YEARBOOK Home
Odes
AT THE OPENING OF THE LODGE
Hail Eternal! by whose aid
All created things were made;
Heav’n and earth, Thy vast design;
Hear us, Architect Divine!
May our work, begun in Thee,
Ever blest with order be,
And may we, when labours cease
Part in harmony and peace.
By Thy glorious Majesty
By the trust we place in Thee
By the badge and mystic sign
Hear us, Architect Divine!
SO MOTE IT BE
AT THE CLOSING OF THE LODGE
Now the evening shadows closing,
Worn from toil to peaceful rest,
Mystic arts and rights reposing,
Sacred in each faithful breast.
God of Light! whose love unceasing,
Doth to all Thy works extend,
Crown our Order with Thy blessing,
Build; sustain us to the end.
Humbly now we bow before Thee
Grateful for Thy aid Divine;
Everlasting power and glory,
Mighty Architect! be Thine.
SO MOTE IT BE
THE ENTERED APPRENTICE’S SONG
This old song (with its proper tune) is ascribed by Dr. Anderson, in the first Edition of the Constitution Book (1723), “to our late Brother, Mr Mathew Birkhead, deceased. To be sung when all grave business is over, and with the Master’s leave”.
Come let us prepare,
We Brothers that are
Assembled on merry occasion.
Let’s drink, laugh and sing:
Our wine has a spring;
Here’s health to an Accepted Mason. (All charged)
The world is in pain
Our secrets to gain,
And still let them wonder and gaze on.
They ne’er can divine
The Word or the Sign
Of a Free and an Accepted Mason.
‘Tis this and ’tis that
They cannot tell what,
Why so many Great Men of the nation
Should Aprons put on,
To make themselves one
With a Free and an Accepted Mason.
Great Kings, Dukes and Lords
Have laid by their Swords,
Our myst’ry to put a good Grace on;
And ne’er been ashamed
To hear themselves named
With a Free and an Accepted Mason.
Antiquity’s pride
We have on our side,
And it maketh men just in their station
There’s nought but what’s good
To be understood
By a Free and an Accepted Mason.
Then join Hand in Hand
To each other 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.