Saturday, January 23, 2010

Newly Raised!

On Tuesday night I was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. It was an unbelievable night! The Past Masters did an incredible job, and made it a truly unforgetable event!

Me on the lower right!

At the festive board I was asked to say a few words. I presented this poem  I wrote.

With a deep breath and steeled resolve
he walked to towards the door
Met a man with a square on his hand
And a petition he did have

Months go by and questions pry
as the investigators visit
to query the man and comfort his bride
about the road ahead

Members call and keep in touch
as the decision day draws near
nerves on edge and patienced tested
as he waits for the word he wants to hear

the word is good, and a day is set
all the priciples are there
strange clothes, a cable tow
and hoodwink blocks the light

round and round the lodge he's led
on shakey knees the oath is said
first steps, unfamiliar words
grips and tokens are exchanged

a new family of brothers
gained from otherwise strangers
a fraternity born in antiquity
that survived the trials of history

entereds passed and fellows raised
past masters at the ready
to help the new man find his way
to keep his path strong and steady

and then the day comes to pass the test
and recieve his masters apron
the heavy burden upon his waist
he's learned to wear it proud

begin to put the lessons learned
to good and useful work
and bring good report to his Lodge
from all of those he serves

and one day when he is called
to be the master of his temple
he will have learned all he knows
from the best example.

7 comments:

  1. Congratulations brother! I do not think I will ever get up to that part of Canada to sit in lodge with you but maybe someday I will, it looks like you had quite a great night. The apron you are wearing, is that lodge provided?

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  2. Yeah the apron is covered by the lodge!

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  3. Hello, JP. I'm glad to see everything went fine. I trust the ceremony was meaningful. Nice to see some old friends like Al and Eric and Sig in the picture; Al was a DeMolay Advisor when I was a member up there a long time ago.

    We conducted a raising last night and it seemed to go fine, though our numbers were small. Two of our EAs came out and sat outside during the degree, a third from another Lodge arrived late.

    Justa

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  4. Sounds like you are busy rebuilding the ranks!

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  5. Jean-Paul:

    Congratulations on your raising! I'm trying to bring a co-worker of mine into my Lodge.(Pennsylvania allows this now). He asked me some questions and showed some interest...I'm going to bring him an info folder (That Grand Lodge prepared for this purpose) and a petition later in the week. Wish me luck, and if you'll de doing the same soon for your Lodge, good luck as well.

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  6. Oh, the poem is really neat, too. Also summed up my feelings upon being Raised. Send me a private msg via Facebook so that you can let me know in more detail how it went and how you felt becoming a full Brother of Master Hiram? Take care.

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  7. Welcome brother! I too was just became a Master Mason this past Tuesday. Great poem.

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