The Master's Apron. Robert Burns

Ther's mony a badge that's unco braw;
Wi' ribbon, lace and tape on;
Let kings an' princes wear them a'
Gie me the Master's apron!

The honest craftsman's apron,
The jolly Freemason's apron,
Be he at hame, or roam afar,
Before his touch fa's bolt and bar,
The gates of fortune fly ajar,
`Gin he but wears the apron!

For wealth and honor, pride and power
Are crumbling stanes to base on;
Fraternity suld rule the hour,
And ilka worthy Mason!
Each Free Accepted Mason,
Each Ancient Crafted Mason.

Then, brithers, let a halesome sang
Arise your friendly ranks alang!
Guidwives and bairnies blithely sing
To the ancient badge wi' the apron string
That is wom by the Master Mason!

Last Night I Knelt Where Hiram Knelt

Last night I knelt where Hiram knelt
And took an Obligation.
Today I'm closer to my God
And I'm a Master Mason.

Tho' heretofore my fellow men
Seemed each one like the other,
Today I search each one apart'
"I'm looking for my Brother."

And, as I feel his friendly grip,
It fills my heart with pride;
I know that while i'm on the square,
That he is on my side.

His footsteps on my errand go
If I should such require;
His prayers will plead on my behalf
If I should so desire

My words are safe within his breast
As though within my own;
His hand forever at my back
To help me safely home.

Good counsel whispers in my ear
And warns of any danger;
By Square and Compass, Brother now!
Who once would call me stranger.

I might have lived a moral life
And risen to distinctions
Without my Brother's helping hand
And fellowship of Masons.

But God, who knows how hard it is
To resist life's temptations,
Knows why I knelt where Hiram knelt
And took that Obligation.

One Lodge: By Bro, Tommie Closson

Grandfather's lodge is gone now,
the charter pulled down from the wall.
The mortar has found some new purpose,
the Master's within a new hall.

To most it's a joyful occassion,
a merger of Brothers and friends.
But the number that made him a Mason
has scattered to history's winds.

What if my lodge should pass from existence?
I'll see with the passing of time,
If my son joins the order as I did,
Will he kiss the same bible as I?

With so much left to do for our neighbors,
and a trestle board full of to do's,
I must say that it's terribly petty
to argue the price of my dues.

Beside my lodge altar a flag flies,
of a place where a person can go,
to freely help Brothers and neighbors
in the length of his cable tow.

So Brothers, let's work for tomorrow,
and read from a braver man's tome,
May fraternity e'er be our focus,
No matter what lodge we call home.

John Godfrey Saxe:

The Blind Men and the Elephant
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
 
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!


Moral: So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, rail on in utter ignorance of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant, not one
of them has seen!

Brothers All!: Silas H. Shepherd

In the Lodge we meet the fellows,
Who, in other walks of life,
We would seldom ever contact,
And then perhaps in strife.
They are men of every leaning
Whom we good and honest call,
And the splendid thing about it
Is, that we are Brothers All.

They are men of every station;
Some are rich and some are poor;
But they all are full of friendship
And of service have a store.
We may differ in our methods,
But our objects we recall
And it binds us in a labor
And it makes us Brothers All.

They are men of truth and honor
Trusting always in the right;
Seeking always further light.
What a power for perfect justice!
How can failure e'er befall
Such a firmly founded body--
For the Lodge makes Brothers All?

Making Friends:-----Bro. Edgar A. Guest

If no one smiled and no one cheered
And no one helped us along,
If each every moment took care of itself
And good things went to the strong,
If nobody cared just a little for you
And nobody thought about me,
And we stood alone in the battle of life,
What a dreary old world it would be.
Life is sweet just because of the
friends we have made
And things in common which we share.
We want to live on, not because of ourselves,
But because of the people who care.
Its giving and doing for somebody else-
On that all life's splendor depends
And the joy of this world, when you've
summed it all up,
Is found in the making of friends.

