Ode To St. John's Lodge

How far the lustre of a name
Through glowing cycles may bestow
The pregnant burden of its power
On lives of mortals here below.

How fathomless the steadfast Hope;
Th’ unfaltering Faith, how sure to bless;
What Charity, proclaimed by him
Who cried within the wilderness.

Oh, Holy Lodge and Exquisite!
A stately host and fair to see;
Thine oriflamme the name of one
Who walked with Christ in Galilee.

By that fair sign ye conquer still;
All men its potent strength must know,
Till, in the, fiercer strife,
The Passion-Cross shall brightly glow.

Ye reckon well of stewardship;
The blazoned archives of your sires
Show they as lie beside your own,
No paling of the ancient fires.

The bondage of our brotherhood
Rests lightly upon old and young.
No gossamer were burden less,
No tie of human blood more strong.

Its gentle fetters would impose
No futile vengeance; for the rod
Would moral virtue ill promote
Or, crowning all, the love of God.

Hail then! On this thy natal day
May all mankind thy graces win.
Hail! And salute this proud array
Of sister lodges masculine.

Prosperity attend thy way:
May ripening years thy fold increase,
And bring to thee while time shall last,
A plenitude of perfect peace.

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