Daily Mason

Masonic Poetry – Bro. Bob Webber

A Prayer for Remembrance Day – November 11
By Bro. Bob Webber
Millenium Lodge # 2000

Brothers, We Remember

Every year we think of those who fell for us to live.
We know not names or faces, only what they had to give.
They all laid down their lives for us, strangers from the past
Their sacrifices changed the world and will forever last.

Many would be brothers from a host of different parts
Strangers to each other, but fraternal in their hearts.
They fought for what was righteous, their absolute belief
Then gave their lives for us to live, the ultimate Relief.

Let not their sacrifice go unmarked; remember every year
That these brave men enabled us to have what we hold dear.
May they all be with the Mighty High, there in Heaven above.
They showed the real Truth of living life with Brotherly Love.

So Mote It Be

Masonic Poetry – Anonymous

THE MASTER DEGREE
THE TRAVEL

Life’s brief moments, swiftly flying,
Speed us near and nearer Death;
Earth and Time are quickly dying,
Passing like a vapour breath.

Earth and all its passions perish,
Time and all its duties cease;
Wealth and power, that mankind cherish,
Bring us here no joy and peace.

Swift, swifter still, at every breath,
Near, and more near, steals silent Death;
Help! help us now, 0 Then Most High!
In this dread hour of mystery.

Masonic Poetry – Anonymous

FELLOWCRAFT DEGREE
THE TRAVEL

Onward moves the whole Creation,
Working out tile eternal plan;
Sun and planet, stream and ocean,
Flower and forest, beast and man,
Never resting, ever going
Forward on their destined way;
Spring to Summer-glory growing,
Morn merging into Day.

Forward, Brother, then be going,
To the might of manhood move;
And thy going be ‘t in growing,
And thy growing be ‘t in love.

Masonic Poetry – Br. Cummings

“LET THERE BE LIGHT!”.
From The Voice of Masonry, 1894

Brother, kneel before the altar,
In silence grave.
Show no weakness. Do not falter
Like cowan knave.
Honest brethren stand around you,
With heart and hand,
Ready to encourage, aid you,
A noble hand.
Here you need not fear deception-­
All are true—
Every brother here assembled
Knelt like you.
With throbbing hearts they silent listen
To your voice,
As you tell in earnest whisper,
Your free choice.
Gently loose the new made brother
From his cord,
He is bound by stronger fetters,
On GOD’S Word.
Hearken to the Master’s language:
” Pray for Light,”
Responsive voices chant the echo:
” Let there be Light.”
Welcome, brother, to our household,
You are Free;
May it ever prove a blessing
Unto thee,

Masonic Poetry – Br. David Barker

TRY THE SQUARE
(From Brotherhood, New York City, May, 1916)

Is a Brother off the track?
Try the Square;
Try it well on every side.
Nothing draws a craftsman back
Like the Square when well applied.
Try the Square.

Is he crooked, is he frail?
Try the Square.
Try it early, try it late;
When all other efforts fail,
Try the Square to make him straight
­ Try the Square.

Does he still persist in wrong?
Try the Square.
Loves he darkness more than light?
Try it thorough, try it long.
Try the Square to make him right
­ Try the Square.

Fails the Square to bring him in?
Try the Square.
Be not sparing of the pains;
While there’s any work to do,
While a crook or knot remains
­ Try the Square.

Masonic Poetry – Br. Wilbur D. Nesbit

I SAT IN LODGE WITH YOU

There is a saying filled with cheer,
Which calls a man to fellowship.
It means as much for him to hear
As lies within the brotber-grip.
Nay, more! It opens wide the way
To friendliness sincere and true;
There are no strangers when you say
To me: “I sat in lodge with you.”

When that is said, then I am known;
There is not questioning or doubt;
I need not walk my path alone
Nor from my fellows be shut out.
Those words hold all of brotherhood
And help me face the world anew–
something deep and rich and good
In this: “I sat in lodge with you:’

Though in far lands one needs must roam
By sea and shore and hill and plain,
Those words bring him a touch of home
And lighten tasks that seem in vain.
Men’s faces are no longer strange
But seem as he always knew
When some one rings the joyous change
With his: “I sat in lodge with you.”

