The Temple of Living Stones

The Temple of Living Stones

The temple made of wood and stone may crumble and decay,
But there's a viewless Fabric which shall never fade away;
Age after age the Masons strive to consummate the Plan,
But still the work's unfinished which th' immortal Three began;
None but immortal eyes may view, complete in all its parts,
The Temple formed of Living Stones - the structure made of hearts.

'Neath every form of government, in every age and clime;
Amid the world's convulsions and the ghastly wrecks of time, -
While empires rise in splendor, and are conquered and o'erthrown,
And cities crumble into dust, their very sites unknown, -
Beneath the sunny smiles of peace, the threatening frown of strife,
Freemasonry has stood unmoved, with age renewed her life.

She claims her votaries in all climes, for none are under ban
Who place implicit trust in God, and love their fellow man;
The heart that shares another's woe beats just as warm and true
Within the breast of Christian, Mohammedan or Jew;
She levels all distinctions from the highest to the least, -
The King must yield obedience to the Peasant in the East.

What honored names on history's page, o'er whose brave deeds we pore,
Have knelt before our sacred shrine and trod our checkered floor!
Kings, princes, statesmen, heroes, bards who square their actions true,
Between the Pillars of the Porch now pass in long review;
O, Brothers, what a glorious thought for us to dwell upon, -
The mystic tie that binds our hearts bound that of Washington!

Although our past achievements we with honest pride review,
As long as there's Rough Ashlars there is work for us to do;
We must shape the Living Stones with instruments of love
For that eternal mansion in the Paradise above;
Toil as we've toiled in ages past to carry out the plan, -
'Tis this; - the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man!

Written by M\W\ Lawrence N. Greenleaf,
PGM Grand Lodge of Colorado.
He passed away October 25, 1922