PAUSE FOR REFLECTION 

 from the Brighthelmstone Deacon June 1975

There was an old Past Master,who

Was full of sayings,good and true;

Honours had he by the score –

Stepped was he in Mason’s lore;

He,all the Ancient Landmarks knew –

The Book  of Constitutions too ! –

A fountainhead of knowledge he –

A walking “Goulds Freemasonry” !

One summer day we chanced to meet

I spied him sitting on a seat

Viewing a truly English scene;

Watching the bowlers on the green

In Preston Park; he beckoned me

To sit beside him ‘neath the tree.

We watched the game,then,at its close

We talked;the subject soon arose

Of Masonry,in other days,

In other places,far away

From Brighton on a summer day.

After a while,my way was clear

To say to him,in words sincere

“With all the knowledge you have stored

(Of your own free will and accord !)

Could I prevail on you to find

Tucked safe away,within your mind

Perhaps,a wise and telling phrase

To guide me on my future ways ?

My question asked,I silent fell

So that I should not break the spell:

He looked at me; I met his eyes

And they were,oh, so wordly wise:

The words he spoke are with me yet –

The words I never shall forget……

“What sort of Lodge would my Lodge be-

If every brother was-just like me ?”…….

By W.Bro Ken Brown  PPrGreg