Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn

iv INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
peared in deep mourning. The lodge was opened by Sir Wil-
liam Forbes, Baronet, the prefent Grand Mailer Mafon of Scot-
land, with a funeral oration. After which the Refurreclion
hymn, the Hallelujah, and other felect pieces of folemn vocal
mufic, were performed, with great tafte and execution, by gen-
tlemen, brethren of the order. The whole ceremony was con-
dueled with a degree of folemnity and propriety highly fuitable
to the occaflon, and which exhibited, in a very ftriking point
of view, the true fpirit and principles of Mafonry."
The following lines, compofed for the occafion, were lung to
the tune of Rosslyn Castle : —
Frail man, how like the meteor's blaze !
How evanefcent are thy days !
Protra&ed to its longeft date,
How fhort the time indulg'd by Fate !
Nor force Death's potent arm can brave,
Nor Wifdom's felf elude the grave.
Where e'er our various journies tend,
To this we foon or late defcend.
Thither from mortal eyes retired,
Though oft beheld and ftill admired,
St. Clair to duft its claim refigns,
And in fublimer regions fhines.
Let us, whom ties fraternal bind,
Beyond the reft of human kind,
Like St. Clair live, like St. Clair die,
Then join the Eternal Lodge on high. *
* Scots Magazine, February 1778-