THE DORMER.

The Dormer, the window that gave light to the same."

Masonic Ritual.

Pray brethren, pause ye here awhile, during the search and quest

Stay and become the square white stones, forming the pavement blest

For far above, the Light shines down, piercing the dormer wide,

Shines down, and warms the paving stones, laid down on every side.

Here may we pause and gather, in the light from Him above,

Absorbing in our very souls, the blessed Truth and Love

Of Him, the World's Great Architect, the Highest Heavenly King,

To Whom the myriad angels bow; and praises ever sing!

Let us absorb the Light which here, offers, like Holy Graal,

To show the Way our feet must tread, the Way that cannot fail

To lead us, onward, upward, toward the Holy Height;

Our feet are safe upon the Path, this is the Path of Light

In chancels mystical as this, in temples such as these,

Bound with the firm cement of Love, in great Fraternities,

We will become the Living Stones, forming the walls and roof

Mayhap, some stones, the Dormer frame, their wisdom giving proof.

Whereer we be, in pavement wide, in wall, in step, in choir,

The Light will shine upon us all, one Holy Living Fire !

And we, adoring, will reflect, in countless shining rays

The rainbow hues of the Great Arch, Wisdom and Beauty raise

SECRETS.

We seek for genuine secrets that were lost

Which time or circumstance may yet restore

While some there be prepared to count the cost

Too few persist to reach the Central Core.

This Centre, which we seek, is whence we came,

Also the goal to which we turn our eyes

By yearning towards the Sacred Mystic Name

In manner which is known to all the wise.

The Centre reached, the secrets too are found,

It is a point from which we cannot stray,

No need remains for us to look around

Full near at hand it is, not far away.

Circumference nowhere, everywhere the Centre

The door is there for all who will to enter.

THE WINDING STAIR.

Upon the Winding Stairway to the Centre,

Each Mason has his own peculiar place,

And so that each may earn his right to enter

He has tremendous difficulties to face.

The Mystic Way is hard, but all must try,

To turn the ashlar rough to living stone,

Hand, also head and heart to purity ;

A work that must be carried out alone.

Upon the stair we stretch our hand behind

To help the backward brother on his way,

But looking upward those in front we find,

Prepare to shed on us a helping ray.

Thus every soul is bound to every other

And earns the privilege to call him " Brother."

REGENERATION.

Regenerated man is the ideal,

If world affairs are ever to improve,

To work together for the common weal

Impels us to forsake the selfish groove.

The way of rebirth leads to righteousness,

And all our baser parts must forthwith die;

Self must be purged of every sin's duress

Before heaven's realm is realised as nigh.

This lesson has been taught throughout the ages,

In myth and parable of every clime,

It is th'embodied wisdom of the sages

And still remains appropriate to our time.

What learn we from Hirams' assassination ?

Through figured death we gain regeneration.

UNION.

There is but One, to Whom we all will come,

And, in accord with what has gone before,

Will join with Him in Union; in His good time

And some there've been, who ill this Union Blest

Have found their Term of Quest, here, on this earth

Whilst others, searching and groping in the dark of light,

Have yet to And the Path, that onwards leads to Light.

If those of us, who, groping thus in darkness visible

Were but to raise our eyes in loving wonder

To that Bright Star, which rising in the East,

Brings Life and Comfort, Love and Truth to all

Then would the Way be manifestly clear:

No need to stumble, nor to turn aside

After cimmerean lights, so like to those of marshland,

Which led to quaking bog, or mournful pond

Nay rather, seeing clearly well the Way,

Passing each Veil of Wonder, Royal Arch, and Rosy Cross,

We reach, at last, the bourne of all our wand'rings,

And with the Star, effect the Union Blest.

OUR PERSONAL TEMPLE.

The Master hidden in the heart of man

Ceaselessly waits his chance to manifest

If on our temple gates we place a ban

Whate'er we miss is at our own behest.

"Behold I stand at each one's door and knock,

I wait to show each one the better way.

But if the gates at East, North, South you lock,

No light can come to turn your night to day."

"I cannot give you light against your will;

Nor aid you if you do not train your mind,

If, too, those fake desires you do not kill

My needed help to live you'll never find."

Open the Gates! It is our bounden duty

To gain access to Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty.

