The Old Masters Wages

 

I met a dear old man today who wore a Masonic Pin

It was old and faded, like the man, its edges worn and thin

I approached the park bench where he sat to give the Old Brother his due,

I Said “I see you’ve traveled East and he said “I have, Have You?”

I Said, I have, and in my day before the setting sun

I played in the rubble with Jubala, Jubilo and Jubalum

He shouted, “Don’t laugh at the Work my son, It’s good, sweet and true

And if you’ve traveled as you said, you should give these things their due.

The Work the Sign the Token, the Sweet Masonic Prayer

The Vow that you have taken when you climbed the inner stair

The Wages of a Mason are never paid on Gold

But the gain comes from the contentment when you’re weak and growing old.

You see I’ve carried my obligations for almost 50 years

It has helped me through the hardships and the failures full of tears

Now I’m losing my mind and body— Death is near but I don’t despair

I’ve lived my life upon the level and I’m dying on the square

Sometimes the greatest lessons are those that are learned anew

And the old man in the park today has changed my point of view.

To all my Masonic Brothers the only SECRET is to care,

MAY YOU LIVE UPON THE LEVEL & PART UPON THE SQUARE

 

This  poem was created by M.W. Bro. Neil Neddermeyer,  Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and publisher of the Masonic Newsletter “Cinosam”  We owe him a debt of thanks for allowing us to share it with him.