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MASONIC.

SONGS, ORATORIO, ODES, ANTHEMS, PROLOGUES, EPILOGUES, AND TOASTS: ADAPTED TO THE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF MASONRY.

WATERFORD: COMPILED, PRINTED, & PUBLISHED, BY BROTHER JAMES LYON. IN THE YEAR OF LIGHT, VMDCCXCVII.

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SANCTION of ORANGE LODGE, —No. 47.—

HAVING examined BROTHER LYON'S "COLLECTION OF MASON­IC SONGS, ODES, ANTHEMS," &c. contained in the following sheets, we find in it the greatest variety and best selected compilation, which has come within our knowledge, judiciously mod­ernized, and well adapted to promote harmony, and as such we recommend it to the use of the FRATERNITY.

  • JOHN STEARNS, Master.
  • MOSES SCOTT, Warden.
  • FRANCIS DRAKE, Warden.
Waterford, March 14th, 5797.
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CONTENTS.

  • ORATORIO. Page 5
  • ODES.
    • HAIL to the Craft! &c. Page 17
    • What solemn sounds on holy, &c. Page 19
    • When first the golden, &c. Page 23
    • Wake the lute and quiv'ring, &c. Page 25
    • Almighty fire! our heavenly, &c. Page 27
    • Hail universal Lord! Page 28
    • Urania, hail! to thee we sing, Page 29
    • With greatful hearts your, &c. Page 30
  • ANTHEMS.
    • BY Mason's Art th' aspiring dome Page 33
    • "Let there be light!" the, &c. Page 34
    • To heavens high Architect, &c. Page 35
  • PROLOGUES.
    • LADIES, perhaps you've, &c. Page 37
    • You've seen me oft in gold, &c. Page 40
    • See—here are men, who're, &c. Page 131
  • [Page iv] KNIGHTS TEMPLARS' SONGS.
    • GOD bless the royal band, Page 105
    • With friendly aid let us unite Page 116
  • ROYAL ARCH SONGS.
    • GOD caus'd great lights to shine, Page 104
    • Thus when from Babel they, &c. Page 115
  • GRAND MASTER'S SONG.
    • ON, on, my dear brethren, &c. Page 55
  • GRAND WARDENS' SONG.
    • LET Masonry be now my theme, Page 102
  • MASTER'S SONG.
    • WE sing of Mason's ancient, &c. Page 43
  • WARDEN'S SONG.
    • MY tongue shall ever run Page 101
  • TREASURER'S SONG.
    • GRANT us kind heav'n, &c. Page 32
  • SECRETARY'S SONG.
    • YE brethern of the ancient Craft, Page 103
  • FELLOW CRAFT'S SONG.
    • HAIL Masonry, thou Craft divine! Page 45
  • ENTERED APPRENTICE'S SONG.
    • COME let us prepare, Page 53
SONGS adapted to the three first degrees of MASONRY.
  • [Page]A
    • ADIEU, a heart, fond, warm, adieu, Page 51
    • Arise, and blow thy trumpet, fame, Page 57
    • A Masons daughter fair and young, Page 91
    • Assembled and tyl'd let us social, &c. Page 108
    • A health to our sisters let's drink; Page 117
    • As Masons once on Shinar's plain, Page 129
  • C
    • COME ye Masons hither bring, Page 84
    • Come are you prepar'd, Page 119
    • Come fill up a bumper and let, &c. Page 126
  • E
    • 'ERE God the universe began, Page 60
  • F
    • FROM the depths let us raise Page 124
  • G
    • GENIUS of Masonry descend, Page 65
    • Glorious Craft which fires the mind, Page 94
  • H
    • HAIL Masonry divine, Page 72
    • How happy a Mason whose, &c. Page 80
    • Hail Masonry! thou sacred Art, Page 83
    • Hail secret Art! by heav'n design'd Page 93
    • Hence, sorrow avaunt! you, &c. Page 122
  • [Page] L
    • LET Masonry, from pole to pole, Page 68
    • Let drunkards boast the power, &c. Page 73
    • Let Masons ever live in love, Page 107
    • Let Masons be merry each, &c. Page 113
  • N
    • NO sect in the world can with, &c. Page 63
  • O
    • ONCE I was blind and could, &c. Page 98
  • S
    • SING to the honour of those, Page 118
  • T
    • 'TIS Masonry unites mankind, Page 68
    • To all who Masonry despise, Page 89
  • U
    • UNITE, unite, your voices raise; Page 58
    • When earth's foundation first, &c. Page 59
    • While trifles lead the world astray, Page 62
    • When my divine Althea's charms, Page 67
    • When a lodge of Free-masons, &c. Page 77
    • When masonry expiring lay Page 81
    • Whilst each poet sings Page 85
    • When the sun from the east, &c. Page 87
    • When heaven design'd that, &c. Page 111
    • With harmony and flowing wine, Page 123
    • When Masonry, by heaven's design, Page 127
    • [Page vii] We have no idle prating, Page 90
  • Y
    • YE brothers of fraternal mind, Page 47
    • Ye thrice happy few, Page 75
    • Ye gracious powers of choral song, Page 96
    • Ye sons of fair science, &c. Page 120
  • EPILOGUES.
    • WITH what malicious joy, &c. Page 134
    • Well, here I'm come to let you, &c. Page 136
    • TOASTS. Page 1
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ORATORIO.
SOLOMON's TEMPLE.

[As it was performed for the BENEFIT of SICK and DISTRESSED FREE MASONS.]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

  • SOLOMON, the GRAND MASTER.
  • HIGH PRIEST.
  • HIRAM, the Workman.
  • URIEL, Angel of the Sun.
  • SHEBA, Queen of the South.

CHORUS of PRIESTS and NOBLES.

ACT I.

SOLOMON.
RECITATIVE.
CONVEN'D we're met—chief ora­cle of heav'n,
To whom the sacred mysteries are giv'n;
[Page 6] We're met to bid a splendid fabric rise,
Worthy the mighty ruler of the skies.
HIGH PRIEST.
And lo! where Uriel, angel of the sun,
Arrives to see the mighty business done.
AIR.
Behold he comes upon the wings of light,
And with his sunny vestments clears the sight.
URIEL.
RECITATIVE.
The Lord supreme, Grand Master of the skies,
Who bid creation from a chaos rise;
The rules of architecture first engrav'd
On Adam's heart.
CHORUS of Priests and Nobles.
To heav'n's High Architect, all praise,
All gratitude be giv'n;
Who deign'd the human soul to raise,
By secrets sprung from heav'n.
SOLOMON.
RECITATIVE.
Adam, well vers'd in arts,
Gave to his sons the plumb and line;
[Page 7] By Masonry, sage Tubal Cain,
To the deep organ tun'd the strain.
AIR.
And while he swell'd the melting note,
On high the silver concords float.
HIGH PRIEST.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Upon the surface of the waves,
(When God a mighty deluge pours)
Noah a chosen remnant saves,
And laid the ark's stupendous floors.
URIEL.
AIR.
Hark, from on high, the mason word!
' David, my servant, shall not build
'A lodge for heav'n's all sovereign Lord,
'Since blood and war have stain'd his shield;
'That for our deputy, his son,
'We have reserv'd—Prince Solomon.
Da capa.
CHORUS of Priests and Nobles.
Sound great JEHOVAH's praise,
Who bid young Solomon the temple raise.
SOLOMON.
[Page 8]
RECITATIVE.
So grand a structure shall we raise,
That men shall wonder! Angels gaze!
By art divine it shall be rear'd,
Nor shall the hammer's noise be heard.
CHORUS.
Sound great JEHOVAH's praise,
Who bid King Solomon the temple raise.
URIEL.
RECITATIVE.
To plan the mighty dome,
Hiram, the master mason's come.
AIR BY URIEL.
We know thee by thy apron white,
We know thee by thy trowel bright,
Well skill'd in Masonry;
We know thee by the jewel's blaze,
Thy manly walk and air;
Instructed, thou the lodge shalt raise;
Let all for work prepare.
HIRAM.
AIR.
Not like Babel's haughty building,
Shall our greater lodge be fram'd;
[Page 9] That to hideous jargon yielding,
Justly was a Babel nam'd:
There confusion all o'erbearing,
Neither sign nor word they knew;
We our work with order squaring,
Each proportion shall be true.
SOLOMON.
RECITATIVE.
Cedars which since creation grew,
Fall of themselves to grace the dome▪
All Lebanon, as if she knew
The great occasion, lo is come!
URIEL.
AIR.
Behold, my brethren of the sky,
The work begins, worthy an angel's eye.
CHORUS of Priests and Nobles.
Be present, all ye heav'nly hosts;
The work begins, the Lord defrays the cost.
[Page 10]

ACT II.

SCENE I.

MESSENGER.
RECITATIVE.
Behold, attended by a numerous train,
Queen of the South, fair Sheba, greets thy reign!
In admiration of thy wisdom, she
Comes to present the bended knee.
SOLOMON to HIRAM.
Receive her with a fair salute,
Such as with majesty may suit.
HIRAM.
AIR.
When allegiance bids obey,
We with pleasure own its sway.
Enter SHEBA, attended.
Obedient to superior greatness, see
Our scepter hails thy mightier majesty.
SHEBA.
AIR
Thus Phoebe, queen of shade and night,
Owning the sun's superior rays,
[Page 11] With feeble glory, lesser light,
Attends the triumph of his blaze:
Oh, all excelling Prince, receive
The tribute due to such a king;
Not the gift, but will, believe;
Take the heart, not what we bring.
Da capo.
SOLOMON.
RECITATIVE.
Let measures softly sweet,
Illustrious Sheba's presence greet.
SOLOMON.
AIR.
Tune the lute and string the lyre,
Equal to the fair we sing:
Who can see and not admire,
Sheba, consort for a king:
Enliv'ning wit and beauty join,
Melting sense and graceful air;
Here united powers combine
To make her brightest of the fair.
Da capo.
SOLOMON.
[Page 12]
RECITATIVE.
Hiram, our brother and our friend,
Do thou the Queen with me attend.

