Bro. Neil Neddermeyer

THE OLD MASTER’S WAGES

I MET A DEAR OLD MAN TODAY
WHO WORE A MASONIC PIN.

IT WAS OLD AND FADED, LIKE THE MAN
ITS EDGES WERE WORN QUITE THIN.

I APPROACHED THE PARK BENCH WHERE HE SAT,
TO GIVE THE OLD BROTHER HIS DO.

I SAID, “I SEE YOU’VE TRAVELED EAST HE SAID,
” I HAVE, HAVE YOU?”

I SAID, I HAVE, AND IN MY DAY BEFORE THE ALL SEEING SUN,
I PLAYED IN THE RUBBLE WITH JUBALA, JUBALO AND JUBALUM.

HE SHOUTED, “DON’T LAUGH AT THE WORK MY SON IT’S GOOD AND SWEET AND TRUE.” AND IF YOU’VE TRAVELED AS YOU SAID YOU SHOULD GIVE THESE THINGS THEIR DUE.

THE WORD, THE SIGN, THE TOKEN, THE SWEET MASONIC PRAYER.
THE VOW THAT ALL HAVE TAKEN WHO HAVE CLIMBED THE INNER STAIR.

THE WAGES OF A MASON ARE NEVER PAID IN GOLD,
BUT THE GAIN COMES FROM CONTENTMENT WHEN YOU’RE WEAK AND GROWING OLD.

YOU SEE I’VE CARRIED MY OBLIGATIONS FOR ALMOST FIFTY YEARS,
IT HAS HELPED ME THROUGH THE HARDSHIPS AND THE FAILURES FULL OF TEARS.

NOW I’M LOSING MY MIND AND MY 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 MASONIC BROTHERS; THE ONLY SECRET IS TO CARE.
MAY YOU LIVE UPON THE LEVEL.
MAY YOU PART UPON THE SQUARE.