Should debase himself in this high station;
That person so mean,
For such cursed gain,
Should be slain by the hand of a mason.
To all true and faithful Masons.
Where e'er aspiring domes arise,
Where e'er sacred altars stand;
Those altars blaze unto the skies,
Those domes proclaim the mason's hand...
His wardens just he doth intrust,..
His noble orders to set right.
Where-e'er he list, his deacons straight way run,
To the lodge well tyl'd and work begun..
Like Tyre's sons we then pursue
The noble science we profess,
Each mason to his calling true
Down to the lowest from the best.
Square, plum, and level we do all maintain,
Emblems of justice are and shall remain.
King Solomon, the great mason,
Honour unto the craft did raise;
The Tyrian prince and widow's son,
Let ev'ry brother jointly praise:
Drink to the memory of all the three,
And toast their names in glasses charg'd full high.
By brother John Cartwright of Cheadle in Lancashire. [Tune. Smile Britannia.]
Attend, attend the strains
Ye masons free, whilst I
To celebrate your fame,
Your virtues sound on high;
Accepted masons, free and bold,
Will never live the dupes to gold.
Great Solomon the king,
Great architect of fame;
Of whom all coasts did ring,
Rever'd a mason's naine:
Like him, accepted, free, and bold,
True wisdom we prefer to gold.
Since him the great and wise
Of every age and clime,
With fame that never dies,
Pursued the art sublime;
Inspir'd by heav'n, just and free,
Have honour'd much our mysteay.
IV.
The glorious paths of those,
With heav'u-born wisdom crown'd
We every day disclose,
And tread on sacred ground;
A mason, righteous, just and free,
Or else not worthy masonry.
XLIII. SONG.
By the foregoing Hand.
[Tune. The Bonny Broom.]
To masonry your voices raise,
Ye brethren of the craft;
To that, and our great master's praise,
Let bumpers now be quaff'd:
True friendship, love and concord join'd,
Possess a mason's heart;
Those virtues beautify the mind,
And still adorn the art.
Hail all hail, my brethren dear,
All hail to ye alway;
Regard the art, while ye have life,
Revere it every day.
Whilst thus in unity we join,
Our hearts still good and true
Inspired by the grace divine,
And no base ends in view:
We friendly meet, ourselves employ,
To improve the fruitful mind;
With blessings which can never cloy,
But dignify mankind.
Chor. Hail, all hail, &c.
No flinty hearts amongst us are,
We're generous and kind;
The needy man our fortune shares,
Ifhim we worthy find:
Our charity from East to West,
To each worthy object we
Diffuse, as is the great behest,
To every man that's free,
Chor. Hail, all hail, &c.
Thus bless'd and blessing well we know.
Our joys can never end
For long as vital spirits flow;
A mason finds a friend...
Then join your hearts and tongues with mine,
One glorious art to praise;
Discreetly take the generous wine,
Let reason rule your ways.
Chor. Hail, all hail, &c.
AN ODE BY THE SAME HAND.
RECITATIVE.
Bless'd be the day that gave to me
The secrets of free-masonry
In that alone m'ambition's plac'd,
In that alone let me be grac'd;
No greater titles let me bear,
Than what's pertaining to the square.
Tho' envious mortals vainly try,
On us to cast absurdity,
We laugh at all their spleen;
The level'd man, the upright heart,..
Shall still adorn our glorious art,
Nor mind their vile chagrin :
The ermin'd robe, the rev'rend crozier too,
Have prov'd us noble, honest, just, and true.
In vain then let prejudic'd mortals declare
Their hate of us masons, we're trully sincere;
If for that they despise us, their folly they prove,
For a mason's grand maxim is brotherly love;
But yet, after all, if they'd fain be thought wise,
Let them enter the lodge, and we'll open their eyes
See in the West our oblong's length,
The brave Corinthian pillar stands
The lodge's friend and greatest strength,
Rewarding crafts with liberal hands;
Sure this our lodge must lasting be,
Supported by these columns three.
As bees from flowers honey brings,
Sweet treasure to their master's store;
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