Classic Poem

Within this sacred chamber, where in still
And awful solitude, great Peace abides,
Where Hiram fell and taught the Craft to die
In solemn testimony to their faith;
Where lies the Word OF G OD , out of which speaks
The Voice that broke from Sinai, we have brought
One from the outer world and made him ours.

With solemn vows , — J EHOYAH witnessing;
In mystic methods , — ancient and complete;
With quaint devices , — teaching truth divine;
Here in tyled portals , — all the world shut out;
A faithful friend to brother is transformed!
New birth and wondrous! not from ties of blood,
But spirit-born, his mother, this our Lodge!

What have we done? how will our mysteries
Bear fruitage on this new and untried stock?
Alas, so many barren plants appear
Within our vineyard, shall we look in vain
To Him? A hope prophetic fills my soul
That here , at least, our choice has fallen well.

From Sion's temple there were two escapes
For offerings made by pious worshipers;
One through pure burnings upward to the skies ,
One by foul conduit to Kedron's Vale;
His be the upward flight!
Bring now the tools,
The mystic Implements that Hiram loved,
And place them on this Ashlar, newly set; —
How beautiful, how beautiful the sight!
As Boaz and as Jachin see him stand!
Lo, in what narrow bounds of truth he moves, —
His virtues, how they gratify the Square!

It needs but that we ask the M ASTER'S gift
To endow him with all grace in life, in death;
That when his work is ended here, a seat
May wait our Brother in the Lodge above!