Wallace Bruce
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There is nothing particularly Masonic about this poem, but it is the only complete poem by this author that we've been able to locate.
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The following prologue is condensed from the guide-book Bruce wrote, The Hudson. The final bit of verse is no doubt only a portion of his full ode on this occasion.
okl.
The Centennial of the Disbanding of the Army was observed October 18th, 1883. After the noonday procession of 10,000 men in line, three miles in length, with Governors and representative people from almost every State, 150,000 people, "ten acres" square, gathered in the historic grounds [of Washington's Headquarters on the Hudson]. Senator Mayard, of Delaware, was chairman of the day. Hon. William M. Evarts was the orator, and modestly speaking in the third person, Wallace Bruce, author of this hand-book, was the poet. The old heroes seemed to pass again in review before us, and the daily life of that heroic band...
It was at this place, on the 22d day of May, 1782, that Col. Nicola, on behalf of himself and others, proposed that Washington should become King, for the "national advantage," a proposal that was received by Washington with "surprise and astonishment," "viewed with abhorrence," and "reprehended with severity." The temptation which was thus repelled by Washington, had its origin with that portion of the officers of the army who, while giving their aid heartily to secure an independent government, nevertheless believed that that government should be a monarchy. The rejection of the proposition by Washington was not the only significant result. The rank and file of the army rose up against it, and around their camp-fires chanted their purpose in Billings' song, "No King but God!" From that hour a Republic became the only possible form of government for the enfranchised Colonies.
The inattention of Congress to the payment of the army gave rise to another important episode in the history of the war. On the 10th of March, 1783, the first of the famous "Newburgh Letters" was issued, in which, by implication at least, the army was advised to revolt. The letter was followed by an anonymous manuscript notice for a public meeting of officers on the succeeding Tuesday. Washington was equal to the emergency. He expressed his disapprobation of the whole proceeding, and with great wisdom, requested the field officers, with one commissioned officer from each company, to meet on the Saturday preceding the time appointed by the anonymous notice. He attended this meeting and delivered before it one of the most touching and effective addresses on record. When he closed his remarks, the officers unanimously resolved "to reject with disdain" the infamous proposition contained in the anonymous address.
...when Congress sat inactive and careless of its needs until the camp rose in mutiny, happily checked, however, by Washington in a single sentence. It will be remembered that he began to read his manuscript without glasses, but was compelled to stop, and, as he adjusted them to his eyes, he said, "You see, gentlemen, that I have not only grown gray, but blind, in your service." It is needless to say that the "anonymously called" meeting was not held.
We have only a fragment of this poem, the first few lines. In coming years we hope to locate it all.
okl.
Wallace Bruce was Poet Laureate of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge #2 (Edinburgh, Scotland) in 1890. Bruce lived in Brooklyn, New York, and wrote a photographic travel guide, The Hudson, first published in 1981, and reissued by him in 1901. His appointment as Poet Laureate of a Scottish Lodge is not so strange, since the first Laureate, Robbie Burns, seems to have visited the Lodge only on one or two occasions, and another Laureate, Englishman Rudyard Kipling, only visited Scotland and the Lodge once (if even then) to accept his award of the honor.
Published books by Wallace Bruce (as of 1900) were Wayside Poems, in 1895 (165 pages, by Harper & Brothers.) Old Homestead Poems (published by Harper & Brothers.), In Clover And Heather (published by Blackwood & Son, Edinburgh and London). The Hudson is his only book to have made it on to the Internet, with only a few isolated verses scattered through the travelogue. The one complete poem above was reprinted in An American Anthology, 1787-1900 Although living in New York, heart of the publishing industry, Bruce was a book reviewer for the Chicago Times from at least 1897, until at least 1900 when An American Anthology was published.