SCENE II.

A View of the TEMPLE.
HIGH PRIEST.
RECITATIVE.
Sacred to heav'n, behold the dome ap­pears;
Lo, what august solemnity it wears;
Angels themselves have deign'd to deck the frame,
And beauteous Sheba shall report its fame
AIR.
When the Queen of the South shall return
To the climes which acknowledge her sway;
Where the sun's warmer beams fierce­ly burn,
The Princess with transport shall say:
[Page 13] Well worthy my journey, I've seen
A Monarch both graceful and wise,
Deserving the love of a Queen,
And a temple well worthy the skies.
Da capa.
CHORUS.
Open, ye gates, receive the Queen who shares,
With equal sense, your happiness and cares.
HIRAM.
RECITATIVE.
Of riches much, but more of wisdom see,
Proportion'd workmanship, and Masonry.
HIRAM.
AIR.
Oh, charming Sheba, there behold,
What massy stores of burnish'd gold,
Yet richer is our art;
Not all the orient gems that shine,
Nor treasures of rich Ophir's mine,
Excel the Mason's heart:
[Page 14] True to the fair he honors, more
Than glittering gems of brightest ore,
The plighted pledge of love:
To ev'ry tie of honor bound,
In love and friendship constant found,
And favor'd from above.
SOLOMON and SHEBA.
DUET.
SHEBA.
One gem beyond the rest I see,
And charming Solomon is he.
SOLOMON.
One gem beyond the rest I see,
Fairest of fair ones, thou art she.
SHEBA.
Oh, thou surpassing all men wise;
SOLOMON.
And thine excelling wo­men's eyes.
HIRAM.
RECITATIVE.
Wisdom and beauty doth combine,
Our art to raise, our hearts to join.
[Page 15]
CHORUS.
Give to Masonry the prize,
Where the fairest choose the wise;
Beauty still should wisdom love;
Beauty and order reign above.
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ODES.

HAIL to the CRAFT! at whose se­rene command
The gentle ARTS in glad obedience stand:
Hail sacred MASONRY! of source di­vine,
Unerring sov'reign of th' unerring line:
Whose plumb of truth, with never fail­ing sway,
Makes the join'd parts of symmetry obey;
Whose magic stroke bids fell confusion cease,
And to the finish'd ORDERS gives a place:
Who rears vast structures from the womb of earth,
And gives imperial cities glorious birth.
To works of Art HER merit not con­sin'd,
SHE regulates the morals, squares the mind;
[Page 18] Corrects with care the sallies of the soul,
And points the tide of passions where to roll:
On Virtue's tablet marks HER moral rule,
And forms HER Lodge an universal school;
Where Nature's mystic laws unfolded stand,
And Sense and Science join'd, go hand in hand.
O may HER social rules instructive spread,
Till Truth erect HER long neglected head▪
Till through deceitful night SHE dart her ray,
And beam full glorious in the blaze of day!
Till men by virtuous maxims learn to move,
Till all the peopled world HER laws approve,
And Adam's race are bound in bro­ther's love.

ODE.

[Written by a Member of the ALFRID LODGE at OXFORD, set to Music by Dr. FISHER, and performed at the Dedication of FREE-MASONS HALL.]
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[Page 27]
Rapid zephyrs, as ye fly,
Waft our voices to the sky;
While we celebrate the NINE,
And the wonders of the Trine,
While the ANGELS sing above,
As we below, of PEACE and LOVE.

ODE.

By Brother DUNKERLEY.
ALMIGHTY Sire! our heavenly king,
Before whose sacred name we bend,
Accept the praises which we sing,
And to our humble prayer attend!
All hail great architect divine!
This universal frame is thine.
Thou who did'st Persia's king command,
A proclamation to extend,
That Israel's sons might quit his land,
Their holy temple to attend.
That sacred place where three in one,
Compris'd thy comprehensive name;
And where the bright meridian sun
Was soon thy glory to proclaim.
[Page 28]
Thy watchful eye, a length of time,
The wond'rous circle did attend:
The glory and the power be thine,
Which shall from age to age descend.
On thy omnipotence we rest,
Secure of thy protection here;
And hope hereafter to be blest,
When we have left this world of care.
Grant us, Great God, thy powerful aid,
To guide us through this vale of tears;
For where thy goodness is display'd,
Peace sooths the mind, and pleasure cheers.
Inspire us with thy grace divine,
Thy sacred law our guide shall be:
To every good our hearts incline,
From every evil keep us free.
All hail! &c.

ODE.

By the SAME.
HAIL, universal Lord!
By heaven and earth ador'd
All hail! great God!
[Page 29] Before thy name we bend,
To us thy grace extend,
And to our prayer attend.
All hail! great God!

ODE.

URANIA, hail! to thee we sing,
And all with pleasure own the lay;
Which from thy sacred fountain spring,
To clad the free born sons of day;
O still attend our meetings here,
With peace serene, and joy sincere.
True joys unruffled, calm repose,
In friendship's sacred band behold,
The happy recompence of those
Who laws and liberty uphold;
Who scorn all base unmanly views,
From vice refrain, and virtue choose.
May each Free Mason good and true,
In Britain's isle be ever found;
And in remotest regions too,
May love and harmony abound;
And all confess true Wisdom's power,
Till Time and Masons are no more.
[Page 30]

ODE.

By Brother FENNER.
WITH grateful hearts your voices raise,
To sound the great Creator's praise,
Who by his word dispell'd the night,
And form'd the ridiants beams of light;
Who fram'd the heav'n's, the earth, the skies,
And bid the wond'rous fabric rise,
Who view'd his work, and found it just,
And then created Man from dust.
Happy in Eden was he laid,
Nor did he go astray,
Till, by the serpent, Eve, betray'd,
First fell, and led the way.
But falling from this happy plain,
Subject to various wants and pain,
Labour and art must now provide,
What Eden freely once supply'd;
Some learn'd to till th' unwilling ground;
Some bid the well strung harp to sound;
Each different arts pursu'd and taught,
Till to perfection each was brought.
Masons pursue the truth divine,
We cannot go astray,
[Page 31] Since three great lights conjointly shine,
To point us out the way.
Zion appears, rejoice, rejoice,
Exult, and hear, obey the voice
Of mercy and enlightening grace,
Recalling us to Eden's place;
With faith believe, and hope pursue,
And mercy still for mercy shew;
Proclaim aloud, with grateful theme,
The great Redeemer's blessed name;
The eastern star now shews us light,
Let us not go astray;
Let Faith, Hope, Charity unite,
To cheer the gladsome way.
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ANTHEMS.

ANTHEM.

GRANT us, kind Heav'n, what we request,
In Masonry let us be blest;
Direct us to that happy place
Where friendship smiles in every face:
Where Freedom and sweet Innocence
Enlarge the mind and cheer the sense.
Where scepter'd Reason, from her throne,
Surveys the LODGE, and makes us one;
And Harmony's delightful sway
Forever sheds ambrosial day:
Where we blest Eden's pleasures taste,
While balmy joys are our repast.
No prying eye can view us here;
No fool or knave disturb our cheer;
[Page 33] Our well form'd laws set mankind free,
And give relief to Misery:
The poor, oppress'd with woe and grief,
Gain from our bounteous hands relief.
Our LODGE the social Virtues grace,
And Wisdom's rules we fondly trace;
Whole Nature open to our view,
Points out the paths we should pursue.
Let us subsist in lasting peace,
And may our happiness increase!

ANTHEM.

BY Mason's Art th' aspiring dome
On stately columns shall arise,
All climates are their native home,
Their godlike actions reach the skies.
Heroes and kings revere their name,
While poets sing their lasting fame.
Great, noble, gen'rous, good and brave;
All virtues they most justly claim;
[Page 34] Their deeds shall live beyond the grave,
And those unborn their praise pro­claim.
Time shall their glorious acts enrol,
While love and friendship charm the soul.

ANTHEM.

"LET there be light!"—the Almighty spoke,
Refulgent streams from chaos broke,
To illume the rising earth!
Well pleas'd the Great Jehovah stood—
The Power Supreme pronounc'd it good,
And gave the planets birth!
In choral numbers Masons join,
To bless and praise this light divine.
Parent of light! accept our praise!
Who shedd'st on us—thy brightest rays,
The light that fills his mind—
By choice selected, lo! we stand,
By friendship join'd, a social band!
That love—that aid mankind!
In choral numbers, &c.
[Page 35]
The widow's tear—the orphan's cry—
All wants—our ready hands supply,
As far as power is given!
The naked clothe—the pris'ner free—
These are thy works, sweet Charity!
Reveal'd to us from heaven!
In choral numbers, &c.

ANTHEM.

TO Heaven's high Architect all praise,
All praise, all gratitude be given;
Who deign'd the human soul to raise,
By mystic secrets sprung from Heaven.
CHORUS.
Sound aloud the great JEHOVAH's praise;
To him the dome, the temple raise.
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PROLOGUES.

PROLOGUE.

[Spoken before a Play performed at EX­ETER, in ENGLAND, at the desire of the UNION LODGE.]

