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They long have borne the aching heaviness,
The burdens various of protracted years;

But, though life's cord be yet unloosed,

Death's summons comes to them, and they too die.

Death cometh to the aged, as the night

Comes to the weary child. It is "so tired,"

So heavy with the yearning of repose,

It asketh not for food, for toy, or play;

Its only wish is to lie down and sleep.

So to the aged comes the night of death,

With slow, still step, and lays his shadowy hand
Softly and reverently on their brow,

And they anew put on the robes of youth,

And meet the loved-long since accounted lost,
All radiant with celestial brightness,

And loving with the ever raptured joy
Of beatific spirits, as they welcome home
The "good and faithful servant" to his rest.
The place prepared by his approving Lord.

Tears drop, all gently, when the aged die,
For now their work is done, and they have long
Craved heavenly domicile. This world, for them,
Has nothing more: mortality, at best,

Is but a burden, a deep throe of pain;

On earth they labored, loved, yet suffered oft-
Now heavenly fruition comes.
We do not weep
As when the lovely spring-bud of life's hope
Lies cold upon its mother's heaving breast;
We do not mourn as when our summer joy
Is wither'd in the blooming; or as when
The fruits of autumn perish, immature.
It is as when the full ripe sheaf is borne,
All rich with treasure, to the granary;
And, therefore, they are blessed who attain
The reverend estate of winter's years.

An angel's voice proclaimed, "Blessed are the dead

Who die in Christ the Lord," for they rest-ay,

They rest! Yes, mourning friend! their toils have ceased:

The little one that withered in life's spring;
The beautiful who died in summer's bloom;
The strong who fell in autumn; and the old,
Who in gray winter went to their repose;
They rest secure above. And if we might,
Would we recall them!-when we too approach

The throne where, "crowned with light," for us they wait?

Oh, blessed be our God, for life, for death,

But most for Christ and immortality!

-The Household.

BROTHER H. M. LOOK.

WE have recently received a letter from our indefatigable Brother, H. M. Look, Grand Visitor and Lecturer, which says: "I am just recovering from six weeks' severe illness. * This

accounts for my not seeing you and for my not reaching the which I had placed upon the programme for a large portion of the summer. It has put me back, but I propose to catch up before the year closes, at whatever cost of effort. The Grand Overseers have set me a task, and I propose to perform it entirely, and to the best of my ability."

That Bro. Look will do all in his power to perform the labor laid upon him none will doubt who are at all acquainted with him. He is always found at the post of duty when able to perform labor, and his many friends throughout the State will certainly excuse him when ill health disqualifies him for the performance of duty.

We are glad to know that he is fast regaining his wonted good health, and to have the assurance of soon meeting him. He adds: "In due time I shall see you face to face, and rest assured that my warm personal regard is in no degree diminished. God bless you, and speed the MICHIGAN FREEMASON in every good word and work."

We hope to see Bro. Look in Kalamazoo at no distant day, and to have the pleasure of traveling with him part of the coming au

tumn.

AMONG THE LODGES.

BROTHER CHAPLIN,-After parting with you I made a brief call at Schoolcraft, located in a most beautiful country, and a thriving village. Finding your agent doing what he could for THE FREEMASON, I turned my course for the north. I stopped off at Plainwell, and was kindly received. I found the doing well, but I accomplished little in the way of obtaining subscribers. With the promise of something better when I should come again, I went on to the thriving village of Otsego. The located here is said to be working well.

I next called at Allegan. Found the Craft represented by the right kind of men, and the well officered and doing well. It here came to my knowledge that Bro. J. Billings, of The Mystic Star was working along the lake shore, or had recently

been. I concluded to go that way and see what could be done in behalf of our Home Journal, feeling that THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON had claims on the fraternity in Michigan that no outside journal has. So boarding the steamer plying between Allegan and Saugatuck, I found the trip a pleasant one, and at Saugatuck I was very kindly received by the Brothers, and soon procured a fine list of subscribers.

My next call was at Holland. Here, too, I was very kindly received. I stopped with Bro. J. Myers, of the City Hotel, which, by the way, is the best public house in Holland, and should any of our fraters chance to go to that city, they will find first-rate quarters with Brother Myers.

I next hailed the Craft at Grand Haven, but found most of the Brothers taking the Star; and as times were hard, they did not feel able to take two Masonic journals. After making all the effort I could in behalf of our home magazine, and obtaining a few names, I left for Spring Lake No. 234, where I found a host of warmhearted Brothers, who received me with much kindness and cheered me with their subscriptions. After getting a good list, I next went to Eastmanville, and visited Ottawa No. 122. Here I enjoyed the Masonic hospitality of Bro. Thomas Wellon and his excellent lady. May their shadows never be less! The W. M., Bro. H. S. Taft, called and spent the evening very pleasantly at Bro. Wellon's. I may certainly say of that, that it has the right man in the right place for Master.

