Masonic Poems
Father's Lodge
By Bro. Douglas Malloch
Father's lodge, I well remember, wasn't large as lodges go, There was trouble in December getting to it through the snow. But he seldom missed a meeting; drifts or blossoms in the lane. Still the Tyler heard his greeting, winter ice or summer rain.
Father's lodge thought nothing of it: mid their labors and their cares. Those old Masons learned to love it, that fraternity of theirs. What's a bit of stormy weather, when a little down the road, Men are gathering together, helping bear each other's load?
Father's lodge had made a village: men of father's sturdy brawn Turned a wilderness to tillage, seized the flag, and carried on, Made a village, built a city, shaped a country, formed a state, Simple men, not wise nor witty- humble men, and yet how great!
Father's lodge had caught the gleaming of the great Masonic past; Thinking, toiling, daring, dreaming, they were builders to the last. Quiet men, not rich nor clever, with the tools they found at hand Building for the great forever, first a village then a land.
Father's lodge no temple builded shaped of steel and carved of stone; Marble columns, ceilings gilded, father's lodge has never known. But a heritage of glory they have left, the humble ones- They have left their mighty story in the keeping of their sons.
THE ROAD OF MASONRY
By Bro. Douglas Malloch
Men build a Road of Masonry
Across the hills and dales;
Unite the prairie and the sea,
The mountains and the vales
They cross the chasm, bridge the stream
They point to where the turrets gleam,
and many men for many a day
Who seek the heights shall find the way
Men build a Road of Masonry
But not for self they build
With footsteps of humility
The hearts of men are thrilled.
This music makes their labors sweet;
The endless tramp of other feet
The thought that men shall travel thus
An easier road because of us.
We build the Road of Masonry
With other men in mind;
We do not build for you and me,
We build for all mankind.
We build a road, remember, men
Build not for Now, but build for When,
And other men who walk the way
Shall find the road we build today.
Who builds the Road of Masonry,
Though small or great his part,
However hard the task may be
May toil with singing heart.
For it is something, after all,
When muscles tire and shadows fall,
To know that other men shall bless
the BUILDER for his faithfulness
A Little Lodge Of Long Ago
By Bro. Douglas Malloch
The Little Lodge of long ago-
It wasn't very much for show;
Men met above the village store,
And cotton more than satin wore,
And sometimes stumbled on a word,
But no one cared, or no one heard.
Then tin reflectors threw the light
Of kerosene across the night
And down the highway served to call
The faithful to Masonic Hall.
It wasn't very much, I know,
The little lodge of long ago.
But, men who meet in finer halls,
Forgive me if the mind recalls
With love, not laughter, doors of pine,
And smoky lamps that dimly shine,
Regalia tarnished, garments frayed,
Or cheaply bought or simply made,
And floors uncarpeted, and men
Whose grammar falters now and then-
For Craft or Creed, or God Himself,
Is not a book upon a shelf:
They have a splendor that will touch
A Lodge that isn't very much.
It isn't very much- and yet
And, if a handful or a host,
This made it great: there Masons met-
That always matters, matters most.
The beauty of the meeting hour
Is not a thing of robe or flow'r,
However beautiful they seem:
The greatest beauty is the gleam
Of sympathy in honest eyes.
A Lodge is not a thing of size,
It is a thing of Brotherhood,
And that alone can make it good.
IF
By Bro. Douglas Malloch
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley - but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.
If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can't be a muskie, then just be a bass -
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here,
There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,
And the task you must do is the near.
If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun be a star;
It isn't by size that you win or you fail -
Be the best of whatever you are!