LADIES, perhaps you've heard of Gyges' ring,
Of which historians write, and poets sing:
Form'd by a Lydian sage with potent spell,
This ring its wearer made invisible.
After his death it often chang'd its master,
At length fate destin'd it to Zoroaster.
By his successors carefully possest,
Long did the Magi flourish in the east;
'Till Ammon's son with Thais thither came,
Who fir'd Persepolis to please the dame.
Beneath its ruins long the treasure lay,
'Till by an Arab robber brought to day.
[Page 38] Unconscious of the prize, he trudg'd along,
And sold it to a Bramin for a song.
Thence in Bengal thro' various hands it past,
And to a kinsman of my own at last:
He dying, gave it me, its virtues rare
Unfolded, and soon left a joyful heir:
To pass where'er I pleas'd, unseen and free,
O what a feast for curiosity!
No more shall Masonry, I cried, con­ceal
Its mysteries; all its secrets I'll unveil.
No more the Fair shall languish; I'll explain
What they all wish to know, and wish in vain.
I said, and clapp'd my ring upon my fin­ger,
A way I went in haste; I did not linger;
A [...] Brother's back, close as his shade
I [...] and with him my entry made.
The Brethren all were met, a social board:
I saw unterrified the guardian sword.
[Page 39] I saw—I saw—and now your ears pre­pare;
What I then saw I'll publicly declare.
Clear'd was my mental eye—I saw each grace,
And each protecting genius of the place.
Friendship, on wing ethereal, flying round,
Stretch'd out her arm, and bless'd the hallow'd ground.
Humanity, well pleas'd, there took her stand,
Holding her daughter Pity by the hand.
There Charity, which sooths the widow's sigh,
And wipes the dew-drop from the orphan's eye.
There stood Benevolence, whose large embrace
Uncircumscrib'd, took in the human race;
She saw each narrow tie, each private end
Indignant—Virtue's universal friend,
Scorning each frantic zealot, bigot fool,
She stamp'd on every breast her golden rule.
And tho' the doors are barr'd 'gainst you, ye Fair,
Your darling representative was there,
[Page 40] Sweet Modesty—Amid the moral lay,
To you her tribute did remembrance pay.
I saw each horest heart with transport flow,
I saw each honest cheek with rapture glow.
These little absences I found would prove
But added fuel to the torch of love.
Smit with delight, at once reveal'd I stood,
And begg'd admission of the brotherhood.
They kindly heard, and pardon'd my offence,
I barter'd curiosity for sense.
My magic ring destroy'd, reduc'd to dust,
Taught what was right, and generous, and just.
For Masonry, tho' hid from prying eyes,
In the broad world admits of no disguise.

PROLOGUE.

YOU'VE seen me oft in gold and er­mine drest,
And wearing short-liv'd honors on my breast
But now the honourable badge I wear
Gives an indelible high character;
[Page 41] And thus by our Grand Master I am sent,
To tell you what by Masonry is meant.
If all the social virtues of the mind;
If an extensive love to all mankind;
If hospitable welcome to a guest,
And speedy charity to the distress'd;
If due regard to liberty and laws,
Zeal for our right, and for our coun­try's cause;
If these are principles deserving fame,
Let MASONS then enjoy the praise they claim.
[Page]

SONGS.

The MASTER's SONG.

WE sing of MASONS' ancient fame!
Lo, eighty thousand CRAFTSMEN rise,
Under the MASTERS of great name,
More than three thousand just and wise.
Employ'd by SOLOMON, the fire,
And Gen'ral Master Mason too,
As HIRAM was in stately Tyre,
Like Salem built by Masons true.
The royal art was then divine,
The Craftsmen counsell'd from above,
The temple was the grand design;
The wond'ring world did all approve.
Ingenious men from every place
Came to survey the glorious Pile;
And when return'd, began to trace
And imitate its lofty stile.
[Page 44] At length the GRECIANS came to know
GEOMETRY, and learn'd the art
PYTHAGORAS was rais'd to show,
And glorious EUCLID to impart:
Great ARCHIMEDES too appear'd,
And Carthaginian Masters bright;
Till Roman citizens uprear'd
The ART with wisdom and delight.
But when proud Aha they had quell'd,
And Greece and Egypt overcome,
In Architecture they excell'd,
And brought the learning all to Rome:
Where wise VITRUVIUS, Warden prime
Of architects, the art improv'd
In great AUGUSTUS' peaceful time,
When arts and artists were belov'd.
They brought the knowledge from the East,
And as they made the nations yield,
They spread it through the North and West,
And taught the world the art to build.
[Page 45] Witness their Citadels and Tow'rs,
To fortify their legions fine,
Their Temples, Palaces, and Bow'rs,
That spoke the Masons grand design.
Thus mighty eastern kings, and some
Of ABRAHAM's race, and monarchs good,
Of Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Rome,
True ARCHITECTURE understood.
No wonder then if Masons join
To celebrate those Mason Kings,
With solemn note and flowing WINE
Whilst every Brother jointly sings.
CHORUS.
Who can unfold the royal art,
Or shew its secrets in a song?
They're safely kept in Mason's heart,
And to the ancient Lodge belong!

SONG.

HAIL Masonry, thou craft divine!
Glory of earth, from heaven reveal'd!
Which doth with jewels precious shine,
From all but Masons eyes conceal'd:
[Page 46] Thy praises due, who can rehearse,
In nervous prose, or flowing verse?
All craftsmen true distingush'd are.
Our code all other laws excel;
And what's in knowledge choice and rare,
Within our breasts securely dwell.
The silent breast, the faithful heart,
Preserve the secrets of the Art.
From scorching heat and piercing cold,
From beasts, whose roars the forest rends;
From the assaults of warriors bold,
The Masons' art mankind defends.
Be to this Art due honor paid,
From which mankind receives such aid.
Ensigns of state that feed our pride,
Distinctions troublesome and vain,
By Masons true are laid aside,
Art's free-born sons such toys disdain.
Ennobled by the name they bear,
Distinguish'd by the badge they wear.
[Page 47]
Sweet fellowship, from envy sree,
Friendly converse of brotherhood;
The lodge's lasting cement be,
Which has for ages firmly stood.
A lodge thus built for ages past,
Has lasted, and shall ever last.
Then let us celebrate the praise
Of all who have enrich'd the Art,
Let gratitude our voices raise,
And each true brother bear a part.
Let cheerful strains their same re­sound,
And living Masons healths go round.

A VALEDICTORY MASONIC SONG,

Composed by ELIHU PHINNEY, Master of the Lodge in Canaan, and sung the last evening of his meeting in said Lodge.

Tune ARATHUSA.

YE Brothers of fraternal mind,
Whom honor, truth, and justice bind,
In whom the sons of science sind
No sly dissimulation—
[Page 48] Accept a tribute, justly due,
From a fond heart, faithful and true;
Accept my tender, last adieu;
And believe
That I grieve
Your worthy, social band to leave,
Because I am a MASON.
Although remote from you I stray,
Where sickle Fortune leads the way,
Your mem'ry on my breast shall stay
While I have respiration:
And let me hold the fond idea,
That you will mind unworthy me,
Whene'er you meet in social glee:
Give a toast—
Let me boast
The friendship of your noble host:
I ask it as a MASON.
If e'er the Syrens of the age
Have drawn me from the Mystic Gague,
Pray blot the error from the page
Of rigid observation.
Your kindness on my heart I'll write;
And all unkindness, from my sight,
I'll banish to eternal night.
[Page 49] Let us be
Masons free—
Forgive, likewise forgiven be;—
The creed of ev'ry MASON.
Your choicest love I once did share,—
Your brightest badge did often wear,—
Plac'd in the Oriental Chair
By Mystic Installation;
And, by the emblematic THREE,
Dispens'd the gifts of Masonry,
Till the Meridian Orb we see:
Then we may
Wet our clay,
And pass a cheerful hour away
In graleful relaxation.
A list'ning ear obtains the art,—
A silent tongue will ne'er impart
The secrets of a faithful heart,
Whatever the temptation;
But honor, justice, both combine
To dignify the Grand Design—
And love thro' all their actions shine;
With a mind
Just and kind;
[Page 50] All their pleasures are refin'd:
So happy is a MASON.
Their faith's upheld by reason's voice;
Their hope forestalls enjoyments choice;
In charity their hearts rejoice,
And bless each fond occasion:
When unforeseen misfortunes press
The sons or daughters of distress,
With kind, fraternal tenderness,
Prompts relief,
Sooths their grief;
Of their pleasures 'tis the chief,
To raise a fallen MASON.
Humanity, that virtue bright—
Friendship, so lovely to the sight—
Brotherly-Love their hearts unite
In blest conciliation:
No doting sot their mirth shall wound—
No minor knows their rites profound—
No atheist treads their hallow'd ground;
No alloy
To their joy:
Pleasures pure, which never cloy,
Belong to ev'ry MASON.
[Page 51]
May friendship, harmony, and love,
Your guardians and companions prove,
Till the Celestial Lodge above
Shall be each Brother's station;
But death, the level—Time, the line
And plumb of justice, must combine
To fit us for that bliss divine:
Then shall we
Happy be;
Tow'rds the East we'll bow the knee,
To our GRAND MASTER MASON.

The MASON's FAREWELL.

[ Tune of the PEACOCK.]

ADIEU, a heart, fond, warm, adieu
Ye brothers of a mystic tie,
Ye favor'd and enlight'ned few,
Companions of my social joy.
Tho' I to foreign lands must hie,
Pursuing fortune's slip'ry ball,
With melting heart and brineful eye,
I'll mind you still when far AWA.
Oft have I met your social band,
To spend a cheerful, festive night;
[Page 52] Oft honor'd with supreme command,
Presided o'er the sons of light,
And by that hyeroglyphic bright,
Which none but craftsmen ever know,
Strong mem'ry on my heart shall write
Those happy scenes, when far AWA.
May freedom, harmony, and love,
Cement you in the grand design;
Beneath the Omniscient Eye above,
The glorious Architect divine.
That you may keep the unerring rule,
Still guided by the plummet's law,
Till order bright completely shine,
Shall be my pray'r when far AWA.
And you farewell, whose merits claim
Justly that highest badge to wear;
May heaven bless your noble name,
To Masonry and Scotia dear.
A last request permit me here,
When yearly you assemble a'w,
One round, I ask it with a tear,
To him the friend that's far AWA.
And you kind-hearted sisters fair,
I sing farewell to all your charms,
[Page 53] Th' impression of your pleasing air,
With rapture oft my bosom warms.
Alas! the social winter's night
No more returns while breath we draw,
Till sisters, brothers, all unite
In that GRAND LODGE that's far AWA.

SONG.

