Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
ON FREEMASONRY . WHEN " Wisdom , Strength and Beauty" rais'd A temple to our Lord , Wherein his holy name was praised , And piously adored ; Our ancient Brethren closer drew Those cords of love divine , Which bound the hearts of Masons true , Since "light" began to shine .
Freemasonry hath since that time Her virtues widely spread-Through every land , through every clime , A moral light hath shed . To us in all their purify Her principles descend , In her we find security , In her a faithful friend .
As then , so now , " relief and truth " Are practised without art , And we each other ' s sorrow soothe , In singleness of heart ; And still do we most highly prize Each mystic word and sign , Given by Solomon the wise , To mark the art divine .
The "three great lights" of Masons still Their radiance shed around , To guide us to those truths , which will In Masonry be found . Our " Faith" by " Holy Volume" ruled , Our actions by " the square , " Unruly will by " compass" school'd , These symbols still we bear .
And still may " level and plumb-rule , " Their moral truths convey , May " Temperance" our passions cool , And "Prudence" guard our way ; May " Fortitude , " in danger ' s hour , Our sinking spirits nerve , May Masons , though possess'd of power , From " Justice" never swerve .
May "Faith"in God , and "Hope" in Him , With " Charity" to all , Still give to Masons power to win Those joys that cannot pall . On " Wisdom" may our Lodge he home , May " Strength' her walls uprear , Secure that " Beauty" will adorn , Whilst virtue ' s practised there . —M . M .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
ON FREEMASONRY . WHEN " Wisdom , Strength and Beauty" rais'd A temple to our Lord , Wherein his holy name was praised , And piously adored ; Our ancient Brethren closer drew Those cords of love divine , Which bound the hearts of Masons true , Since "light" began to shine .
Freemasonry hath since that time Her virtues widely spread-Through every land , through every clime , A moral light hath shed . To us in all their purify Her principles descend , In her we find security , In her a faithful friend .
As then , so now , " relief and truth " Are practised without art , And we each other ' s sorrow soothe , In singleness of heart ; And still do we most highly prize Each mystic word and sign , Given by Solomon the wise , To mark the art divine .
The "three great lights" of Masons still Their radiance shed around , To guide us to those truths , which will In Masonry be found . Our " Faith" by " Holy Volume" ruled , Our actions by " the square , " Unruly will by " compass" school'd , These symbols still we bear .
And still may " level and plumb-rule , " Their moral truths convey , May " Temperance" our passions cool , And "Prudence" guard our way ; May " Fortitude , " in danger ' s hour , Our sinking spirits nerve , May Masons , though possess'd of power , From " Justice" never swerve .
May "Faith"in God , and "Hope" in Him , With " Charity" to all , Still give to Masons power to win Those joys that cannot pall . On " Wisdom" may our Lodge he home , May " Strength' her walls uprear , Secure that " Beauty" will adorn , Whilst virtue ' s practised there . —M . M .