HASTEN SLOWLY.

You may be a member of Lodges and Chapters,

Preceptories, Conclaves, and all of the rest,

Yet not have the knowledge, the faith and good purpose

With which the new 'Craftsman' will start on his quest

In search of the secrets of 'Nature and Science,'

The Worshipful Master advises that you

Should extend your researches therein, but so rarely

That 'Master' can help, by providing the clue.

Injunctions embodied in rituals recited

Are seldom regarded as anything more

Than fine sounding phrases which, though very lovely,

Can hardly interpret the 'Great Moral Law.'

If Brethren all would make daily advancement

In knowledge, masonic, the Charge emphasised,

How much more effectively labours, as masons

In building 'The Temple,' would be realised,

To point an objective, to have an ideal

Is so vital, to work out 'The Plan,'

Which the Great Architect, in His Wisdom and Love

Has set out for the welfare of man.

This can only be done, by completing each stage

And squaring each stone to perfection,

That, when all are assembled, there never can be

A Stone for 'The Builders' rejection.

So you who are members of Lodges and Chapters,

Preceptories, Conclaves, and all of the rest,

Be thoroughly sure that your labours as Masons

Show no signs of weakness, when put to the test.

Bear in mind that your promises and 'Obligations'

Are all entered up in the goat Book of Life,

Your victories, failures, defeats and successes

Are also recorded, for out of the strife

Is decided the progress, which you, as Freemasons,

Have actually made in your search in the 'West'

For that Regeneration, that Peace and At-onement

You sought, since you first started out on ' Your Quest.'

THE HIDDEN MAN OF THE HEART.

Truth is within ourselves," the poet writes,

The Sacred Law says heaven is within,

Our duty is to climb to lofty heights,

Nor damp th' imprisoned spark by mortal sin.

Hid in our heart it seeks to shed around

Its light to cheer all others on the way,

But if no perfect instruments be found,

How can it strive to turn their night to day ?

The tools required are head, and hand, and heart,

Will, intellect and feelings purified,

If on this work we never try to start

'Twas all the same our Master never died.

Our hidden Hiram waits his resurrection

Till all our several parts take right direction.

THE HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS.

Th'eternal house in heaven not made with hands-

The Temple of the Living God most High-

Is built of living stones from many lands

In silence crown with scarce an earthly tie.

No barriers of race, creed, church, or caste

Disturb the peace of that Grand Lodge above-

The evil bane of serving self is past

In atmosphere of Universal Love.

Th'Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master true,

Their ashlars rough convert to perfect square,

Then ever set themselves to strive anew

To give them life full meet to enter there.

All that within that loving circle enter

Are radii with God the common Centre.

INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.

What is the standard of your lodge? Can you display with pride

The best for which the 'Craft' should stand? Or do you wish to hide

All those defects which, in your heart, you know should have no place

In Masonry ? But which destroy the soul of every race.

The farce of ceremonial performed for self-esteem,

And lacking attributes by which the Candidate may gleam

The knowledge of our Mystic-art, the road that may be trod

Towards regeneration, the way that leads to God.

What great responsibility, what penalties are yours

For letting down Freemasonry, within and out of doors.

The conduct of the Banquet-board, the standard you should set

In proposition and reply to toasts, so don't forget

The future of the Candidate may suffer if you fail

To keep away from topics we should keep outside the pale.

Those doubtful entertainers, who may cancel out the good

Of what was done within the Lodge, which every brother should

By his example, strive to lift up to the greatest height,

Toward the goal of " Mastership," where can be seen the light
GEMS OF KNOWLEDGEMENT

Of that great bright and Morning-star, that symbol and our guide

Which leads us to the - "perfect lodge," when we can dwell with pride.

The Temple of Humanity, the Brotherhood of man

Within the Father-hood of God, which since the World began

Has been the aim and object, by which all men of goodwill

Have striven ever upwards, toward the Sacred Hill

Whereon is "New Jerusalem," That City built foursquare,

Where will return Emanuel, and peace reign evermore.

So raise the standard of your Lodge, that you can see with pride

The influence exerted there by all who are inside,

To diffuse the light of wisdom, make all men free again,

Then your labours as Freemasons here, will not have been in vain.