[By MATHEW BIRKHEAD.]
COME let us prepare.
We Brothers that are
Assembled on merry occasion:
Let's be happy and sing,
For Life is a spring
To a Free and an Accepted Mason.
The world is in pain
Our secrets to gain,
And still let them wonder and gaze on:
They ne'er can divine
The right word or sign
Of a Free and an Accepted Mason.
[Page 54] 'Tis this and 'tis that,
They cannot tell what,
Nor why the great men of the nation
should aprons put on,
And make themselves one
With a Free and an Accepted Mason.
Great Kings, Dukes, and Lords,
Have laid by their swords,
Our mist'ry to put a good grace on,
And thought themselves fam'd
To hear themselves nam'd
With a Free and an Accepted Mason.
Antiquity's pride
We have on our side,
To keep up our old reputation;
There's nought but what's good
To be understood
By a Free and an Accepted Mason.
We're true and sincere,
And just to the Fair;
They'll trust us on any occasion:
No mortal can more
The Ladies adore
Than a Free and an Accepted Mason.
[Page 55] Then join hand in hand,
By each Brother firm stand,
Let's be merry and put a bright face on.
What mortal can boast
So noble a toast
As a Free and an Accepted Mason.
CHORUS.
No mortal can boast
3 times.
So noble a toast
3 times.
As a Free and an Accepted Mason.
3 times.

SONG.

ON, on, my dear brethern, pursue your great lecture,
Refine on the precepts of old architecture;
High honour to masons the craft daily brings,
Who are brothers of princes, and fellows of kings.
We drove the rude Vandals and the Goths of the stage,
Reviving the art of Augustus' sam'd age;
And Vespasian destroy'd the vast temple in vain,
Since so many now rise where our principles reign.
[Page 56] The noble five Orders, compos'd with such art,
Will amaze the fix'd eye, and engage the whole heart;
Proportion's sweet harmony gracing the whole,
Give our work, like the glorious creation, a soul.
Then, Master, and brethern, preserve your great name,
This Lodge so majestic will purchase you fame;
Rever'd it shall stand till all nature ex­pire.
And its glories ne'er fade till the world is on fire.
See, see, behold here, what rewards all our toil,
Invigorates genius, and bids nature smile:
To our noble Grand Master let bum­pers be crown'd,
To all masons, a bumper, so let it go round.
Again, my lov'd brethern, again let it pass,
Our ancient firm union cements with the glass:
And all the contention 'mong masons shall be,
Who better can work, or who better agree.
[Page 61]
In air he hung the pendent world,
And o'er it spread the azure skies;
Stars in circles caus'd to run,
And in the centre fix'd the Sun.
Then Man he call'd forth out of dust,
And form'd him with a living soul;
All things committed to his trust,
And made him ruler of the whole;
But, ungrateful unto Heaven,
The rebel was from Eden driven.
From thence proceeded all our woes,
Nor could mankind one comfort cheer;
Untill Free-masonry arose,
And form'd another Eden here;
'Tis only on masonic ground,
Pleasure with innocence is found.
'Tis here the purest fountain flow,
Here naught corrupt can enter in;
Here trees of knowledge stately grow,
Whose fruit we taste exempt from sin;
In friendship sweet we still abound,
While gaurdian angels hover round.
[Page 62]

SONG.

[ Tune, Rule Britannia.]

WHILE trifles lead the world astray,
And vice seduces giddy youth;
Rejoice, my brethern, in this auspi­cious day,
That guides a steady few to truth:
Raise, raise your voices, ye Kentish Masons all,
Tis SAWBRIDGE rules, obey his call.
Shall Masonry through Britain spread,
And flourish every where but here?
Forbid it, Virtue! while you our footsteps lead
Kent foremost shall in worth appear:
Huzza, my brethern! to SAWBRIDGE raise the song,
Our grateful strains to him belong.
When Harold's crown the Norman gain'd,
In [...] a hardy race he sound;
[...] to cherish, their ancient [...] unstain'd,
[...] masonic ground:
[Page 63] True to your duty, your ancestors and land,
Let SAWBRIDGE lead a worthy band.
Away with politics and news,
Away with controversies all;
We're here united above all party views,
And gladly hail the social call:
Fill, fill your glasses; let SAWBRIDGE be the toast,
Long may we his protection boast!

SONG.

[ Tune, Hearts of Oak.]
No sect in the world can with masons compare,
So ancient, so noble the badge is they wear,
That all other Orders however esteem'd,
Inferior to masonry justly is deem'd.
CHORUS.
We always are free,
And for ever agree;
Supporting each other,
Brother helps Brother,
No mortals on earth are so friendly as we,
[Page 64] When first attic fire mortals glory be­came,
Tho' small was the spark, it soon grew to a flame;
As Phoebus celestial transcendently bright
It spreads o'er the world a fresh torrent of light.
We always, &c.
The greatest of monarchs, the wisest of men,
Free-masonry honor'd again and again;
And nobles have quitted all other de­lights,
With joy to preside o'er our mystical rites.
We always, &c.
Tho' some may pretend we've no secrets to know,
Such idle opinions their ignorance show;
While others, with raptures, cry out, they're reveal'd,
In free-mason's bosom's they still lie conceald,
We always, &c.
Coxcomical pedants may say what they can,
Abuse us, ill use us, and laugh at our plan;
[Page 65] We'll temper our mortar, enliven our souls,
And join in full chorus o'er full flowing bowls.
We always, &c.

SONG.

[ Tune, Goddess of ease.]

GENIUS of masonry descend,
And with thee bring thy spotless train;
Constant our sacred rites attend,
While we adore thy peaceful reign:
Bring with thee Virtue, brightest maid,
Bring Love, bring Truth, and Friend­ship here;
While social Mirth shall lend her aid,
To smooth the wrinkled brow of care
Come, Charity, with goodness crown'd,
Encircled in the heavenly robe,
Diffuse thy blessings all around,
To every corner of the globe:
See where she comes, with power to bless,
With open hand and tender heart,
Which wounded feels at man's distress
And bleeds at every [...]
[Page 66] Envy may every ill devise,
And falsehood be thy deadliest foe,
Thou friendship still shalt towering rise,
And sink thine adversaries low:
Thy well-built pile shall long endure,
Through rolling years preserve its prime,
Upon a rock it stands secure,
And braves the rude assaults of time.
Ye happy few, who here extend,
In pefect lines, from east to west,
With fervent zeal the Lodge defend,
And lock each secret in each breast:
Since ye are met upon the square,
Bid love and friendship jointly reign,
Be peace and harmony your care,
Nor break the adamantine chain.
Behold the planets how they move,
Yet keep due order as they run;
Then imitate the stars above,
And shine resplendent as the Sun:
That future masons, when they meet,
May all our glorious deeds rehearse,
And say, their fathers were so great,
That they adorn'd the universe.
[Page 67]

SONG.

[ Tune, Arno's Vale.]

WHEN my divine Althea's charms,
No more shall kindle soft alarms,
And the keen light'ning of her eye,
Passes unfelt unheeded by;
When moral Beauty's heavenly form
Shall cease the frozen soul to warm;
When manners thus corrupt we see,
Farewel the sweets of Masonry.
When science shall withdraw her light,
And error spread a Gothick night;
When Pity's sacred source is dry,
No pearly doop to melt the eye,
When truth shall hide her blushing head,
And famish'd virtue beg her bread;
When manners thus corrupt we see,
Farewel the sweets of masonry!
But while the fair transport our sight,
And moral beauty's charms delight;
while science lifts her torch on high,
And pity thaws the melting eye;
While Truth maintains despotic power,
And virtue charms without a dower;
[Page 68] While manners thus unstain'd we see,
All hail the sweets of Masonry!

SONG.

[ Tune, In infancy, &c.]

LET Masonry, from pole to pole,
Her sacred laws expand,
Far as the mighty waters roll,
To wash remotest land:
That Virtue has not left mankind,
Her social maxims prove,
For stampt upon the mason's mind
Are Unity and Love.
Ascending to her native sky,
Let Masonry increase;
A glorious pillar rais'd on high,
Integrity its base.
Peace adds to olive boughs, entwin'd,
An emblematic dove,
As stampt upon the mason's mind
Are Unity and Love.

SONG.

'TIS Masonry unites mankind,
To generous actions forms the soul;
[Page 69] So strict in union we're combin'd,
One spirit animates the whole.
CHORUS.
Then let mankind our deeds approve,
Since union, harmony, and love
Shall waft us to the realms above.
Where'er aspiring domes arise,
Wherever sacred altars stand,
Those altars blaze up to the skies,
Those domes proclaim the Mason's hand.
The stone unshap'd as lumber lies,
Till Mason's Art its form refines;
So passions do our souls disguise,
Till social virtue calms our minds.
Let wretches at our manhood rail;
But those who once our judgement prove,
Will own, that we who built so well,
With equal energy can love.
Though still our chief concern and care
Be to deserve a Brother's name;
For ever mindful of the fair,
Their choicest favours still we claim
[Page 70]
From us pale discord long has fied,
With all her train of mortal spite;
Nor in our Lodge dares shew her head,
Sunk in the gloom of endless night.
My Brethern charge your glasses high,
To our Grand Master's noble Name:
Our shouts shall beat the vaulted sky,
And every tongue his praise proclaim.

SONG.

[ Tune, God save the King.]

LET Masons fame resound
Thro' all the nations round,
From pole to pole:
See what felicity,
Harmless simplicity,
Like electricity,
Runs through the whole.
Such sweet variety
Ne'er had society
Ever before:
Faith, hope, and charity,
Love and sincerity,
Without temerity,
Charm more and more.
[Page 71]
When in the Lodge we're met,
And in due order set,
Happy are we:
Our works are glorious,
Deeds meritorious,
Never censorious,
But great and free.
When Folly's sons arise,
Masonry to despise,
Scorn all their spite;
Laugh at their ignorance,
Pity their want of sense,
Ne'er let them give offence,
Firmer unite.
Masons have long been free,
And may they ever be Great as of yore:
For many ages past,
Masonry has stood fast,
And may its glory last
Till time's no more.
[Page 72]

SONG.

