THE TEACHER TO HIS PUPILS.

THE NATIONAL MASONIC SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION, at Louisville, Kentucky, May, 1859, was a scene of great interest to the participants. The assemblage was large and enthusiastic, representing many portions of the country. The writer, as President, made the following his Valedictory of the School:

From the hills of old Virginia, from the meadows fat and rare,
From the banks of broad Ohio, and of others broad and fair,—

From the borders of our neighboring states, true neighbors each they stand,
You have come responsive, Brothers, and have gripped me by the hand.

You have brought me words of greeting,― words I never can forget;—
Have given me light my eyes will see till life's poor sun has set;—
You have told with signs significant, your messages so true,
And now, at parting, one kind word I offer, Friends, to you.

A goodly group around us! the thoughtful air of Greene-
The cheerful gaze of Webster,— and Williams' modest mien,—
The chivalry of Bullock, that courteous look and bow,-
The sterling sense, the honest voice, the gentleness of Howe.

These are the types of all who've sat unwearied 'neath the voice
That told of Masons' labors and of Masons' well earned joys;
Deep in the souls of these have sunk the unchangeable and true,
The mighty COVENANTS that bind, dear Brothers, me and you.

Here, too, those welcome lights have shone, ay, welcome as the sun,
Whose fame as skillful builders has in distant lands been won
The veterans, Penn and Norris, Tracey, vigilant and leal,
And Hunt, the genial-hearted, and Bayless, true as steel.

To all who work as these work, to all who love like them,

To all who build as they build the NEW JERUSALEM,

Be wages such as they shall have, when, standing in the West,
They hear the Master call them, "Come, ye faithful, to your rest."

True, zealous, loving men! on this tempestuous, rocky shore

I may not meet — ah, sad to think - not meet or greet you more;
Each day speaks louder in my ears the uncertainties of time,
And death amidst life's music louder peals his solemn chime.

Then each FAREWELL! bear homeward LIGHT our fathers well approved,
Set up the Pillars, rear the walls;-'twas work our fathers loved;

Time will your fond devotion to unending ages tell;

God will o'ersee and bless you! Brothers, faithfully, farewell!

We whisper good counsel in the ear of a Brother, and in the most tender manner remind him of his faults, and endeavor to aid his reformation; such is the world-wide command.

ASK! SEEK!! KNOCK!!!

Ask, and ye shall receive;

SEEK, ye shall surely find;

KNOCK, ye shall no resistance meet,
If come with ready mind;
For all that ASK, and ask aright,
Are welcome to our Lodge to-night.

Lay down the bow and spear;

Resign the sword and shield;
Forget the arts of warfare here,
The arms of peace to wield;
For all that SEEK, and seek aright,
Are welcome to our Lodge to-night.

Bring hither thoughts of peace;

Bring hither words of love;
Diffuse the pure and holy joy

That cometh from above;

For all that KNOCK, and knock aright,
Are welcome to our Lodge to-night.

ASK help of HIM that's high;

SEEK grace of HIM that's true;
KNOCK patiently, the hand is nigh,

Will open unto you;

For all that ASK, SEEK, KNOCK aright,
Are welcome to our Lodge to-night.

THE LAST, LAST WORD, "FARE WELL."

The last, last word,-oh, let it tell
The inmost soul of love- Fare well!
Fare well in heart, in health, in store,

In going out, in coming in;

And when to slumber you incline,

May man's respect and woman's smile
And childhood's prattle to beguile,

Be yours, be yours, for evermore!
By every impulse that can swell
A loving heart, fare well, fare well!

SO MOTE IT BE

So mote it be with us when life shall end,

And from the East the LORD OF LIGHT shall bend

And we, our six days' labor fully done,

Shall claim our wages at the MASTER'S throne.

So mote it be with us; that when the Square,
That perfect implement, with heavenly care,
Shall be applied to every block we bring,
No fault shall see our MASTER and our KING.

So mote it be with us; that though our days
Have yielded little to the MASTER's praise,
The little we have builded may be proved

To have the marks our first GRAND MASTER loved!

So mote it be with us; we are but weak;

Our days are few; our trials who can speak?
But sweet is our communion while we live,
And rich rewards the MASTER deigns to give.

Let's toil, then, cheerfully, let's die in hope;
The WALL in wondrous grandeur riseth up;
They who come after shall the work complete,
And they and we receive the wages meet.

THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY.

DECLAMATION PRIOR TO A LODGE LECTURE.

HAIL, workmen of the mystic labor, hail!

To-night let all things that have language speak,
Here in the image chamber of the Craft,

--

Where pure instruction beams on every hand;
Above the spangled Arch, whose diamond rays
Twinkle sweet welcome on our road to Heaven;
Around-emblems of truth eternal, grand,

Quaint old imaginings of by-gone days;
Before - oh, blest eternally of God,

YON BOOK, whose secret is undying hope;

Beneath the earth, our mother, whence we sprung,

And in whose bosom we shall sleep at last;

All these inspire and move the Poet's heart
To claim a welcome, Brothers, in your Band.