POETRY

 

 

 

THE LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE,
THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH,
AND THE LITTLE BLUE LODGE

In the little community
Where I grew as a lad,
I learned many important lessons
As I followed my Grand-dad

To the little red school house
We would walk all the way,
Leaving early in the morning
Before the break of day.

To the little white church on Sunday
Our family always went,
Listening to the gospel,
That was Heaven sent.

Grand-dad would go to the little Blue Lodge
On a moon lit night,
Even in the winter snow;
To meet with Brethren was his delight.

My Grand-dad wore an apron.
He brought it home one night,
He got it from the little Blue Lodge
It was square and it was white.

To him it was a badge of sorts
The lambskin white and pure,
He wore it with much pleasure
And honor to be sure.

Many years had come and gone
And I reached age twenty one,
I knocked on the little Blue Lodge door
As my Grand-dad had done.

Meeting on the level
And parting on the square,
Enjoying great fellowship
With all the Brothers there.

There are many lessons to be learnedAs we travel the pathway of life,
But none are more important
Than those that shed more light.

The School, the Church and the little Blue Lodge
All have their place on stage,
While striving for perfection
Until the Master shall turn the page.

Author unknown

 

COME ON IN

I joined the Masons their secrets to seek
My nose got the better of me and I had to have a peek
I knew someone who was" high up" a Past Master was he
I asked him "Could I join?" all he said was, "Well, I'll see."

A few weeks later, while enjoying a drink he handed me a form
"Read this first then fill it in." Apparently this is the norm.
He answered all my questions then told me about the entrance fee.
Then he said, "There's someone else here that you also need to see."

Then from behind there came a voice "So you want to join the Craft"
I swung around and saw my old mate, suddenly I felt quite daft
"I've been a Mason for many a year, I always thought you knew
Now I'll second your proposal because I think you can become one too."

As time went past my degrees I gained and a lot of things I learned
Each Degree had questions, never easy, each one had to be earned.
Lot's of help along the way was given without a thought
My problem was trying to remember all that I had been taught

Ever since that first step I've been a different man
I've tried to be a better person where and whenever I can.
The lessons that I learned in each different Degree
Are imprinted in my mind and will always be of great importance to me.

A lot of years have now passed; I've even been through the chair
I've joined some other orders and made even more friends there.
My face is more wrinkled and my hair has gone quite thin.
But I'll always be a Mason and encourage others to Come Join In.

Kenny Lawtie PM Lodge Gordons 589

 

 

TO KEITH

On this day fifty years ago, a candidate wearing a cable tow,
Entered the lodge room cautious and slow.
Strangely attired in darkness he trod, with left knee made bare and one foot slipshod,
Declaring his faith and reliance in God.

With the ceremony ended his work had begun, much to be learnt, much to be done.
And he had the will that was second to none.
He applied himself to all that was good and learnt the meaning of true brotherhood;
And of helping another as all Masons should.

Then being passed to the second degree, a fellow craft now this mason would be,
And no-one sought knowledge more fervent than he.
Level and upright like plumb-rule and square, conducting himself with caution and care
Seeking the meaning of everything there.

Now the third step he was ready to take, with a new obligation he never would break.
And a symbolic journey that he still had to make.
Thus was he raised to the degree he had sought, ever improved in deed, word and thought
Conducting himself as a good mason ought.

Elected to office he filled every chair and made an impression on everyone there
As a master who's rule was gentle and fair.
To other degrees his attention then turned, with other new secrets yet to be learned.
And a desire for knowledge that inwardly burned.

Recognised by Grand Lodge he wears blue and gold. For services rendered and efforts untold,
In the book of achievements his name will stand bold.
With this worthy brother our lodge can stand tall, whatever is needed he answers the call;
So Keith Harvey Jones heartfelt thanks from us all.

J.M.Kelley P.G.W.

Presented to Wpl. Bro. K, H. Jones P.G.D on achieving his 50yr Jewel on Nov. 8th 2005

 

 

SAILING

Like a journey at sea it is to live,
On dark and stormy waves.
A journey that both take and give,
Before we rest in our graves.

Learn first in God to place your trust,
And follow his stars without fright.
Know you will travel, as you must,
To far away shores out of sight.

The path you have chosen over the sea,
Through still water, storms and reefs.
Shows if you are, what He made you to be,
And if you could trust your beliefs.

Advice from a sailor, and from a friend,
Ride with the winds, never fail.
Don't pray for God's storms to come to an end,
When you're here to be taught how to sail.

Bjarne Loevendahl


 

BE A MAN

If you can keep your head when all about you,
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too.

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise.

If you candream-and not make dreams your master,
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,
And treat those two impostors just the same.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken,
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss.

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew,
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you,
Except the Will which says to them.

"Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute,
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!

Masonic Brother Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

 

SUCCESS

Before God's footstool to confess
A poor soul knelt and bowed his head.
"I failed," he wailed. The Master said,
"Thou didst thy best-that is success."

Author Unknown

 

 

LIFE'S AIM

Life is not made up of great sacrifices and duties,
but of little things like smiles and booties,
Kindness and small obligations we found,
given habitually are winners abound.

Author Unknown

 

 

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