Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1705

Hail Eternal! by whose aid

All created things were made;

Heav'n and earth, Thy vast design;

Hear us, Architect Divine!

 

May our work, begun in Thee,

Ever blest with order be,

And may we, when labours cease,

Part in harmony and peace.

 

By thy glorious Majesty -

By the trust we place in Thee -

By the badge and mystic sign -

Hear us, Architect Divine!

 

So Mote It Be.

Now the evening shadows closing,

Warn from toil to peaceful rest,

Mystic arts and rites reposing,

Sacred in each faithful breast.

 

God of Light! whose love unceasing,

Doth to all Thy works extend,

Crown our Order with Thy blessing,

Build; sustain us to the end.

 

Humbly now we bow before Thee

Grateful for Thy aid Divine;

Everlasting power and glory,

Mighty Architect! be Thine.

 

So Mote It Be.

 

(Tune - "The Church's one Foundation.")

Stand forth O Worthy Craftsmen

In order's fair array;

Stand forth with strains of gladness

To greet our festal day.

Praise we the Great Creator

Our hearts and voices raise,

His gates with songs to enter

And tread his courts with praise.

 

Here joined in Holy Union

Assembling year by year

With one accord to serve Him,

We in the Lodge appear.

So with a joyful anthem

Our praises shall unite

May this our humble service

Be pleasing in his sight.

 

So Mote It Be

This old song (with its proper tune) is ascribed to Dr. Anderson, in the first Edition of the Constitution Book (1723), to "Our late Brother, Mr. Mathew Birkhead, deceased. To be sung when all grave business is over, and with the Master's leave."

(Sing seated until last verse)

Come let us prepare

We Brothers that are

Assembled on merry occasion

Let's drink, laugh and sing

Our wine has a Spring

Here's health to an Accepted Mason.

 

The world is in pain

Our secrets to gain

And still let them wonder and gaze on

They ne’er can devine

The Word or the Sign

Of a Free and an Accepted Mason

 

‘Tis this and ‘Tis that

They cannot tell what

Why many Great Men of the Nation

Should aprons put on

To make themselves one

With a Free and an Accepted Mason.

 

Great Kings, Dukes and Lords

Have laid by their swords

Our myst'ry to put a good Grace on

And ne'er been ashamed

To hear themselves named

With a Free and an Accepted Mason

 

(all stand and sing last verse, remain standing)

 

Antiquity's pride

We have on our side

And maketh men just in their station.

There's nought but what's good

To be understood

By a Free and an Accepted Mason.

 

Holy Father, in Thy mercy

Hear our evening prayer,

Keep our loved ones, now far absent

'Neath Thy care.

 

When in sorrow, when in danger,

When in lonliness

In Thy Love look down and comfort

Their distress.

 

Thou who art supreme in power

Over land and sea

Bless them, save them, guide them, keep them

Near to Thee.

 

So Mote It Be.

This is not any form of official song or ode, it is just the poem that was written for, and presented at the Ladies Night for Ernie Wheeler who was Master of Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1705 from 1998 to 1999. The poem was written and presented by Ernies's daughter, Mandy. We just thought that it deserved a place.

AN ODE TO ERNIE WHEELER – WORSHIPFUL MASTER 1998/1999

by Mandy Turner (nee Wheeler)

 

Who are Freemasons and what do they do?

About the latter, I haven’t a clue

But I know lots of Masons and they are generally tops

Just like my Brother and especially my Pops.

 

Yes, my Dad’s a Mason and he’s proud of this fact

With this special fraternity he has created a pact

My Brother, his Brother is also part of your clan

So it follows quite naturally that I’m also a fan.

 

But what is Freemasonry, what’s it all about?

For the details of what you do, you do not shout.

You keep to yourselves, behind closed doors you act

But between each and everyone you have a pact.

 

I know it’s about ritual and charitable deeds

And caring for each other, and others with needs

But besides all your meetings, dinners and toasts

There are lots of good things you do, about which you don’t boast.

 

You perform all your business with dignity and zest

Your ethics and standards set you apart from the rest

Your charitable acts are not generally recorded

You seek not publicity, but they should be applauded.

 

But there’s a funny side too, to being in Lodge

Which you brethren must accept and not try to dodge

Of this your Black Book is the finest example

And relating to this here is just a sample.

 

Going on holiday, wives know these scenes

It’s into the suitcase, before even his jeans!

And when on the beach, what’s the first thing he grabs?

Why that little Black Book with page marker tabs.

 

There are other strange places where it rears up its head

The classic of these is when you go to bed

He lies there mouthing words, but no sound does he utter

Eyes closed, concentration with just the odd stutter.

 

It’s always with him, both near and far

On buses, on trains, and yes – in his car

On walkies too, be with dog or baby

Do they know it yet, they might do, just maybe.

 

Why do you do it, why learn all these words?

To all of us Ladies it seems so absurd

But you seem to enjoy it, it keeps you from trouble

So we’ll try not to burst your Masonic bubble.

 

All we would ask as you pass through this life

Just remember occasionally, that you have a wife.

Just save a few moments of time for us to meet

And invite us again to this Ladies treat.