Table of Contents

Symbols

What are those shining symbols

On that open Holy Book?

That teaches us of Brotherly Love,

And on it, oaths we took.

I placed my hands upon this book

And pledged by solemn word,

My fingers touching shining symbols,

Repeating the oath I heard.

So help me GOD, and keep me steadfast,

These words my final plea,

And now I'll live my whole life

By the tenants of Masonry.

We are all Fraternal Brothers

By the sacred oath we took,

When we placed both hands

On that open Holy Book.

12/9/03

A Man's Masonic Measure

A good man's worth is not measured
In wealth, jewels or clothes,
But by his deeds his worth is measured
By his BROTHERS, friends and foes.

A good man's worth is measured
By his truth and integrity,
His thoughtfulness and caring
And his steadfast loyalty.

He never makes a promise
That he would never keep,
For in his breast beats a heart
That is noble, true and deep.

He reaches out his helping hand
To the sick, poor and seedy,
Never watching who may see him
Giving help to the needy.

His reward is in the feeling
That he's done something good,
By helping out his fellow man
As every Mason should.

He will be judged on judgment day,
by the one who sees it all,
His true reward will come to him
When he answers that final call

12/4/03

Disgruntled

Never make an angry vow,
When anger rules your mind,
Calm your anger over time,
And let yourself unwind.

Opinions may be right or wrong,
Depending on your view,
But it's not worth all the strife,
That divided a Lodge in two.

Rings and titles may feed the ego,
But true Masons they don't make.
A noble heart within your breast,
Forgives a Brother's mistake.

Every Mason, extend your hand
In friendship toward your Brother,
Overlooking disagreements
One has with another.

So make that first move Brother,
And show that you're a man
Extend your hand in friendship,
As only true Masons can.

12/23/03

A Brother came to lodge one day,
And quietly sat without a fuss.
No Brother noticed who he was,
As he took his seat with all of us.

No one Brother even noticed,
As he left quietly as he came,
No questions asked about his lodge,
Nor even asked him for his name.

At the next stated meeting,
Again it was the same.
He took his seat among us,
And left quietly as he came.

But at the next stated meeting,
He sat quietly in his place,
Wore a hat on his head,
And a broad smile on his face.

He sat quietly with his hat,
Till the Master saw him there,
And he called upon the Marshal,
To come over to his chair.

"Go tell this unknown Brother,
To please remove his hat."
So off he went, with a smile,
And they soon began to chat.

And leaning toward the Marshal,
This is what he said.
He told the waiting Marshal,
Why the hat was on his head.

"I came but no one noticed,
Till a hat was on my head.
And now I will remove it."
Was what this Brother said.

He also spoke of other things,
That'd happened at this meeting,
That no one even took the time,
To ask his name, or greeting.

The Marshal shook the Brothers hand,
And turning, walked away.
While walking toward the Master's chair,
He thought of what he'd say.

He told the Worshipful Master,
The reasons he just head.
From the smiling unknown Brother,
He repeated it, word for word.

The moral of this verse,
Is to teach every Brother.
To greet and welcome everyone,
And to speak to one another.

Let no Brother stand alone,
Take the time to make him see,
The warm fraternal friendship,
That comes from you and me.

12/30/03

A Masonic Memorial To A Fallen Brother

To every man the time must come

to leave this life behind,

Leaving memories of a man

who was truthful, friendly, and kind.

He lived his life as best he could,

being faithful to our LORD,

His immortal soul rests in peace

in the loving hands of GOD.

From dust he came, to dust returns,

his immortal soul lives on,

Through heavens gate he is received

to enter a new dawn.

A gentle voice will say to him

in a voice that's like no other

Welcome to your eternal home

my good and faithful Brother.

1/30/04

Joseph V. Perry

This collection comes to the Masonic Poets Society from one Brother Joseph V. Perry. I have had the great pleasure of serving with this Brother in several of the concordant bodies of Freemasonry here in Maine. We were first introduced to each other during the Royal Arch Degree as I was his Principle Sojourner. Certainly a night that neither of us will soon forget.

jsl.