"The Old Master's Wages"
I met a dear old man today, Who wore a Masonic pin,
It was old and faded like the man, It's edges were worn and thin.
I approached the park bench where he sat, To give the old brother his due,
I said, "I see you've traveled east," He said, "I have have you?"
I said, “I have and in my day Before the All Seeing Sun,
I played in the rubble with Jubala, Jubalo, and Jubalum."
He shouted, "Don't laugh at the work my son, It's good, sweet, and true,
And if you traveled as you said, You should give these things their due."
The word, the sign, the token, The sweet Masonic prayer,
The vow that all have taken, Who've climbed the inner stair.
The wages of a Mason, Are never paid in gold,
But the gain comes from contentment, When you're growing weak and old.
You see, I've carried my obligations, For almost fifty years,
It has helped me through the hardships, And failures full of tears.
Now I'm losing my mind and body, Death is near but I don't despair,
I've lived my life upon the level, And I'm dying upon the square.
Sometimes the greatest lessons, Are those learned anew,
And the old man in the park today, Has changed my point of view.
To all Masonic Brothers, The only secret is to care,
May you live your life upon the level, May you part upon the square.
author unknown
Last night I knelt where Hiram knelt
And took an Obligation,
And now I'm closer to my God
For I'm a Master Mason.
And as I feel his friendly grip
It fills my heart with pride.
I know that while I'm On The Square
He is by my side.
His footsteps on my errand go
If I should such require,
His prayers will plead on my behalf
If I should so desire.
My words are safe within his breast
As though within my own,
His hand forever at my back
To help me safely home.
Good counsel whispers in my ear
And warns of any danger,
By Square and Compass, 'tis Brother now!
Who once would call me stranger.
I might have lived a moral life
And risen to distinction
Without my Brother's helping hand
And the fellowship of Master Masons.
But God who knows how hard it is
To resist life's temptations
Knows why I knelt where Hiram knelt
And took that Obligation.
Author Unknown
Jokes
A man had been convicted of murder and was about to be hanged. Just before the sentence was executed, the hangman asked the man if he had any last words. "Yes" came his reply, "I hate Masons!" "Why do you hate Masons?" asked the hangman. "The man I killed was a Mason," explained the murderer, "the sheriff who hunted me down was a Mason, the Prosecutor who tried my case was a Mason, the Judge who presided at the trial was a Mason, and all of the men on the jury who found me guilty and said I should be hanged were Masons!" "Is that all?" asked the hangman, " "Yes" replied the convicted murder. "Ok Then, Step off with your left foot."