A Mason’s Faith

Is Masonry a religion?
No,
Not a religion.
But a man must have faith.
A Mason’s trust is in his God.

He first came to the Lodge,
Was asked to kneel —
A Brother prayed for him.
Another walked with him,
Never alone —
Always upright like the Plumb,
Trusting in the Brother and his God.

He walked a path others had walked;
For centuries every Mason has walked that path —
Learning and growing,
Trusting his Brothers and his God.

Progress brought light, more light and further light.
The light from God, “In the beginning.”
The light of learning and knowledge.
Light from the God in whom he put his trust.

The Mason grew as he made his promises.
Secrets to keep — Secrets to look for.
The Master’s Word was lost.
Searched for and never found.
But still he could trust in his God.

Working tools taught him lessons:
A good man was made better,
Passions were subdued.
And the tools helped him build:
Build his character as a stone
Whose rough edges are smoothed
For the Temple of His God.

Almighty Father of the Universe!
Great Architect of the Universe!
However He is addressed,
He is the One to trust.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in Unity.”
The Mason prayed that discordant passions be subdued,
That Brotherly Love and Affection be spread with the Master’s trowel.
And God is the one he trusts to answer that prayer.

And so may the blessing of Heaven
Rest upon all Masons.
May we meet upon the level and part upon the square,
Always trusting in our God.

Not a religion,
But a man must have faith.
A Mason’s trust and his faith
Are in his God.

March 22. 2004
Inspired by M.W. Brother Tom Eggleston
Dedicated to R.W. Bill Yungclas

[Bro. Simser submitted these as two poems, but the only difference between parts I and II is a change in rhyme scheme, from aabb to abcb. Since they form a single continuous narrative, I've placed them together here in sequence.
okl

A Mason’s Working Tools, Part I

A tool resting upon a shelf
Can do nothing by itself.
But if taken up with purpose pure
It can build and shape for sure.

The Mason's tools will help him grow
If he looks inside to learn and know;
The tool has a greater message for each
As life's important lessons it does teach.

That tool in his hands can change his life,
Raise him above mortal strife.
Used with purpose and with care
He can build a temple fair.

Some tools give a standard true,
To measure our lives through and through,
While others shape a character fair
As we learn their lessons there.

The compass around us a circle draws
In which we overlook our flaws.
With the plumb line and the level we meet others,
Upright and true we travel with our brothers.

The gavel governs and teaches all alike
That our rough edges from us we should strike,
Smoothing and shaping as a block of stone,
Ready to stand before God's holy throne.

A Mason’s Working Tools, Part II

With a twenty-four inch gauge
Time is divided into work and rest,
Service to God and to our fellow man —
Measured and laid out — drawn by the best.

A trowel binding into a sacred group
Spreads the cement of brotherly love.
Masons building, learning and growing —
Guided with light from above.

We use our tools most sublime.
And take them up our lives to shape.
Tools for learning — tools for growing.
Tools for building — tools for knowing.

And when at last our journey ends,
And from our hands the tools fall,
When 'tis time to "part upon the square,"
May it be said of each and of all:

They knew the lessons which were taught,
And with those lessons hard they fought
To build a character so sublime;
One noble, upright, pure and fine.

My Brother

He may be young,
He may be old.
He may be a doctor,
A bricklayer,
A lawyer or college professor.
No matter.
I meet my Brother
“On the Level.”

He may be richer than I,
He may be poorer.
Drive a big car
Or an old jeep.
He may wear plain clothes
Or be a fancy dresser.
No matter.
I greet my Brother
“On the Level.”

He may have taken his degrees over time
Or received them all in one day.
For the time being
He may hold office
In the Lodge or in the state.
He may be married,
Have children or not.
No matter.
He is my Brother
And we meet
“On the Level.”

He comes from every country,
From every walk of life.
But when I meet him
'Round the sacred book,
Tools in our hands,
Character to build;
He is my Brother, and I love him
“On the Level.”

We use the working tools
To guide our lives,
Act uprightly
“By the Plumb.”
When we meet
It is on the Level
So that when we part
‘Tis “On the Square.”

Why Members Leave

Did you make him feel welcome?: Did you hold out your hand?
Did you listen to his troubles?: With him, did you stand?
Were the secrets which you shared: ones that will keep him coming back?
Or are they merely empty forms: and it’s Brotherhood they lack?
Was there something for him to find: here among his Brothers and friends?
Or did he look in vain for those: on whom he could depend?
Is this a place for him to shine,: to be with others of his kind?
With true fellows of the Craft,: is that what he can find?
If all these things were here,: nothing will keep him away.
If not, I doubt that anyone: can persuade him to stay.

December 31, 2007

Another Third Degree

Once again the drama unfolds
Parts are played and lessons told.

A Brother enters - hoodwinked, unaware
Of what fell doings will happen there.

He need not fear, the Craft is kind.
‘Tis a great lesson which he will find.

The Obligation is taken, yet once more said,
and still another vow is made.

Since ancient times Brothers learn and grow
This sacred mystery to know.

To learn to be a Master subduing all strife
Brothers helping Brothers throughout life

No secrets here - the truth is for all to know
To study, to learn, and always to grow.

To find God’s reward at the end of the search
A Master Mason, a Brother, a true friend each.

Lodge is a school and our life a study, we work together and once again
The drama unfolds, parts are played and we learn to be men.

Nov. 19, 2008

Jay Cole Simser