Classic Poem

How sweet is friendship in a foreign land!
How warm the pressure of fraternal hand,
When every other voice upon the ear
Falls cold and meaningless, or insincere!

Dear Friend, I swear your hospitable creed
Embodies all that Mason's heart can heed;
The courtesy, unwearied kindness, love —
The ruling principle in things above —
A genial manner, grateful to the soul,
And dignity of mien, to grace the whole.

Is this the work of Masonry? why then
Honor to Masonry, we'll shout again!
But no; 'tis the Great Master Builder's Craft,
Intent on shaping one exquisite shaft.
God makes the good man ; ours the humbler part,
To indorse the work, and polish it with Art.

Around thee let me, with prophetic eye,
A band of Moral Architects espy —
Warm with thy fervor, in thy wisdom wise,
Seeking through Masonry a goodly prize;
Bounteous in charities, in honor true,
Yielding to man and God the guerdon due;
Brave in the truth as to each one 'tis shown,
And bold with justice, fearing God alone.

Thus circled, honored, blest by old and young,
Thy years shall pass as one continued song;
The Temple, rising neath thy Master care,
Golden inscriptions in thy praise shall bear.
Jew, Christian, Moslem, blent in one by thee,
Shall show the world how Masons can agree;
And influenced by thy wise and timely thought,
Blood feuds and hatreds shall be all forgot.

Then shall this epitaph as thine be given:
" Faithful and true, his wages are in Heaven. "