The Selkirk Grace,; Robbie Burns.

Some hae meat and canna eat,
and some wad eat that want it
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.

Masonic Song 1786, Robert Burns.

Ye sons of old Killie, assembled by Willie,
To follow the noble vocation;
Your thrifty old mother has scarce such another
To sit in that honoured station.
I've little to say, but only to pray,
As praying's the ton of your fashion;
A prayer from thee Muse you well may excuse
'Tis seldom her favourite passion.

Ye powers who preside o'er the wind, and the tide,
Who marked each element's border;
Who formed this frame with beneficent aim,
Whose sovereign statute is order:-
Within this dear mansion, may wayward Contention
Or withered Envy ne'er enter;
May secrecy round be the mystical bound,
And brotherly Love be the centre!

Brotherly Love

If you see a brother slipping
When hard luck has come his way;
Do your best to help him,
Think of some kind word to say.

If someone asks about him,
In a casual, off-hand way;
There's lots of good things
you remember;
Then say the best that you can say.

Hand to back? Yes, you remember,
Keep that warm spot in your heart,
Now is when he needs your kindness;
Help him get an upward start.

When he tells you of his troubles,
Be a brother, staunch and true.
Do to him as you would have him
In like situation, do to you.

These are just a few suggestions,
We may all keep well in mind,
Should we find a brother slipping
Let's be patient, loving, kind.
 
  

        Honor Masonry

IF Providence your lot hath blest,
In peace and affluence to rest,
Let not your mind contracted be,
Nor scorn the abodes of poverty.

When you behold in abject state,
A brother crushed by fortune's fate,
Lend him your aid, his wants to free,
And you shall honor Masonry.

When o'er the list of human woes,
You find the tear of grief overflows,
The widow's moan, the orphan's sigh,
Your help shall honor Masonry.

Where discord reigns with direful sway,
The balm of reasoning there display;
Show to the world a conscience free,
And you shall honor Masonry.

Your time shall pass serenely on -
While conscience dictates, right is done:
Your hoary locks shall honored be,
If you've regarded Masonry.

When life's tempestuous scenes are o'er,
And nature's calls require no more,
In heaven you'll take your last degree,
If you have honored Masonry

A Man's Masonic Measure: By J.V. Perry

A good man's worth is not measured
In wealth, jewels or clothes,
But by his deeds his worth is measured
By his Brothers, friends and foes.

A good man's worth is measured
By his truth and integrity,
His thoughtfulness and caring
And his steadfast loyalty.

He never makes a promise
That he would never keep,
For in his breast beats a heart
That is noble, true and deep.

He reaches out his helping hand
To the sick, poor and needy,
Never watching who may see him
Giving help to the needy.

His reward is in the feeling
That he's done something good,
By helping out his fellow man
As every Mason should.

He will be judged on judgment day,
by the one who see it all,
His true reward will come to him
When he answers that final call

A Man's A Man For A' That, Robert Burns.

Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

Charity 1925

Let me be a little kinder;
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more.

Let me be, when I am weary,
Just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little better
Those I am striving for.

Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder
To all I should be.

Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder
To all I should be.

Grace;

May we O Lord Adopt Thy creed
Adapt our ways to serve thy need
And we who on Thy bounty feed
Improve in thought, in word and deed

Just a little lodge-room,
But a mighty force for good;
With its loyal band of members
Learning more of brotherhood;
Striving, stumbling, but progressing
Down a pathway toward the right;
Just a humble bunch of plain folks,
Reaching, seeking for the light.

 

Just a quiet little lodge room,
How it stirs the heart and soul
With the thrill of great endeavor
Toward a high and common goal;
With each pledge of faith and courage
To maintain the forward fight,
On the road that leads them onward
Even onward to the light.

 

Just a little Lodge Room; George Staff

Brotherhood: Andy Mural.

