ELECTA.

When cares press heavy on the heart,
And all is gloom around,
Where shall we fix the heavy eye

In all this mortal bound?

What emblem hath the mourner here?
What love to warm, what light to cheer?

Thine, true ELECTA, thine which tells,

Of His distress and thine!
The Cross upon whose rugged limbs
Ye both did bleed and pine!

The Cross by heavenly wisdom given

To raise our thoughts from earth to Heaven.

Dying, as Jesus died, upon the tree,—

Was ever worthier sacrifice than hers?

Sacred the Cross, the nail, the thorn; for He

Who suffered has redeemed them from the curse;

Just as she passed to blest eternity

She plead forgiveness to her murderers.

THE ANGEL OF MERCY.

Composed for a called session of the Grand Chapter E.S. of California, May, 1876.

The angel of mercy to-night is abroad;

There gleams from her finger the signet of God;

Her work in beneficence all is designed

The sad to console and give light to the blind.

Oh brightest of beings that nestle above

The angel of mercy, the angel of love!

The sound of her wings rustles light on the air;

She bends her bright course to th' abodes of despair

Her features entrance the dull vision of pain,

And the joyless are kindled with rapture again.

Oh sunniest object that sparkles above,

The angel of mercy, the angel of love!

To lips of the fevered she tenders the cup;
The head of the drooping her hand beareth up;
The friendless she points to the land far away,

And the dying makes hopeful with visions of day.
Oh, nearest divine of the powers above,

The angel of mercy, the angel of love!

Dear Sisters, to you is her mission consigned,

To you she, departing, leaves duty behind;
In errand Celestial she bids you go forth,

And be the beneficent angels of earth!

Yes, each of you prove on the model above,
An angel of mercy, an angel of love!

TALITHA CUMI.

This is the story of "the daughter of Jairus" and her resurrection, as told me in Galilee in 1868. The Scriptural passages are these: He took her by the hand and the maid arose.MATTHEW 1X, 25. He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.-MARK V, 41. He took her by the hand and called, saying, Maid, arise.-LUKE Viii, 54.

By the sea her memory dwelleth,
Maiden well beloved and fair;

And each loving mother telleth

How the child lay dying there;
How she lay, that sweet one, dying,-
Only child, there was no more,

While the Oriental crying

Swelled the murmurs of the shore;
So they tell it by the Sea
Of the placid Galilee.

How the anxious father hastened

Jesus, present help, to meet,
And, with awful sorrow chastened,
Fell imploring at His feet;
"Master, oh, my little daughter,—
Only child, about to die!"
While the plashing of the water
Mocked at his despairing cry.
So they tell it by the Sea

Of the storm-tossed Galilee.

How the Lord, no tarry making,

Through the thronged and narrow street,

Hastened to a wondrous waking,

Such as every saint shall meet;

Matters not though servant coming
Told him that the child was dead,
And the breakers hoarsely booming,
All the mournful message spread.
So they tell it by the Sea
Of the dirge-like Galilee.

How He found the stricken dwelling;
Clasped the clay-cold little hand,—
Needless is the further telling,-

Death obeyed the Lord's command;
While those waters roll, the story
Of the maiden will remain,

Promise of the greater glory

When the Christ shall come again.

So they think along the Sea
Of this much-loved Galilee.

THE STAR.

Where the bright acacia waving
Tells of life forever green,
Lo, yon starry-pointed graving
The emblem of Faith is seen.

CHORUS.

Star that gleamed in heavenly story,

Oh, whisper tender hope in every ray, Shine with the light of perfect glory, And lead to eternal day.

Lo, that star that went before them,
Stood above the gentle guest!
Oh, for the mighty faith that bore them
So far in the holy quest!

Guide us up among the mountains,
Where true Adah smiled at death;
Lead us down beside the fountains,
By the scene of Ruth's great faith.

Land of Persia's queen immortal,

Star of matchless wonder, show; Thence with Martha to the portal, As a guide to our glad feet go.

Where the rose of Sharon bloometh,

By the martyr's grave afar, There in mighty glory cometh So gently the Eastern Star.

EXORDIUM.

Here is a story of the grand old time.
A tale of virtues tender, yet sublime,
Inscribed on sacred page to give us faith
In woman's constancy in life and death.
Here in God's Book the bright narration see,
And five brave hearts make up the history!

Adah, great Jephthah's daughter, soul of truth;
Ruth, flower of Moab, humble, pious Ruth;
Esther, the crowned, the worthiest of a crown;
Martha, His friend whom saints and angels own;
Electa, strong the martyr's cross to bear,-
These are the heroines of the EASTERN STAR !

Fairest among ten thousand deathless names,
How altogether lovely do they glow!
Time's annals yield no brighter, nobler themes,
No purer hearts the ranks immortal show.
Come then, oh, sisters, sister-virtues trace,
And light anew from them your lamps of grace.

THE LADIES' WELCOME.

A welcome and a greeting now,

To gentle friends and sisters true,
Around the place where Masons bow,
And pay their homage due;

On CHECKERED FLOOR, 'neath STARRY SKY,
Welcome, kind friends of Masonry!

To her who finds a FATHER here;

Or BROTHER'S strong and trusty hand; To her who mourns the lost and dear,

Once cherished in our band;

To her who HUSBAND'S love doth own,
Greeting and welcome, every one!

Welcome the light our emblems shed;

Welcome the hopes yon Volume gives,—
Welcome the love our Covenants spread,
The wages each receives;

And when is past life's toilsome week,
Welcome the HOME that Masons seek.

In the bonds of Mason's duty,

Seek ye now the Mason's light,

Forms of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty
Teach us what is good and right;

Far be every sinful passion,

Near be every gentle grace;

And so at last this holy mission

Shall reveal our MASTER's face.

THE DOUBLE SCORE.

Contributed by Rev. HENRY G. PERRY, M.A., of Chicago, Illinois, to the laureation ceremonies of Bro. ROB MORRIS, December 17, 1884.