1855.] 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



383 



generally suffices to put at rest all idea of their use otherwise 

 than at the social board. It would be easy to multiply exam- 

 ples, did not I fear that I have already encroached too long on 

 your patience, in this antiquarian ramble suggested by our 

 Canadian maple leaf. The collegiate treasuries of Oxford still 

 boast several costly Mazers, which have escaped the destruc- 

 tion of the great civil war ; and Pembroke College, Cambridge, 

 possesses a beautiful example, silver gilt and with this jovial 

 couplet engraved round the bowl. 



'• Sayne Denis yt es me dere, 



For lie's lof drink and male gud cher." 



On the stem, also, is the pious invocation : " God help at 

 need;" which yet, in company with that round the bowl, pre- 

 cludes all idea of its use for the altar. Let me, however, 

 rather close this notice of the majsle bowl, with the description 

 of one of the 17th century now in the collection of an old 

 friend, Mr. "W. Johnston of Edinburgh. It is made of maple, 

 curiously carved with animals, trees, and flowers : the unicorn, 

 the stag, the hedgehog, and an ostrich regaling itself with a 

 horse-shoe ; while the unoccupied surface is copiously inscribed 

 with pious aphorisms in prose and verse. Piound the rim of 

 the stand are the words and date : — 



" They that seeke after the Lord shall prayse him, their harts shall 

 live forever. 1611." 



On the bowl of the cup is the inscription : — 



" The fountayne of all health and wealth and joyes 



To thirsty soules, he giveth drink indeed ; 

 Such as turne to him from their evill wayes 



Shall finde sound comfort in their greatest neede. 

 But evill workers that in sinne remaine 

 They are ordayned to eternall payne. 

 " For every one of us shall be rewarded according to oui' workes, 

 therefore repent unfaynedly and amend." 



But the most characteristic part of the inscription lurks 

 modestly on the underside of the stand, where the Mazer thus 

 takes up the hortatory strain \n propria j^ersona : — 



" Missuse me not although I am no plate ; 

 A Maple. Cupp that is not out of date ; 

 Drinke well and welcome, but be not too free ; 

 E.xamine whether that in Christ you be ; 

 If that your faithe be true, and firm, and sound. 

 Then in all good workes you will still abound. 

 So run that ye may obtayne." 



One can scarcely avoid fancying there was a little quiet 

 humour lurking in the mind of the carver, when he inscribed 

 these latter excellent and very practical maxims on the under 

 side of the stand, where it was only possible to peruse them 

 when the cup was emptied; as doubtless it has often been by 

 the Cavaliers of the Commonwealth, and the jolly roysterers of 

 the Restoration. Out of just such a piously inscribed Mazer- 

 bowl one can fancy the gossiping, moralising, but woefully 

 temptible old diarist, Mr. Secretary Pepys, drinking his Christ- 

 mas wassail-draft of ale and apples, " which made all merij." 



But the Mazer has had its memory revived in the modern 

 poet's page. It is one interesting result of the curious alliance 

 effected between the antiquary and the muses, by Sir Walter 

 Scott, — who loved, even when, as in his " Antiquary," he 

 laughed at such old world pursuits, — that while no later Eng- 

 lish poet than Dryden refers to the jMazcr cup, it figures once 

 more in the Scottish poem : the "Lord of the Isles;" and with 

 this, the latest allusion to the ancient was.sail bowl constructed 

 of the maple tree, or associated with its name and use, I shall 

 close these desultoiy illustrations of the Canadian and English 

 maple. Founding his allusions on the notice of the four 



Mazers of King Robert the Bruce among the treasures of 

 James III. that King is thus introduced as celebrating the 

 recovery of his father's halls : — 



" Bring here, he said, the Mazers four 

 My noble fathers loved of yore. 

 Thrice let them circle round the board. 

 The pledge fair Scotland's rights restored ! 

 And he whose lips shall touch the wine 

 AVithout a vow as true as mine. 

 To hold both lands and life at nought 

 Until her freedom shall be bought, — 

 Be brand of a disloyal Scot, 

 And lasting infamy his lot." 



CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



CouncU Meeting— September 31sf, 185S. 



The subject of a new series of the Journal was discussed, and the 

 following programme adopted: — 



CanatUau Jotuiial— New Series. 



1. The Journal to be published in octavo form, each alternate 

 month, beginning with January, 1856. 



2. All original Communications to be inserted first, under this or 

 some similar general heading, and whether long or short, to have in- 

 variably the name or initials of the Author. 



3. Original Reviews to form the Second Division in each number, 

 and Reports of the Meetings of the Institute and other Societies, the 

 Third Division. 



4. All matter derived from published sources, to be printed in small 

 type, and form a distinct division, or appendLx, under the title of 

 " Scientific and Literary Excerpts," or some other similar heading. 



5. The conduct of the Journal to be entrusted to an Editing Com- 

 mittee, to be annually nominated by the Council from the general body 

 of the Members of the Institution, at their last meeting in April. 



G. The Council to elect one of their Editing Committee as Convener, 

 who shall perform the duties of General Editor in the conduct of the 

 Journal, receiving and transmitting communications and works for 

 reviews to the members of the Committee, to whom their subjects 

 pertain ; and exercising the general oversight requisite for the suc- 

 cessful issue of a periodical publication. 



7. The Convener to summon the Committee, ouco nt least in tho 

 interval between the publication of each number, to deliberate on the 

 contents of the succeeding number. 



8. To be incumbent on each Member of the Editing Committee, to 

 endeavour to obtain original communications of interest and value in 

 his own department, in addition to his own personal contributions. 