Should the chances of life ever tempt me to roam,
In a Lodge of Freemasons I'll still find a home ;
There the sweet smile of friendship
still welcomes each guest,
And brotherly love gives that welcome a zest.

When I'm absent from Lodge,
pleasure tempts me in vain,
As I sigh for the moments of meeting again ;
For friendship and harmony truly are there,
When we meet on the level and act on the square.

There the soul-binding union surely is known,
Which united both the peasant and prince on the throne
There the rich and the poor on the level do meet,
And as Brothers each other most cordially greet.

On the quicksands of life should a Brother be thrown,
It is then that the friendship of Brethren is known ;

For the heart points the hand, his distress to remove;
Our motto is " Kindness and Brotherly Love ".

When the Master of all, in His far-seeing love,
Shall issue His call to the Grand Lodge above ;
May each Brother be found, prince, peasant, or lord,
To be duly prepared to receive his reward.

The Farewell To the Brethren of St.
James' Lodge,Tarbolton Robert Burns.

Adieu! a heart-warm fond adieu;
Dear brothers of the mystic tie!
Ye favoured, enlighten'd few,
Companions of my social joy;

Tho' I to foreign lands must hie,
Pursuing Fortune's slidd'ry ba';
With melting heart, and brimful eye,
I'll mind you still, tho' far awa.

Oft have I met your social band,
And spent the cheerful, festive night;
Oft, honour'd with supreme command,
Presided o'er the sons of light:

And by that hieroglyphic bright,
Which none but Craftsmen ever saw
Strong Mem'ry on my heart shall write
Those happy scenes, when far awa.

May Freedom, Harmony, and Love,
Unite you in the grand Design,
Beneath th' Omniscient Eye above,


The glorious Architect Divine,
That you may keep th' unerring line,
Still rising by the plummet's law,
Till Order bright completely shine,
Shall be my pray'r when far awa.

And you, farewell! whose merits claim
Justly that highest badge to wear:
Heav'n bless your honour'd noble name,
To Masonry and Scotia dear!
A last request permit me here, -
When yearly ye assemble a',
One round, I ask it with a tear,
To him, the Bard that's far awa.



 

The Temple. Rudyard Kipling.

When I was a King and a Mason,
a Master Proven and skilled,
I cleared me ground for a Palace,
such as a King should build.

I decreed and dug down to my levels;
presently, under the silt,
I came on the wreck of a Palace,
such as a King had built.

There was no worth in the fashion;
there was no wit in the plan;
Hither and thither, aimless,
the ruined footings ran.

Masonry, brute, mishandled,
but carven on every stone,
"After me cometh a Builder;

tell him I, too, have known."

Swift to my use in my trenches,
where my well-planned ground works grew,
I tumbled his quoins and his ashlars,
and cut and rest them anew.

Lime I milled of his marbles;
burned it, slaked it, and spread;
Taking and leaving at pleasure,
the gifts of the humble dead.

Yet I despised not nor gloried, yet,
as we wrenched them apart,
I read in the razed foundation
the heart of that Builder's heart.

As he has risen and pleaded,
so did I understand,
The form of the dream he had followed,
in the face of the thing he had planned.

When I was a King and a Mason,
in the open noon of my pride,
They sent me a Word from the Darkness;
they whispered and called me aside.

They said, "The end is forbidden."
They said, "Thy use is fulfilled.
Thy Palace shall stand as that other's,
the spoil of a King who shall build."

I called my men from my trenches,
my quarries, my wharves, and my sheers;
All I had wrought I abandoned,
to the faith of the faithless years.

Only I cut on the timber;
only I carved on the stone:
"After me cometh a Builder;
tell him I, too, have known."

Brotherly Love

Grace 1

Grace 2

Honor Masonry

The Blind Men

Farewell (R, Burns)

Masters Apron

Brothers All

Charity

A Man's a Man

Last night I knelt

Masonic Song

One Lodge

The Temple

Making Friends

Masonic Measure

Quick Links.