MASONIC JEWELS

By BRO. JOHN GEORGE GMSON 

(From The Builder, Anamosa, Iowa, April, 1917)

Does the square that you wear mean the test by your God

Of the work that you do, and the word that you speak,

Of the will of your mind, the thought of your heart,

Of the Past that is gone, of the Future you seek? 

The Compasses you wear, does it mean that you move

Within the true bound appointed and sure,

Restricted desire, pleasure defined,

A yielding of self to the bonds that endure? 

The Triangle too -great emblem of Him

Who is Maker, and Master, Beginning and End, -

Do you wear it to show that He is to you

The Source and the Aim that all others transcend? 

What means the gold trowel that hangs at your chain?

Does it tell of the mortar of Love that you spread?

Of the joint well cement with fine brotherly love?

Of the stones that now lie in the well-mortared bed? 

If 'tis not so, then take the poor jewels away;

The meaningless bauble will only deceive

Yourself and the others you meet on your way

As meaningless lies which none ever believe.

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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FRATERNITY

By BRO. DAVID E. GUYTON

(From The Builder, Anamosa, Iowa, October, 1915)

  

We build us temples tall and grand, 

With gifts we heap our altars high, 

Unheeding how, on every hand,

The hungry and the naked cry.

We sound our creeds in trumpet tone, 

With zeal we compass land and sea, 

Unmindful of the sob and moan

Of souls that yearn for sympathy. 

We hurl to hell, we bear above, 

With equal ease we loose or bind, 

Forgetful quite that God is Love, 

And Love is large and broad and kind. 

O Thou Eternal Largeness, teach 

Our petty, shriveled souls to swell 

Till Thou, within their ampler reach, 

In every human heart may dwell; 

Till Love alone becomes the creed 

Of every nation, tribe and clan, 

The Fatherhood of God, indeed, 

The blessed Brotherhood of Man.

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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IS IT MASONRY?

By BRO. F. G. OLIVER

(From The Builder, Anamosa, Iowa, March, 1915)

  

Is it Masonry 

To dare to take God's name in vain, 

Or be careful of our speech;

From evil thoughts and words refrain, 

And practice what we preach?

Is it Masonry 

To boast of your fine jewels,

Or purify your heart; 

To be a man and Mason 

And act a Mason's part? 

Is it Masonry 

To fail to help your brothers, 

Or your obligations fill? 

To leave it for the others, 

Or mean and say "I will"?

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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ACROSTIC

By L. B. M.

(From The Builder, Anamosa, Iowa, March, 1916)

  

• G rander than the lines that Pythagoras drew,  

• E ngraved on the hearts that ever are true, 

• O nward and beyond the science it ran, - 

• M asonry, the nature religion of man. 

• E nter thy temple, sweet spirit, and there 

• T ry us by compasses, level and square. 

• R ightly interpreting our mystical art 

• Y ou can speculate on with happy heart.
 

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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