What Come You Here to Do?
Author unknown
“AND NOW MY BRETHREN,
WHAT COME YOU HERE TO DO?
WHEN YOU JOINED OUR MYSTIC CIRCLE,
HAD YOU A PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART
TO BE OF SERVICE TO YOUR FELLOW MAN,
AND PERFORM YOUR ALLOTTED PART?
OR COME YOU OUT OF CURIOSITY
OR MOTIVES PERSONAL IN VIEW?
TELL ME, BROTHER OF THE SQUARE,
WHAT COME YOU HERE TO DO?
HAVE YOU FAILED TO GRASP THE MEANING
OF THE SYMBOLS OF OUR CRAFT?
HAVE YOU LEARNED TO SUBDUE YOUR PASSIONS
AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR ART?
DO YOU ALWAYS, ALWAYS UPHOLD THE TRUSTS
ON WHICH WE FIRMLY STAND,
TEACHING THE FATHERHOOD OF MAN?
HAVE YOU BEEN WILLING TO AID THE BROTHER
WHEN LIFE’S SURGES WERE FIERCE AND WILD?
HAVE YOU OFFERED CHEER AND COMFORT
TO THE MASON’S WIDOW, WIFE AND CHILD?
IF YOU HAVE DONE SO, MY BROTHER,
YOU ARE A MASON GOOD AND TRUE,
AND CAN GIVE A CORRECT ANSWER
WHAT COME YOU HERE TO DO?”
AN ANCIENT MASONIC SONG
This song was first published in 1756
From The Freemason, London
‘Tis Masonry unites mankind,
To gen’rous actions, forms the Soul;
In friendly Converse all conjoined,
One Spirit animates the whole.
Where’er aspiring Domes arise,
Wherever sacred Altars stand;
These Altars blaze into the skies,
The Domes proclaim the Mason’s Hand.
As passions rough the Soul disguise,
Till Science cultivates the Mind;
So the rude Stone unshapen lies,
Till by the Mason’s art refin’d.
Tho’ still our chief Concern and Care
Be to deserve the Brother’s Name:
Yet ever mindful of the fair,
Their kindest Influence we claim
Let wretches at our Manhood rail;
But they who once our Order prove,
Will own that we who build so well,
With equal energy can love.
FREEMASON’S MARCH
“The words of this song were first printed in Watt’s “Musical Miscellany, (V. 111), 1730, under the title ‘The Freemason , 3 Health.’ It appears in many eighteenth century song collections, the tune most commonly used appearing for the first time in ‘Pills to Purge Melancholy,’ (Vol. 2), 1719. It was popular well into the nineteenth century.”–The Builder.
Come, let us prepare,
We brothers that are
Met together on merry Occasion;
Let us drink, laugh and sing,
Our Wine has a Spring,
‘Tis a Health to an Accepted Mason.
The World is in Pain
Our Secret to gain,
But still let them wonder and gaze on;
Till they’re shewn the Light
They’ll ne’er know the right
Word or Sign of an Accepted Mason.
‘Tis This and ’tis That, They cannot tell what,
Why so many great Men in the Nation
Should Aprons put on,
To make themselves one
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.
Great Kings, Dukes, and Lords,
Have laid by their Swords,
This our Myst’ry to put a good Grace on,
And ne’er been asham’d
To hear themselves nam’d
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.
Antiquity’s Pride We have on our Side,
It makes a Man Just in his Station;
There’s nought but what’s Good
To be understood
By a Free or an Accepted Mason.
Then Joyn Hand in Hand,
T’each other firm stand,
Let’s be merry, and put a bright Face on;
What Mortal can boast
So noble a Toast,
As a Free or an Accepted Mason?
APPRENTICE DEGREE
THE TRAVEL
Through midnight dark I feebly grope my way
Oppressed with fear;
I dread to go, and yet I dare not stay
With danger near;
Eternal Father! guide my feet aright,
And lead me, step by step, up to the Light.
I do not know the secret path I tread
Thro’ scenes unknown,
I humbly wander whither I am led
Thy power I own;
Eternal Father! guide me through this night,
And lead me, -step by step, up to the Light.
The World, its pride and passions, wealth and power,
All, all are gone;
Blind, poor, and weak I trust, in this dread hour,
On Thee alone;
Eternal Father! guide me in Thy Might,
And lead me, step by step, up to the Light.
FELLOWCRAFT DEGREE
THE TRAVEL
Onward moves the whole Creation,
Working out tile eternal plan;
Sun and planet, stream and ocean,
Flower and forest, beast and man,
Never resting, ever going
Forward on their destined way;
Spring to Summer-glory growing,
Morn merging into Day.
Forward, Brother, then be going,
To the might of manhood move;
And thy going be ‘t in growing,
And thy growing be ‘t in love.
THE MASTER DEGREE
THE TRAVEL
Life’s brief moments, swiftly flying,
Speed us near and nearer Death;
Earth and Time are quickly dying,
Passing like a vapour breath.
Earth and all its passions perish,
Time and all its duties cease;
Wealth and power, that mankind cherish,
Bring us here no joy and peace.
Swift, swifter still, at every breath,
Near, and more near, steals silent Death;
Help! help us now, 0 Then Most High!
In this dread hour of mystery.