[ Tune God save the King.]

HAIL MASONRY divine;
Glory of ages shine,
Long may'st thou reign:
Where'er thy Lodges stand,
May they have great command,
And always grace the land,
Thou Art divine!
Great fabricks still arise,
And grace the azure skies,
Great are thy schemes;
Thy noble Orders are
Matchless beyond compare;
No Art with thee can share,
Thou Art divine.
Hiram, the architect,
Did all the Craft direct
How they should build;
Chorus 3 times.
Sol'mon, great Isr'els King,
Did mighty blessings bring,
And left us room to sing,
Hail royal Art!
[Page 73]

SONG.

[By Brother NOORTHUCK.]
LET drunkards boast the power of wine,
And reel from side to side;
Let lovers kneel at Beauty's shrine,
The sport of female pride:
Be ours the more exalted part,
To celebrate the mason's Art.
And spread its praises wide.
To dens and thickets dark and rude
For shelter beasts repair;
With sticks and straws the feather'd brood
Suspend their nests in air:
And man untaught, as wild as these,
Binds up sad huts with boughs of trees,
And feeds on wretched fare.
But Science dawning in his mind,
The quarry he explores;
Industry and the arts combin'd
Improv'd all Nature's stores:
Thus walls were built, and houses rear'd,
No storms or tempests now are fear'd
Within his well-fram'd doors.
[Page 74]
When stately palaces arise,
When columns grace the hall,
When towers and spires salute the skies,
We owe to masons all:
Nor buildings only do they give,
But teach men how within to live,
And yeal to Reason's call.
All party quarrels they detest,
For Virtue and the Arts,
Lodg'd in each true Free-mason's breast,
Unite and rule their hearts:
But these, while masons square their minds,
The state no better subjects finds,
None act more upright parts.
When Bucks and Albions are forgot,
Free-masons will remain:
Mushrooms, each day, spring up and rot,
While oaks stretch o'er the plain;
Let others quarrel, rant and roar;
Their noisy revels when no more,
Still masonry shall reign.
[Page 75]

SONG.

YE thrice happy few
Whose hearts have been true,
In concord and unity found;
Let us sing and rejoice,
And unite ev'ry voice,
To send the grand chorus around.
CHORUS.
Like pillars we stand,
An immovable band,
Cemented by power from above;
Then freely let pass
The generous glass
To Masonry, Friendship, and Love.
The GRAND ARCHITECT,
Whose word did erect
Eternity, measure, and space,
First laid the fair plan
Whereon he began
The cement of friendship and peace.
Whose firmness of hearts,
Fair treasure of arts,
To the eye of the vulger unknown;
[Page 76] Whose lustre can beam
New splendor and same
To the pulpit, the bar, and the throne.
The great David's son,
Unmatch'd Solomon,
As written in Scripture's bright page,
A Mason became,
The fav'rite of Fame,
The wonder and pride of his age.
Indissoluble bands
Our hearts and our hands
In social benevolence bind;
For true to his cause,
By immutable laws,
A Mason's a friend to mankind,
Let joy flow around,
And peace, olive bound,
Preside at our mystical rites;
Whose conduct maintains
Our auspicious domains,
And Freedom with order unites.
Nor let the dear maid
Our mysteries dread,
Or think them repugnant to love;
[Page 77] To beauty we bend,
Her empire defend,
An empire deriv'd from above.
Then let us unite,
Sincere and upright,
On the level of virtue to stand:
No mortal can be
So happy as we
With a brother and friend in each hand.

SONG.

When a lodge of Free-masons are cloth'd in their aprons,
In order to make a new brother,
With firm hearts and clean hands, they repair to their stands,
And justly support one another.
Trusty brother, take care, of eve-drop­pers beware,
'Tis a just and a solemn occasion;
Give the Word and the Blow, that workmen may know,
There's one asks to be made a Free­mason
[Page 78] The Master stands due and his officers too,
While the craftsmen are plying their station;
The apprentices stand, right for the command
Of a Free and an Accepted Mason.
Now traverse your ground, as in duty you're bound,
And revere the authentic oration,
That leads to the way, and proves the first ray
Of the light of an Accepted Mason.
Here's Words, and here Signs, and here's Problems and Lines,
And here's room too for deep specula­tion;
Here Virtue and Truth are taught to the Youth,
When first he's call'd up to a Mason.
Hieroglyphics shine bright, and here light reverts light
On the rules and the tools of vocation,
We work and we sing, the Craft and the king,
'Tis both duty and choice in a Mason.
[Page 79] What is said or is done, is here truly laid down
In this form of our high installation;
Yet I challenge all men to know what I mean,
Unless he's an Accepted Mason.
The Ladies claim right to come into our light,
Since the apron, they say, is their bearing,
Can they subject their will, can they keep their tongues still,
And let talking be changed into hearing?
This difficult task is the least we can ask,
To secure us on sundry occasions;
When with this they comply, our ut­most we'll try
To raise lodges for lady Free-masons.
Till this can be done, must each brother be mum,
Tho' the fair-one should wheedle and teaze on;
Be just, true, and kind, but still bear in mind,
At all times that you are a Free-mason.
[Page 80]

SONG.

HOW happy a Mason whose bosom still glows
With friendship, and ever most cheerfully goes,
Th' effects of the mysteries lodg'd in his breast,
Misteries rever'd, and by Princes possest.
Our friends and our bottle we best can enjoy,
No rancour or envy our quiet annoy,
Our plumbline and compass, our square and our tools,
Direct all our actions in Virtue's fair rules,
Direct all our actions, &c.
To Mars and to Venus we're equally true,
Our hearts can enliven, our arms can subdue;
Let the enemy tell, and the ladies declare,
No class or profession with Masons com­pare;
To give a fond lustre we ne'er need a crest,
Since honour and virtue remain in our breast.
We'll charm the rude world when we clap, laugh, and sing,
If so happy a mason, say who'd be a king;
[Page 81]

SONG.
[On the revival of Masonry.]

[ Tune, Vicar of Bray.]

WHEN Masonry expiring lay,
By knaves and fools rejected,
Without one hope one cheering ray,
By worthless sons neglected;
Fair virtue fled,
Truth hung her head,
O'erwhelm'd in deep confusion,
Sweet Friendship too,
Her smiles withdrew,
From this blest Institution.
Cho. Fair Virtue fled, &c.
Columbia's sons determin'd then
Free-masonry to cherish,
They rous'd her into life again.
And bid fair Science flourish.
Now Virtue bright,
Truth rob'd in white,
With Friendship hither hastens,
All go in hand,
To bless the band,
Of true Columbian Masons.
Cho. Now virtue bright, &c.
[Page 82]
Since Masonry's reviv'd once more,
Pursue her wise directions,
Let circumspection go be before,
And Virtue square your actions;
Unite your hands
In Friendships bands,
Supporting one another;
With honest heart,
Fair Truth impart,
To every faithful brother.
Cho. Unite your hands, &c.
Let coxcombs grin, and critics sneer,
While we are blithe and jolly,
Let fops dispise the badge we wear,
We laugh at all their folly;
Let empty fools
Despise our rules,
Brothers we ne'er will heed 'em,
Say what they will,
We're Masons still,
And will support our freedom.
Cho. Let empty fools, &c.
But may kind Heaven's gracious hand,
Still regulate each action;
May every lodge securely stand,
Against the storms of faction;
[Page 83] May Love and Peace,
Each day encrease,
Throughout this happy nation,
May they extend,
Till all shall end,
In one great conflagration.
Cho. May Love and Peace, &c,

SONG.

[ Tune, In Infancy.]

HAIL Masonry! thou sacred art,
Of origin divine!
Kind partner of each social heart,
And fav'rite of the nine!
By the we're taught our acts to square,
To measure life's short span;
And each infirmity to bear
That's incident to man.
Cho. By thee we're taught, &c.
Tho' envy's tongue would blast thy fame
And simple ign'rance sneer,
Yet still thy ancient honour'd name
To each true brother's dear:
Then strike the blow, to charge prepare,
[Page 84] In this we all agree.
May fredom be each Mason's care,
And ev'ry mason free.
Cho. Then strike the blow, &c

SONG.

[ Tune, Casino.]

COME ye Masons hither bring
The tuneful pipe and pleasing string,
Exert each voice,
Aloud rejoice,
And make the spacious concave ring:
Let your hearts be blith and gay,
Joy and mirth let all display,
No stupid care
Shall enter here,
For this is Mason's holiday.
Cho. Let your hearts be, &c.
Friendship here has fix'd her seat,
And virtue finds a calm retreat;
Go tell the fool,
'Tis wisdom's school,
Where love and honour always meet
Cho. Let your hearts, &c.
[Page 85]
Social pleasures here invite,
To fill the soul with sweet delight,
While hand in hand
Our friendly band
In love and harmony unite.
Cho. Let your hearts, &c.
May we oft assemble here,
And long the badge of honour wear,
May joy abound
And we be found,
For ever faithful and sincere.
Cho. Let your hearts be, &c.
Take the flowing glass in hand,
And drink unto our Master Grand,
Long may he reign,
The cause maintain,
And Lodges flourish through the land
Cho. Let your hearts, &c.

SONG.

[ Tune, From the east breaks the morn.]

