Classic Poem

If it were only that you hold within
 Such faithful breasts the secrets of the Craft:—
If only that the Mystery divine
 In your devoted spirits is engratt,—
We would extend to each of you the hand,
And welcome to the Dark and Bloody Land .

For here Freemasonry we prize above
 All other gifts the Gracious Lord bestows.
Where first our fathers with the savage strove,
 They reared her altars, they exchanged her vows,
And taught us, as we love each parted sire,
To keep alive, undimmed, the Sacred Fire.

And we have done it; until now, no more
 A dark and bloody ground , Kentucky stands;
The light and love our fathers did adore,
 Refulgent, in six hundred Mason bands,
From mountain height to river,—east to west,—
The gavel falls, our mystic toils to attest.

But what best welcome shall we offer you ,
 Masters and leaders in the sacred quest?
What fitting salutation shall we show
 To Masonry's thrice-honored, worthiest, best?
Take, Brothers, take our hearts! words are too weak
To express the sentiment we fain would speak.

Shape your own welcome in Kentucky's home;
 Find at each vestibule the latch string out;
As conquerors within our dwellings, come;
 Abide in peace, nor harbor fear nor doubt;
Ours the honor,—give us but to know
Our guests are happy, we are happy, too!