattered rags Of dire distress ; without a fire to warm ; Without the bare necessities of life ; The parents' hearts with silent anguish wrung , — The sickly children crying- ont for food ! 0 men of wealth ! this is a time to prove The texture of your hearts , —yoav gratitude ' For all the benisons on you conferr'd ! 0 men , my brothers ! leave the shrine of Self ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.
" Then , if a weaker brother err , Let kindness with your counsel blend , And of success do not despair , — ' It never is too late to mend . ' '"
The followino- tribute to two of the best delineators of character in our glorious English literature p leases me much : — " The glory-roll of England bears a name Which love and genius will for ever guard Within the portals of immortal fame!—The glorious name of Avon ' s peerless bard!—Of onebut oneif not inspiredyet far
, , , Exalted in the altitude of mind Above lu ' s fellows , like a full-orb'd star Amid the lesser hosts : who judged mankind And human nature as a demi-god , — Sounded their depths and shallows , and pourtray'd With master hand , their faults and foibles ; awed
A wond ' ring- world by niirrowmg each shade Of life ancl character , —and deftly limn'd Men ' s passions , virtues , vices , hopes , and fears ; SIIAKSPEBE ! whose genius shall remain undimm'd , While English hearts throb on through future years Of smaller magnitude , yet softly bright , Aud chaste as Hesperus , serenely gleams Another orb , which sheds its hallow'd light ( Like Hope ' s fair iris-tints through lovers' dreams ) Over the spacious round , where Fame records
The worth of Britons . Oh ! how sweet the name Of him , who , spurning tinselly rewards And empty titles , stamp'd the brand of shame On foul injustice , —trampled on the head Of base liypoorisy , and "boldly strove To tear the mask from ignorance : who sped The streams of kindness , charity , and love Through homes and hearts innumerable ; sought
The people ' s welfare and his country ' s good , — To aid the poor and weak ; and ever wrought To bind all men in love ancl brotherhood;—Who shed a halo round our hopes and fears , And taught us to he heroes in earth's strife , — The gentle master of our smiles and tears , — DICKENS , the Shakspere of familiar life ! "
Fine , too , is the allusion to those immortal mansions from whence all goodness emanates , which eveiy true Mason hopes , by square conduct , level steps , ancl uprig ht intentions to arrive at : — " There is a land of beauty , rest , and peace , Beyond the limits of life ' s angry sea , Where love Divine with gentle sway presides Amid the bowers of immortality . "
Here , again , is "A Seasonable Appeal , " trul y Masonic in character ; for the genuine Freemason is one to whom the distressed will never have unburdened their sorrowing souls in vain : — " How many homes around us now are drear , And bare , and comfortless ! how many souls Are drooping now in hunger-smitten forms ,
Which shiver iu the scanty , tattered rags Of dire distress ; without a fire to warm ; Without the bare necessities of life ; The parents' hearts with silent anguish wrung , — The sickly children crying- ont for food ! 0 men of wealth ! this is a time to prove The texture of your hearts , —yoav gratitude ' For all the benisons on you conferr'd ! 0 men , my brothers ! leave the shrine of Self ,