WHILST each poet sings
Of great Princes and Kings,
To no such does my ditty belong:
[Page 86] To no such does my ditty belong:
Tis fredom I praise,
That demands all my lays,
And masonry honors my song:
And masonry honors my song.
Cho. 'Tis fredom I praise, &c.
Within compas to live
Is a lesson we give,
which none can deny to be true,
Which none, &c.
All our actions to square
To the time we take,
And virtue we ever persue,
And virtue, &c.
Cho. All our actions to square, &c.
On a level we are,
All true brothers share
The gifts which kind Hheaven bestows
The gifts, &c.
In friendship we dwell;
None but Masons can tell,
The bliss, which from harmony flows
The bliss, &c.
Cho. In friendship we dwell, &c.
[Page 87]
In our mystical school,
We must all work by rule,
And our secrets we always conceal;
And our, &c.
Then let's sing and rejoice
And unite ev'ry voice,
With fervancy, freedom, and zeal,
With, &c.
Cho. Then let's sing, &c.
Then each fill a glass,
Let the circl'ing toast pass,
And merily send it around,
And merily, &c.
Let us masonry hail,
May it ever prevail,
With success may it ever be crown'd,
With success, &c.
Cho. Let us masonry hail, &c.

SONG.

[ Tune, Balance a Straw.]

WHEN the Sun from the East first salutes mortal eyes,
And the sky-lark melodiously bids us arise;
[Page 88] With our hearts full of joy, we the sum­mons obey,
Straight repair to our work, and to moisten our clay.
On the trassel our Master draws angles and lines,
There with freedom and fervency forms his designs;
Not a picture on earth is so lovely to view,
All his lines are so perfect, his angles so true.
In the west see the Wardens submissive­ly stand,
The Master to aid, and obey his com­mand;
The intent of his signals we perfectly know,
And we ne'er take offence when he gives us a blow.
In the lodge, sloth and dulness we al­ways avoid,
Fellow-crafts and apprentices all are employ'd:
Perfect ashlers some finish, some make the rough plain,
All are pleas'd with their work, and are pleas'd with their gain.
[Page 89] When my Master I've serv'd seven years, perhaps more,
Some secrets he'll tell me I ne'er knew before;
In my bosom I'll keep them as long as I live,
And pursue the directions his wisdom shall give.
I'll attend to his call both by night and by day,
It is his to command, and 'tis mine to obey;
Whensoe'er we are met, I'll attend to his nod,
And I'll work till high twelve, then I'll lay down my hod.

SONG.

TO all who Masonry despise,
This counsel I bestow;
Don't ridicule, if you are wise,
A secret you dont know:
Your selves you banter, but not it:
You shew your spleen, but not your wit;
With a fa, la, la, &c.
Inspiring Virtue by our rules,
And in ourselves secure:
We have compassion for those fools
[Page 90] Who think our acts impure:
We know from Ignorance proceeds
Such mean opinion of our deeds;
With a fa, la, la, &c.
If Union and Sincerity
Have a pretence to please;
We Brothers of Free-masonry,
Lay, justly, claim to these:
To state disputes we ne'er give birth,
Our motto friendship is, and mirth,
With a fa, la, la, &c.

SONG.

WE have no idle prating,
Of either whig or tory;
But each agrees
To live at ease,
And sing or tell a story.
CHORUS.
Fill to him,
To the brim,
Let it round the table roll:
The divine
Tells us wine
Cheers the body and the soul.
[Page 91] We're always men of pleasure,
Despising pride and party:
While knaves and fools
Prescribe us rules,
We are sincere and hearty.
Fill to him, &c.
If an Accepted Mason
Should talk of high or low church;
We'll set him down
A shallow crown,
And understand him no church.
Fill to him, &c.
The world is all in darkness,
About us they conjecture;
But little think,
A song and drink,
Succeeds the Mason's lecture.
Fill to him, &c.

SONG.

[ Tune, Young Damon once the happy Swain.]

A MASON's daughter fair and young,
The pride of all the virgin throng,
Thus to her lover said,
[Page 92] Tho' Damon I your flame approve,
Your actions praise, your person love,
Yet still I'll live a maid.
None shall untie my virgin zone,
But one to whom the secret's known,
Of fam'd Free-masonry;
In which the great and good combine,
To raise with generous design,
Man to felicity.
The lodge excludes the fop and fool;
The plodding knave and party tool,
That liberty would fell;
The noble, faithful, and the brave,
No golden charms can e'er deceive,
In slavery to dwell.
This said, he bow'd and went away,
Apply'd, was made without delay,
Return'd to her again;
The fair one granted his request,
Connubial joys their days have blest,
And may they e'er remain.
[Page 93]

SONG.

HAIL secret art! by heav'n design'd
To cultivate and cheer the mind;
Thy secrets are to all unknown,
But Masons just and true alone,
But Masons just and true alone.
CHORUS.
Then let us all their praises sing,
Fellows to peasant, prince, or king,
Fellows to peasant, prince, or king.
From west to east we take our way,
To meet the bright approaching day;
That we to work may go in time,
And up the sacred ladder climb.
And up the, &c.
Then let us all, &c.
Bright rays of glory did inspire,
Our Master great who came from Tyre
Still sacred history keeps his name,
Who did the glorious Temple frame.
Who did, &c.
Then let us, &c.
[Page 94]
The noble art divinely rear'd
Uprightly built upon the square;
Encompass'd by the powers divine,
Shall stand until the end of time,
Shall stand, &c.
Then let us all, &c.
No human eye thy beauties see,
but Masons truly just and free;
Inspir'd by each heav'nly spark,
Whilst Cowans labour in the dark.
Then let us all, &c.

SONG.

GLORIOUS craft which sires the mind
With sweet harmony and love;
Surely thou wer't first design'd
A foretaste of the joys above.
Pleasures always on thee wait,
Thou reformost Adam's race;
Strength and beauty in thee meet,
Wisdom's radiant in thy face.
Arts and virtues now combine,
Friendship raises cheerful mirth;
All unite to refine
Man from grosser parts of earth.
[Page 95]

SONG.

[ Tune, By Jove I'll be free.]

OF all institutions to form well the mind,
And make us to every virtue inclin'd:
Nous can with the craft of Free-masons compare,
Nor teach us so truly our actions to square;
For it was ordain'd by our founder's de­cree,
That we should be loyal, be loving, and free, be loving, and free, &c.
We in harmony, friendship, and unity meet,
And every brother most lovingly greet;
When we see one in distress, we then do imp [...]
Some comfort to cheer and enliven his heart;
Thus always we live, and forever agree.
Resolv'd to be loyal, most loving, and free, most loving, and free, &c.
By points of good fellowship we still accord,
Observing each Brother's true sign, grip, and word;
[Page 96] Which from our Great Architect was handed down,
And ne'er will to any but Masons be known;
Then here's to our Brethron of every degree,
Who always are loyal, are loving, and free, are loving, and free, &c.
Thus we interchangeably hold one an­other,
To let mankind see how we are link'd to each brother;
No monarch that secret knot can untie,
Nor can prying mortals the reason know why;
For our hearts, like our hands, still united shall be;
Still secret, still loyal, still loving, and free, still loving, and free, &c.

SONG.

YE gracious powers of cheral song,
Attend; inspire your festive throng;
Let harmless mirth, and frolic glee,
Dance sportive at our Jubilce.
We ask no sound of spear or shield,
No trophics of th' ensanguin'd field;
[Page 97] Let Hope, let Faith and Charity,
Begin and end our Jubilee.
No savage warrior's scarlet name,
Shall e'er defile our roll of fame;
Bur peace, with white rob'd train we see,
Presiding at our Jubilee.
The heart that feels for widow'd woe,
The tears, for orphans pangs that flow,
The voice which bids distress to flee,
Shall celebrate in Jubilee.
Mercy, with pearly melting eye,
Stern Justice with her sword on high,
Shall both attendant angels be,
To guide, to guard our Jubilee.
Each Brother's soul shall rapturous swell,
Nor sorrow toll our sadd'ning knell;
The voice, the hands, the heart by three,
Shall thrice repeat our Jubilee.
Then call from east to west the world,
The mystic banners are unfurl'd!
And O! departed ancients, see
From heaven, and bless our Jubilee!
[Page 98]
Lo! from his great or little store,
Each Brother flies his mite to pour,
That men may still rejoice to see,
A Mason's lodge a Jubilee.
Then, round the circle, let the glass
Yet in the square, convivial pass;
And when the sun winds o'er the lea,
Each lass, shall have her Jubilee.
Be this the general, cordial toast,
A wish that never should be lost,
That all the world may Masons be,
And live and love in Jubilee.

SONG.

ONCE I was blind and could not see,
And all was dark around;
But Providence did pity me,
And soon a friend I found;
Thro' secret paths my friend me led;
Such paths as babblers never tread.
With a fa, la, la, &c.
All stumbling blocks he took away,
That I might walk secure;
[Page 99] And brought me long e'er break of day,
To Sol's bright temple door;
Where there we both admittance found,
By power of magic, spells and sound.
The curber of my bold attempt,
Did then my breast alarm;
And hinted I was not exempt,
If rash, from double harm;
Which quickly stopt my rising pride,
And made me trust more to my guide.
In solemn pace I was led up,
And pass'd thro' the bright dome,
But soon I was oblig'd to stop,
Till I myself made known;
Then round an ancient form was bro't,
To obtain the favour that I sought.
With humble posture and due form,
I listen'd with good will;
And found, instead of noise and storm,
That all was hush'd and still;
And soon a heavenly sound did hear,
That quite dispell'd all doubt and fear.
[Page 100]
The guardian of this mystic charm,
In shining jewels drest;
Said, that I need to fear no harm,
If faithful was my breast;
For tho' to rogues he was severe,
No harm an honest man need fear.
Bright wisdom from his awful throne,
Bade darkness to withdraw;
No sooner said, but it was done.
And then—great things I saw;
But what they were—I now won't tell,
But safely in my breast shall dwell.
Then round and round me he did tie
An ancient noble charm;
Which future darkness will defy,
And ward of Cowans harm;
Then I return'd from whence I came,
Not what I was, but what I am.
[Page 101]

Warden's SONG.

