IV. THE SECRETARY'S SONG.
Ye brethren of the ancient craft,
Ye fav'rite sons of fame,
Let bumpers cheerfully be quaff'd,
To each good Mason's name,
Happy, long happy may he be,
Who loves and honours Masonry.
With fa, la, la, la, &c.
In vain would D'Anvers with his wit,
Our slow resentment raise;
What he and all mankind have writ,
But celebrates our praise.
His wit this only truth imparts,
That Masons have firm faithful hearts.
Ye British fair, for beauty fam'd,
Your slaves we wish to be:
Let none for charms like yours be nam'd,
That loves not Masonry:
This maxim D'Anvers proves full well,
That Masons never kiss and tell.
Free-masons! no offences give,
Let fame your worth declare:
Within your compass wisely live,
And act upon the square:
May peace and friendship e'er abound,
And every Mason's health go round.
V. THE TREASURER'S SONG.
Tune.-Near some cool shade.
Grant me, kind heav'n what I request
In Masonry let me be blest:
Direct me to that happy place,
Where friendship smiles in ev'ry face;
Where freedom and sweet innocence
Enlarge the mind and cheer the sense.
Where sceptr'd reason from her throne
Surveys the lodge, and makes us one;
And harmony's delightful sway,
Is present ever night and day!
Where we fraternal pleasure taste,
While joining in the masons' feast.
Our lodge the social virtues grace,
And wisdom's rules we fondly trace;
While nature open to our view,
Points out the path we should pursue;
Let us subsist in lasting peace,
And may our happiness increase.
No prying eye can view us here;
No fool or knave disturb our cheer;
Our laws will set the captive free,
And give relief to misery:
The poor oppress'd with woe and grief,
Gain from our ready hands relief.
VI. THE WARDEN'S SONG. Let wine, and mirth, and song prevail
Within these walls;
Be banished far complaint and wail
From out these walls;
We meet together to have pleasure,
Contentment is our chiefest treasure,
And 'tis forthcoming without measure
VII. THE DEACON'S SONG.
Tune-Goddess of Ease.
Genius of Masonry descend,
And with thee bring thy spotless train
Our sacred rites do thou attend,
Whilst we adore thy peaceful reign;
Bring with thee virtue, brightest maid,
Bring love, bring truth, and friendship here,
While social mirth shall lend her aid,
To smooth the wrinkled brow of care.
Come, charity, with goodness crown'd
Encircled in thy heav'nly robe,
Diffuse thy blessings all around,
To ev'ry corner of the globe:
See, where she comes with pow'r to bless,
And in her hand she grasps a heart,
Which wounded is at man's distress,
And bleeds at ev'ry human smart.
Tho' envy mischiefs may devise,
Tho' falsehood be thy deadliest foe,
Thou friendship still shall tow'ring rise,
And sink thine adversaries low:
Thy well-built pile shall long endure
Thro' rolling years preserve its prime ·
Upon a rock it stands secure;
And braves the rude assaults of time.
Ye happy few who here extend
In perfect lines from east to west,
With fervent zeal the lodge defend,
And lock its secrets in each breast;
Since ye are met upon the square,
Bid love and friendship jointly reign,
Be peace and harmony your care,
Nor break the adamantine chain.
Behold the Planets how they move,
Yet keep due order as they run;
Then imitate the stars above,
And shine resplendent as the sun :
That when our sons like us shall meet,
Our glorious deeds they may rehearse;
And say, their fathers were so great
That they adorn'd the universe.
VIII. THE LG.'S SONG.
Hail masonry, thou craft divine!
Glory of earth, from heav'n reveal'd;
Which dost with jewels precious shine,
From all but masons' eyes conceal'd.
Thy praises due who can rehearse,
In nervous prose, or flowing verse?
As men from brutes distinguished are,
A mason other men excels;
For what's in knowledge choice and rare,
Within his breast securely dwells?
His silent breast, and faithful heart,
Preserves the secrets of the art.
From scorching heat, and piercing cold,
From beasts, whose roar the forest rends;
From the assaults of warriors bold,
The mason's art mankind defends.
Be to this art due honour paid,
From which mankind receives such aid.
Ensigns of state that feed our pride;
Distinction troublesome and vain:
By masons true are laid aside,
Art's free-born sons such toys disdain.
Ennobled by the name they bear,
Distinguish'd by the badge they wear.
Then in our songs be justice done,
To those who have enrich'd the art,
Thro' ages to the present time,
And let each brother bear a part.
Let noble masons healths go round,
And thro' the lodge their praises sound.
Fidelity once had a fancy to rove,
And therefore she quitted the mansions above,
On earth she arrived, but so long was her tour,
Jove thought she intended returning no more.
Derry down, down, down, derry down
Then Mercury was hasten'd in quest of the dame,
And soon to this world of confusion he came;
At Paris he stopped and enquired by chance,
But heard that fidelity ne'er was in France.
Derry down, &c.
The god then to Portugal next took his route,
In hopes that at Lisbon he might find her out;
But there he was told she had mock'd superstition,
And left them for fear of the grand inquisition.
Derry down, &c.
Being thus disappointed, to Holland he flew.
And strictly enquir'd of an eminent Jew;
When Mordecai readily told him thus much,
Videlity never vas lik'd by de Dutch.
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