I next visited Grand Rapids, the second city in the State for size and business. Here I soon formed the acquaintance of some whole-souled Brothers, who cheered me by quickly adding eighteen new subscribers to my list. My stay was quite too short, but my designs were already drawn, and I hastened on to White Hall. Here I was received with that true Masonic fervor which is so characteristic of the true Mason, by Brother B. C. Pierce, who has just come into possession, by purchase, of the Cosmopolitan House, which he keeps in good style. Bro. H. Harwood keeps the Harwood Hotel, in this place, and it, too, is well kept.

The is in Montague, just across the river, and is doing good work. Here I added fourteen names to my list, and hope the list will soon be doubled.

I next went to Pentwater, and found myself in excellent quarters under the protection of Bro. E. W. Elliot, of the Bryant House. Bro. E. knows just how to make his guests feel at home, and that.

too, without calling to his aid old King Alcohol. The in Pentwater is doing good work, and is in safe hands.

I next visited Pere Marquette. U. D. Bro. M. D. Ewell is the W. M. This is a young, but has been tried sorely by having its Hall burned. It now holds its meetings in the Odd Fellows' Hall, and is doing well. Here I procured eleven new subscribers, and left under many obligations to the Brethren, especially to Bro. Terrell, who keeps the hotel here.

Manistee was my next point. Here I was the guest of another Brother, D. Gross, of the Milwaukee House. Here I met with a generous response, and the desired twenty names were soon added to tha list of THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON. Here I found Masonry doing well in its various branches, so far as I was able to judge during my short stay. I wished it could have been longer, but I had to hurry on to Frankfort, which I found to be a very pretty, quiet little town, the county seat of Benzie county. This is the location of Crystal No. 270. It is thriving under the care of a live W. M. It is made up of good men. There is a paper printed in Benzonia, whose editor seems to think it his special duty to say all the hard things he can think of, or that he can copy from Messrs. Phinney & Co. Let him blow his quill whistle! What harm can he do us if we but live up to our high calling?

Yours very truly,

S. S. RASCO, Agent.

VAGRANCY.

We have often said in these pages, that Masonry has no affinity for vagrancy. It teaches the brotherhood to be industrious and selfreliant-to sow in seed-time, that they may reap in harvest. But it also teaches us to practice charity, and give to the worthy poor when through sickness or misfortune they are found needy of the necessaries of life. Now on account of the known charity of Craftsmen, there are many unworthy vagrants wandering up and down in the land without occupation, and asking alms from the fraternity. And we are sorry to say that among these are often to be found women, who present letters from their friends, or perchance forged papers, as the case may be, and in the name of Masonry ask for charity. This they most generally obtain, whether they are entitled to it or not. Most of the brethren say they would prefer to give to the unworthy rather than leave the worthy poor unalmsed, and most

of them have not the time to make an investigation into the merits of each case which presents itself. As a result, many unworthy, lazy, ill-famed men and women, who are entitled to no respect or sympathy, get funds, and often drive quite a paying business in the dollar and cent point of view.

Now we do not wish to dissuade our brethren from being charitable-far from it. But we do wish to have them investigate, and ́ not give to unworthy vagrants, who will not work for their living when able to do so, what is needed for the support of the virtuous poor whom we always have with us, who are too respectable and modest to beg from door to door. For our own part we have rarely found one of this class of beggars who was entitled to the smallest share of sympathy or aid.

We are glad to learn that our Brothers are already becoming more cautious. Bro. Green, of Three Rivers, recently had a call for Masonic charity by a wandering female who could not tell a straight story, who was perfectly horrified at the idea of his sending a telegram of inquiry! The Dowagiac Brethren, we understand, have recently had a call for Masonic aid, with like results. Your course is right, Brothers. Do not give your charities till you are convinced that the subjects on whom you confer them are worthy. While you treat strangers whom you know not, with all due courtesy, yet when they come begging Masonic aid, be sure that they are worthy. Nothing is more truly mortifying to a pure-minded, charitable person than to know that he has bestowed charities which he intended for the worthy poor on unworthy renegades.

THE MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD.

THE Michigan Central Railroad has fully completed their Air Line Division between Jackson and Niles, and now run the Atlantic and Pacific Express trains over that branch. But to compensate the people of Kalamazoo and other places between Niles and Jackson on the old line, the Kalamazoo Accommodation is now continued through to Jackson, and one of Pullman's magnificent sleeping cars is attached at this place, which connects with the Atlantic Express at Jackson, and goes on through Canada without change. This is all our people could ask of the Central, and is even more than was expected by most of us. We have all the accommodation going east we ever had, both as regards sleeping and connections.

And we cannot close without adding that in our extensive travel

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