MY tongue shall ever run
In praise of WASHINGTON;
With Poetry and Music sound
His fame to all the world around;
And with Geometry in skilful hand,
Due homage pay,
Without delay.
To ADAMS our great Master grand;
He rules the free-born Sons of Art
By love and friendship, hand and heart.
CHORUS.
Who can rehearse the praise,
In soft poetic lays,
Or solid Prose, of Masons true,
Whose Art transcends the common view?
Their Secrets ne'er to Strangers yet expos'd,
Resolv'd shall be,
By Masons free,
And only to the ancient lodge disclos'd;
Because they're kept in masons heart,
By brethren of the royal Art.
[Page 102]

Grand Wardens SONG.

LET Masonry be now my theme,
Throughout the globe to spread its fame,
And eternize each worthy Brother's name;
Your praise shall to the skies resound,
In lasting happiness abound,
And with sweet union all your noble deeds be crown'd.
Repeat this last line.
CHORUS.
Sing then, my muse, to Mason's glory,
Your names are so rever'd in story,
That all th' admiring world do now adore ye.
Let harmony divine inspire
Your souls with love and gen'rous fire,
To copy well wise Solomon your sire;
Knowledge sublime shall fill each heart,
The rules of g'ometry t' impart,
While Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty, crown the noble art.
Cho. Sing then, my muse, &c.
[Page 103]
Let ancient Masons health's go round,
In swelling cups all cares be drown'd,
And hearts united 'mongst the Craft be found;
May everlasting scenes of joy,
Our peaceful hours of bliss employ,
Which Time's all-conqu'ring hand shalt ne'er destroy.
Cho. Sing then, my muse, &c.
My brethren thus all cares resign,
Your hearts let glow with thoughts divine,
And veneration shew to Solomon's shrine;
Our annual tribute thus we'll pay,
That late posterity shall say,
We've crown'd with joy, this happy, happy day.
Cho. Sing then, my muse, &c.

Secretary's SONG.

YE brethren of the ancient Craft,
Ye fav'rite sons of Fame;
Let bumpers cheerfully be quaff'd,
To each good Mason's name;
[Page 104] Happy, long happy may he be,
Who lobes and honours Masonry;
With a fa, la, la, &c.
Ye lovely fair, for beauty fam'd,
Your slaves we wish to be;
Let none for charms like yours be nam'd,
That loves not Masonry;
This truth we ever prove full well,
That Masons never kiss and tell;
With a fa, la, la, &c.
Free-masons, no offences give,
Let Fame your worth declare;
Within your compass wisely live,
And act upon the square;
May Peace and Friendship e'er abound,
And ev'ry Mason's health go round;
With a fa, la, la, &c.

Royal Arch SONG.

GOD caus'd great lights to shine,
Moving in orbs divine,
Which ever shall
Banish all darkness quite,
With such refulgent light,
[Page 105] And from eternal night,
Save ROYALS all.
SANCTUM SANCTORUM,
Triangles—no more of 'em,
Wisdom's reveal'd;
Sublimest arts refin'd,
Excellent arches bind!
No flaw in heart or mind
Shall be conceal'd.
Few in our numbers are,
Therefore in royal chair,
Honours abound;
We will join hearts and hand,
Whilst truth and virtue stand,
None but the Royal band
Shall circle round.
We will, &c.

Knights Templars SONG.

[ Tune, God save great George.]

GOD bless the Royal band,
Who grace this happy land,
With valiant Knights:
[Page 106] May the united Three,
Of the blest Trinity,
Cement the unity
Of all great lights.
Twelve once were highly lov'd,
But one a Judas prov'd,
Put out his fire:
May Simon haunt all fools,
Who vary from our rules,
May the heads of such tools
Rest high on spires.
No Turk nor Jew we'll fight,
But in Religion's right
Let all be blest
Poor pilgrims begging we
Will our Jerusalem see,
All steps, sir Knights have ye
Gloriously pass'd.
Enter'd, pass'd, rais'd, and arch'd,
And then like princes, march'd,
Through rugged ways;
At length great lights we saw,
And poor old Simon too,
[Page 107] Also the word and law,
Glory and praise.
God in his rainbow gave,
Colours which now we have,
Black, red, and blue,
These colours emblems are
Of royal love most rare,
We are in souls sincere.
Just, good, and true.
Sir knights clasp hand in hand,
None but Knight Templars stand
In circle round:
May we all live in love,
And ev'ry comfort prove,
May mercy from above
Fall on this ground.

SONG.

LET Masons ever live in love,
Let harmony their blessing prove,
And sacred lodge on earth, the place
Where freedom smiles in every face.
CHORUS.
Live Free-masons, Free-masons live and love,
And shew that your types are from above.
[Page 108]
CHORUS.
Live Free-masons, Free-masons live and love,
And shew that your types are from above.
Behold the world all in amaze,
Each curious eye with transport gaze,
They look, they like, they wish to be,
What none can gain except he's free.
Live Free-masons, &c.
Then let each Brother charge full high,
And let us drink the memory
Of Hiram and king Solomon,
Whose fame has thro' all ages run.
Live Free-masons, &c.

SONG.

ASSEMBLED and tyl'd, let us social agree,
With the monarch that sits on the threne,
For he charges a glass, and round let it pass,
To celebrate ancient St. John.
Tho' babblers may prattle in shewing their spleen,
Their spite we compare to the drone,
[Page 109] The world is in pain our secrets to gain,
In ignorance let them think on,
For in sweet harmony, in love we'll agree.
To celebrate ancient St. John.
We'll charge, and we'll toast the great WASHINGTON;
We'll remember the wise Solomon,
For his actions were rare, by the com­pass and square,
Thus celebrate ancient St. John.
Then join hand in hand, in a body firm stand,
Our cares and our troubles be gone,
We'll unite, sing, and laugh, love the ladies, and quaff;
Thus celebrate ancient St. John.

SONG.

[ Tune, Rural Felicity.]

YE dull stupid mortals, give o'er your conjectures,
Since free masons secrets you ne'er can obtain;
[Page 110] The bible and compass are our directors,
And shall be as long as this world doth remain.
Here friendship inviting, here freedom delighting.
Our moments in innocent mirth we em­ploy:
CHORUS.
Come, see, Masons' felicity,
Working and singing with hearts full of joy.
No other society that you can mention,
Which has been, is now, or hereaf­ter shall be,
However so laudable is its intention,
It cannot compare with divine Ma­sonry.
No envy, no quarrels, can here blast our laurels,
No passion our pleasures can ever annoy;
Come, see, &c.
To aid one another we always are ready,
Our rights and our secrets we care­fully guard;
[Page 111] The lodge to support, we like pillars are steady,
No Babal confusion our work can re­tard.
Ye mortals come hither, assemble to­gether,
And taste of those pleasures which ne­ver can cloy,
Come, see, &c.
We are to the Master for ever obedient,
Whenever he calls, to the Lodge we repair;
Experience has taught us, that 'tis most expedient
To live within compass, and act on the square,
Let mutual agreement, be Free-masons' cement,
Until the whole Universe time shall destroy;
Come, see, &c.

SONG.

WHEN Heaven design'd that man should know
All that was good and great below;
[Page 112] This was the happy, choice decree,
The blessings of Free-masonry.
Hence peace and friendship deign to smile,
Instructive rules the hours beguile:
In social joy and harmony
Are spent the hours of Masonry.
To beauty's shrine they homage pay,
Its power they know, and own its sway;
And this their toast will always be,
Success to love and Masonry.
Of modern learning, ancient lore,
Masons possess an ample store;
At faction spurn, but loyalty
Congenial is with Masonry.
When taste and genius both combine,
To shape the stone or draw the line;
In fair proportion just and free,
All own the power of Masonry.
Whate'er in sculptur'd skill we prize,
Or domes are rear'd, or structures rise;
Such wonders ne'er mankind could see,
But from the help of Masonry.
[Page 113]
An edifice we're proud to own.
Of wood not made, nor yet of stone;
Whose angles, squares, and symetry,
Are emblems of Free-masonry.
It's founded on a brother's love,
Relief and truth its pillars prove;
Its corner stone is Charity;
The building's then Free-masonry.
By nature rear'd, improv'd by Art,
The mansion view, a Mason's heart,
Which ne'er was equall'd, all agree,
When modell'd by Free-masonry.

SONG.

Let Masons be merry each night when they meet,
And always each other most lovingly greet,
Let envy and discord be sunk in the deep,
By such as are able great secrets to keep,
Let all the world gaze on our Art with surprise,
They're all in the dark 'till we open their eyes,
'till we open, &c.
[Page 114]
Whoever is know for to act on the square,
And likewise well skill'd in our secrets rare,
Are always respected whether wealthy or poor,
And ne'er yet was careless of things that are pure;
For their actions are bright and their lives spent in love,
At length will be happy in the grand lodge above. in the, &c.
We are brothers and fellows to brave WASHINGTON,
Our fame through the world does con­stantly run,
As we lovingly meet so we lovingly part,
No Mason did even bare malice at heart,
And the fool that's conceited we'll never dispise,
Let him come to our lodge and we'll make him more wise, and we'll make, &c.
The SANCTUM SANCTORUM by Ma­sons is fram'd,
And all the fine works which the Tem­ple contain'd,
[Page 123] Undivulg'd their own secrets, to you'll be sincere;
Which nobody, &c.

SONG.

Tune Greedy Midas.

WITH harmony and flowing wine,
My brethren all come with me join;
To celebrate this happy day,
And to our Master homage pay.
Hail! happy, happy, sacred place,
Where friendship smiles on ev'ry face;
And royal art! doth fill the chair,
Adorned with his noble square.
Next sing, my muse, our Wardens praise,
With chorus loud in tuneful lays;
Oh! may these columns ne'er decay,
Untill the world dissolves away.
My brethren all come join with me,
To sing the praise of Masonry;
The noble, faithful, and the brave,
Whose arts shall live beyond the grave
Let envy hide her shameful face,
Before us ancient sons of peace;
[Page 124] Whose golden precepts still remain,
Free from envy, pride or stain.

SONG.

Tune The Enter'd 'Prentice.

