The Level and The Square

Greetings Brethren and all other readers!

I know I have not been on here for a while but I am still out there and still loving every minute of my Masonic experience.

I am still a F.C, though am very much ready for my raising. With it being winter up here in the frozen north, a lot of the Brethren from my lodge flock south (Inc members of the degree team) So I was asked whether I minded having my 3rd in March.

Naturally I said I didn't mind. As I have said in the past, one of the first pieces of advice I'd ever received from a Mason was that things in lodge happen on "Masonic Time".

It's not to say that I am not excited about it, I am VERY excited. But so to are a lot of the other Brethren of the lodge who are away and want to be there for the degree and for me as well. It was so flattering for me, to hear that absent Brethren wanted to move the 3rd a month later so more could be there. One of the Brethren of the lodge made it a point to stand up and say to me also that as important as the raising is, they all considered me a brother already anyway, so if it was okay with me they would rather do the raising when more could be present. I love our order, and I love the mystic tie. So for now I leave you with a small poem from a Bro. Robbie Burns, and another poem I found and really enjoyed by Robert Morris.

Adieu! a heart-warm, fond adieu!

Dear Brothers of the mystic tie!

Ye favored, ye enlightened few,

Companions of my social joy!

~Robbie Burns

The Level and Square

by

Robert Morris

We meet upon the Level and we part upon the Square
What priceless words of meaning these words Masonic are
Come, let us contemplate them, They are worthy of a thought;
In the very walls of Masonry the sentiment is wrought.

We meet upon the Level and from every station come
The rich man from his palace and the poor man from his home,
For the rich must leave their wealth and state outside the Mason’s door,
And the poor man finds his best respects upon the Checkered Floor.

We meet upon the Plumb, ’tis the order of our Guide
We walk upright in every way and lean to neither side;
The All-Seeing Eye that reads our hearts and doth bear us witness true,
That we still try to honour God and give each man his due.

We part upon the Square, for the world must have its due,
We mingle with the multitude, a faithful band and true,
But the influence of our gatherings in Masonry is green,
And we long upon the Level to renew the happy scene.

There is a World where all are equal, we are hurrying to it fast,
We shall meet upon the Level when the Gates of Death are past;
We shall stand before the Orient and our Master shall be there,
To try the blocks we offer with His own unerring Square.

We shall meet upon the Level there, but never thence depart,
There’s a Mansion, ’tis all ready for each trusting, faithful heart,
There is a Mansion and a welcome and a multitude is there;
Who have met upon the Level and been tried upon the Square.

Let us meet upon the Level then while labouring patient here;
Let us meet and let us labour though the labour be severe,
Already in the western sky the signs bid us prepare,
To gather up our working tools and part upon the Square.

Hands round Ye faithful Brotherhood, the bright fraternal chain,
We part upon the Square below and meet in Heaven Again;
And the words of precious meaning, those words Masonic are,
“WE MEET UPON THE LEVEL AND WE PART UPON THE SQUARE”.