So you, my brother, now and then
Have often put me in your debt
By showing forth to other men
That you your friends do lot forget.
When all the world seems gray and cold
And I am weary, worn and blue,
Then comes this golden thought I hold-
You said-. “I sat in lodge with you.”

When to the last great lodge you fare
My prayer is that I may be
One of your friends wh 0 wait you there,
Intent your smiling face to see.
We, with the warder at the gate,
Will have a pleasant task to do;
We’ll call, though you come soon or late:
” Come in! We sat in lodge with you!”

Masonic Poetry – Br. Rob Morris

THE MASON’S PLEDGE

Brother, harken, while I tell you
What we Masons pledged to do,
When, prepared at yonder altar,
We assumed the Mason’s vow!
Foot and knee, breast, hand and cheek–
while I make
them speak!

Foot to foot, on mercy’s errand,
When we hear a brother’s cry,
Hungry, thirsty, barefoot, naked,
With God’s mercy let us fly.
This of all our thoughts the chief,
How to give him quick relief.
Knee to knee, in earnest praying,
None but God to hear Or heed
All our woes and sins confessing,
Let us for each other plead;
By the spirit of our call,
Let us pray for brothers all.
Breast to breast, in sacred carket,
At life’s center let us seal
Every truth to us entrusted,
Nor one holy thing reveal!
What a Mason vows to shield,
Let him die, but never yield.

Hand to back, a brother’s falling,
Look, his burdens are too
Stretch the generous hand an(] hold him
Up before it is too late.
The right arm’s a friendly prop,
Made to hold a brother up,
Cheek to check, in timely whisper
When the tempter strives to win,
Urge the brother’s bounden duty,
Show him the approaching sin,
Point to him the deadly snare,
Save him with a brother’s care.

Brother, let us often ponder
What we Masons pledged to do,
When, prepared at yonder altar,
We assumed the Mason’s vow;
Foot and knee, breast, hand and check,
Let these oft our duties speak.

Masonic Poetry – Bro. Neil Neddermeyer

THE OLD MASTER’S WAGES

by Neil Neddermeyer
(News Letter Grand Lodge of Texas in 1979)

I MET A DEAR OLD MAN TODAY
WHO WORE A MASONIC PIN.

IT WAS OLD AND FADED, LIKE THE MAN
ITS EDGES WERE WORN QUITE THIN.

I APPROACHED THE PARK BENCH WHERE HE SAT,
TO GIVE THE OLD BROTHER HIS DO.

I SAID, “I SEE YOU’VE TRAVELED EAST HE SAID,
” I HAVE, HAVE YOU?”

I SAID, I HAVE, AND IN MY DAY BEFORE THE ALL SEEING SUN,
I PLAYED IN THE RUBBLE WITH JUBALA, JUBALO AND JUBALUM.

HE SHOUTED, “DON’T LAUGH AT THE WORK MY SON IT’S GOOD AND SWEET AND TRUE.” AND IF YOU’VE TRAVELED AS YOU SAID YOU SHOULD GIVE THESE THINGS THEIR DUE.

THE WORD, THE SIGN, THE TOKEN, THE SWEET MASONIC PRAYER.
THE VOW THAT ALL HAVE TAKEN WHO HAVE CLIMBED THE INNER STAIR.

THE WAGES OF A MASON ARE NEVER PAID IN GOLD,
BUT THE GAIN COMES FROM CONTENTMENT WHEN YOU’RE WEAK AND GROWING OLD.

YOU SEE I’VE CARRIED MY OBLIGATIONS FOR ALMOST FIFTY YEARS,
IT HAS HELPED ME THROUGH THE HARDSHIPS AND THE FAILURES FULL OF TEARS.

NOW I’M LOSING MY MIND AND MY BODY DEATH IS NEAR,
BUT I DON’T DESPAIR; I’VE LIVED MY LIFE UPON THE LEVEL,
AND I’M DYING ON THE SQUARE.

SOMETIMES, THE GREATEST LESSONS ARE THOSE THAT ARE LEARNED ANEW, AND THE OLD MAN IN THE PARK TODAY HAS CHANGED MY POINT OF VIEW.