FROM the depths let us raise
Our voices, and praise
The works of the glorious creation;
And extol the great fame
Of our Maker's great name,
And his love to an Accepted Mason.
In primitive time,
When men, of no crime,
Were sav'd from that great inundation
Whose Father from on high,
Taught Geometry,
That honour'd science of a Mason.
In an Ark that was good,
Made of Gopher wood,
And was built by divine ordination;
And the first in his time,
That planted a vine,
Was a Free and an Accepted Mason.
[Page 125]
When Pharoah, the King
Of Egypt, did bring
To bondage our whole generation;
That King got a fall,
And his Magicians all,
By a princely and learn'd wise Mason.
Then thro' the Red-sea,
Heaven guided their way,
By two pillars of divine ordination;
And Pharaoh's great train
Were lost in the main,
For pursuing an army of Masons.
When Amalek's King,
Great forces did bring,
Likewise the great Midianite nation;
Those Kings got a fall,
And their great armies all,
And their wealth fell a spoil to those Masons
King Solomon, he
Was known to be free,
Built a holy grand lodge for his nation;
[Page 126] Each beautiful part
Was due to the Art
Of Hiram, the great learned Mason.
They to Jordan did go,
And met their proud foe,
And fought the great Cannanite nation;
Whose gigantic strain,
Could never sustain
The force of an army of Masons.

SONG.

COME fill up a bumper, and let it go round,
Let mirth and good fellowship always abound;
And let the world see,
That Free-masonry,
Doth teach honest souls to be jovial and free.
Our lodge now compos'd of honest free hearts,
Our Master most freely his secrets im­parts;
[Page 127] And so we improve,
In knowledge and love,
By help from our mighty Grand-Master above.
Let honour and friendship eternally reign,
Let each brother Mason the truth so maintain;
That all may agree,
That Free-masonry,
Doth teach honest souls to be jovial and free.
In Mirth and good fellowship we will agree,
For none are more blest or more happy than we;
And thus we'll endure,
While our actions are pure
Kind heaven those blessings to us doth insure.

SONG.

WHEN Masonry, by heaven's design,
Did enter first into Hiram's brain,
[Page 128] A Choir of Angles did rejoice,
And this Chorus sung with united voice,
CHORUS.
Hail! you happy, happy sons that be
Brothers in Free-masonry.
Great Hiram he did then repair,
And went to work with rule and square,
With plumb and level, to his eternal fame,
He did the glorious Temple frame,
Hail! you happy, &c.
When Solomon beheld the same,
He then set forth great Hiram's fame:
Oh! excellent Mason! he in surprize did say,
Above all Arts you bear the sway,
Hail! you happy, &c.
Now to great Hirams memory
Let's fill a glass most cheerfully,
St. John (including) who the light did bring,
And great WASHINGTON'S praises ring,
Hail! you happy, &c.
[Page 129]
Next charge unto our Master Grand,
And to each lovely fair one round the land,
Ourselves including, so let the health go round
And may we ever true be found,
Hail! you happy, &c.

A NEW SONG,
ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF MASONRY IN VERMONT—BY A BROTHER IN THAT STATE.

Tune, MUTUAL LOVE.

AS Masons once on Shinar's plain,
Met to revive their arts again,
Did mutually agree;
Did mutually agree.
So now in Vermont we design,
To raise the noble art divine,
To ancient purity;
To ancient purity.
The Masons in this happy land,
Have now united in a band,
And a Grand Lodge have made;
And a Grand Lodge have made.
[Page 130] Green Mountain Brothers by a sign,
Like Salem's Sons each other join,
And Masonry have spread;
And Masonry have spread.
Thrice happy, blest Fraternity,
Whose basis is sweet unity:
So may it ever be;
So may it ever be.
Fill to the noble happy band,
Who have supported in this land,
Upright Free-masonry;
Upright Free-masonry;
And may our Lodge forever be,
An honor to Free-masonry;
Well skill'd in secrets rare;
Well skill'd in secrets rare.
Health to our noble Master Grand—
Let Brother by each Brother stand:
A health to all the Fair;
A health to all the Fair.
[Page]

PROLOGUE.
A PROLOGUE spoken before a Play which had been commanded by an Encampment of KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.

Written by a BROTHER.
SEE—here are men, who're bound by ties to tread
In honour's paths;—by obligations led
To serve the fair; to dry the Orphan's tears,
The widow's pleas; and dissipate their fears;
To wield our swords in Christian's sacred came;
To vanquish Turks, and trample on their laws;
To pass our lives in righteousness and truth,
To serve our brethern, and instruct our youth.
[Page 132] Poor CYMON too, we awfully revere,—
Are strangers to servility and fear;
Knights of an ancient order!—doom'd to trace
The sacred rules of all EMMANUEL'S Race;
A Judas ne'er encouragement can find
Among a band, where three in one must bind,
Who're ever mindful of that dreadful day,
When fleeting souls resume their pristine clay:
Memento mori—Cloud-cap'd Towers fall,
And universal Chaos buries all.
This institution—ancient in its kind,
I * Fethard first was polish'd and refin'd;
Why not?—When beauties such as ye inspire
Our gallant Knights, and set their souls on fire;
[Page 133] In lovely order,—see the polish'd rows,
Their friendship for the Royal Craft disclose;
The secret faithful Craft—who joys can feel,
Nor cry they roast-meat—fare they e'er so well.
May such for ever be the ladies choice,
Free from deceit—and free from every vice;
And more (ye fair) than all your slave has said,
You're sure that men will grace your nuptual bed;
No wan Italians,—no pale fribbles we,
But flesh and blood, brave, honest, frank and free.
[Page]

EPILOGUES.

EPILOGUE.

WITH what malicious joy, e'er I knew better,
Have I been wont the Masons to bespatter?
How greedily have I believ'd each lie,
Contriv'd against that fam'd society?
With many more complain'd—'twas very hard,
Women should from their secrets be debarr'd.
When kings and statesmen to our sex reveal
Important business which they should conceal,
That beauteous ladies by their sparks ador'd,
Never cou'd wheedle out the Masons word;
And oft their favours have bestow'd in vain,
Nor cou'd one secret for another gain:
[Page 135] I thought, unable to explain the matter,
Each Mason sure must be a woman­hater:
With sudden fear and dismal horror struck,
I heard my spouse was to subscribe the book:
By all our loves I begg'd he would for­bear;
Upon my knees I wept and toar my hair:
But when I found him fixt, how I be­hav'd,
I thought him lost, and like a fury rav'd,
Believ'd he wou'd forever be undone
By some strange opperation under [...].
When he came back I found a change, 'tis true,
But such a change as did his youth renew:
With rosy cheeks and smiling grace he came,
And sparkling eyes that spoke a bride­groom's flame.
Ye maried ladies, 'tis a happy life,
Believe me, that of a Free-mason's wise.
Tho' they conceal the secrets of their friends,
In love and truth they make us full amends,
[Page 136]

EPILOGUE.

WELL, here I'm come to let you know my thoughts;
Nay ben't alarm'd, I'll not attack your faults;
Alike be safe the cuckold and the wit,
The cuckold-maker and the solemn cit,
I'm in good humour, and am come to prattle,
Ha'nt I a head well turn'd, d'ye think, to rattle?
But to clear up the point and to be free,
What think you is my subject? MA­SONRY!
Tho' I'm afraid, as lawyers cases clear,
My learn'd debate will keep you as you were;
But I'm a woman—and when I say that,
You know we'll talk altho' we know not what;
What think you, ladies, an't very hard
That we should from this secret be de­barr'd?
How comes it that the softer hour of love,
To wheedle out this secret, fruitless prove?
For we can wheedle when we hope to move.
[Page 137] What can it mean, why all this mighty pother,
These mystic signs, and solemn calling, BROTHER?
That we are qualified in signs, are known,
We can keep secrets too, but they're our own.
When my good-man went first to be a Mason,
Tho' I resolv'd to put the smoother face on:
Yet to speak truly, I began to fear
He must some dreadful operation bear;
But he return'd to satisfy each doubt,
And brought home ev'ry thing he carry'd out:
Nay, came improv'd, for on his face appear'd
A plealing smile that every scruple clear'd
Such adding complaisance so much good nature,
So much, so strangely alter'd for the petter!
That to increase the mutual dear delight
Wou'd be were a Mason ev'ry night.
[Page]

TOASTS.

OUR right worshipful Grand Master.
All Grand Lodges throughout the globe.
To all the Fraternity round the globe.
To all charitable Masons.
Speedy relief to all worthy brethren, either oppressed or distressed, throughout the globe.
To women with both wit and charms,
Who love to lie in Mason's arms.
The heart that conceals,
And the tongue that never reveals.
The widow's son.
To the memory of him who first plan­ted the vine.
May wisdom contrive our happiness; strength support our virtuous resolutions; and beauty adorn our beds.
To all the fair who are well-wishers to the secred Art.
[Page 139] May our wisdom be as conspicuous to our sisters, as the wisdom of our Grand Master Solomon was to the Queen of Sheba.
May we enter apprentices to Virtue; be fellow Craft with Charity; and be al­ways Masters of our passions.
May virtue and brotherly love be our rule and guide through life.
May the square of truth and honor square our actions.
May the compass of our abilities, cir­cumscribe the bounds of our desires.
May every brother strictly adhere to the use of his trowel.
May the fragrance of a good report,
[...]
May every Free and Accepted Mason rule in the east, find refreshment in the south, be dismissed in the west, and then be admitted into the middle chamber, to receive the reward of a GOOD MAN.
To all the female friends of Free-ma­sons.
[Page 140] To the memory of the Tyrian Artist.
Prosperity to the ancient and honour­able Craft.
To the secret and silent.
May every brother carry a list'ning ear and a faithful heart.
To all who live up to the rules of campass and square.
To each faithful brother ancient and young,
Who governs his passion and bridles-his tongue.
To every worthy brother who is con­stant in love and sincere in friendship.
May every brother be encouraged in [...].
[...]
May all the contentions among Ma­sons [...].
Who better can work, or better agree.
FINIS.

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