TO ALL MASONIC BROTHERS; THE ONLY SECRET IS TO CARE.
MAY YOU LIVE UPON THE LEVEL.
MAY YOU PART UPON THE SQUARE.

Masonic Poetry – Bro. Thomas Devore

CALL ME BROTHER

SOME FOLKS MAY CALL YOU PAUL OR CLIFF,
OR JAMES OR CHRIS OR JOHN,
SOME FOLKS MAY CALL YOU DAVE OR CHARLES,
OR TIM OR PAT OR TOM.

AND SURELY THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE,
THE NAMES THAT THEY MIGHT CALL,
I´VE NOT THE SPACE, NOR THE TIME,
TO WRITE THEM ONE AND ALL.

BUT THERES A NAME THAT I AM SURE,
WILL FIT YOU BIG OR SMALL,
A NAME THAT WILL CATCH YOUR EAR,
THE MINUTE THAT I CALL.

BROTHER IS THE NAME I MEAN,
BROTHER FOR YOU ALL,
BROTHER FOR THE SHORT GUYS,
BROTHER FOR THE TALL.

CAUSE I WAS NEVER GOOD WITH NAMES,
I GUESS I´LL NEVER BE,
SO I´LL JUST CALL YOU BROTHER,
THAT SEEMS THE BEST TO ME.

AND YOU MAY CALL ME BROTHER TOO,
THE NAME SEEMS HEAVEN SENT,
IN FACT YOU CALLED ME BROTHER,
BEFORE I KNEW WHAT “BROTHER” MEANT.

SO IF YOU NEED ME ANYTIME,
YES ANYTIME AT ALL,
I´M WAITING AND I´M LISTENING,
IF MY BROTHER COMES TO CALL.

CALL ME EARLY IN THE MORNING,
OR CALL ME AT HIGH NOON,
OR CALL ME IN THE NIGHTTIME,
BY THE LIGHT UPON THE MOON.

AND SHOULD A BROTHER COME TO CALL,
NO DANGER I WILL HEED,
I MUST HURRY TO MY BROTHER,
WITH QUICKNESS AND WITH SPEED.

SO IF YOU EVER HAVE A TROUBLE,
SHOULD YOU EVER BE IN FEAR,
THEN JUST CALL UPON ME BROTHER,
IF YOU NEED ME, I AM HERE.

CALL ME BROTHER, WHEN YOU WORRY,
CALL ME BROTHER, WHEN IN NEED,
CALL ME BROTHER, SHOULD YOU STUMBLE,
YOU MAY FOLLOW, I WILL LEAD.

CALL ME BROTHER, WHEN IN SICKNESS,
CALL ME BROTHER, WHEN YOUR MAD,
OR YOU MAY CALL ME BROTHER,
WHEN YOUR HAPPY, WHEN YOUR GLAD.

CALL ME BROTHER, WHEN YOUR LONELY,
CALL ME BROTHER, WHEN YOUR DOWN,
LET ME CHEER YOU AND DELIGHT YOU,
MAKE A SMILE OUT OF A FROWN.
” CALL ME BROTHER” ,THATS THE MESSAGE,
I´M TRYING TO GET THROUGH,
CAUSE IT´S GREAT TO HAVE A BROTHER,
A BROTHER, JUST LIKE YOU !!!!!

Masonic Poetry – Br. Uwe Riches

THE FESTIVE BOARD

Our meeting over, the lodge closed tyled the Tyler relaxes.
Our Labour thus done,
At the Festive Board we assemble,
To partake of refreshments, with toasts, laughter and fun.

At the head of the table the Master presides,
While the brother’s grin from ear to ear,
As the time has come for that first cold beer

Quickly our orders are placed,
Because of the need for haste,
For one down the hatch before formalities begin
And the pangs of hunger set in.

The meal arrives and toasts are proposed,
Midst the persistent murmur and metallic clang
Of the working tools at the Festive Board.
Brother Steward moves from table to table,
Serving another beer or another wine, its fellowship time.

When the jokes begin to sound fine
And senior brethren are in the firing line,
Alas, alas our fun has been had,
As disperse we must, then of to bed.

Together we drink the Tyler’s toast,
To our absent brethren wherever they are,
until we meet again at our next Festive Board,
With its toasts, its laughter and jokes