DECK OF CARDS

From The Brighthelmstone Deacon Magazine no 53  Dec 2000

If you take a pack of pasteboards,

Fifty-two small playing cards

-Merely cards,to shuffle and to deal,

It sometimes seems to me

That in Freemasonry,

They are some measure of the things we feel.

The King and queen and Jack

Are the ones that rule the pack

At least,that’s how it always seems to me.

The Master and his Wardens two

Preside over me and you-

And so a lodge is also ruled by three

Three rule a lodge.Its sure#

It is held with just two more

And you will see that these add up to five :

If the mixture you would leaven,

Add two more and you have seven

To make a lodge just perfect  - and alive.

Ten’s composed of “one” and “o”

And the meaning you should know

Is that duty,you simply cannot dodge;

So remember this small figure

And adhere to it with rigour-

It’s the loyalty “one owes” to the lodge.

Let us take the “six” and “one” –

Now,when all it said and done,

When you hear about the failings of a Brother,

Perhaps you may recall

His faults may be after all

Six of one,and half a dozen of the other !

And now for number four

It reminds us,to be sure,

Of the virtues we were all told to pursue:

Be Just,as once exhorted

By Fortitude supported,

And let Temperance and Prudence see you through.

That leaves now the eight and nine

To account for and define

Before we bring this card game to a halt.

“Eight” is – visitors we fete

-For the courses which they “ate”

When they sat down with us – all above the salt !

Last of all the number nine

Close to your heart and to mine

For it represents the Hour we honour most,

When,in temples through the land

With glass in hand we stand

And unite to give the “Absent Brethren” Toast.

Now the suit is quite complete

And so the time is meet

To take the four suits,which one pack comprise,

Spade and Diamond,Club and Heart,

In the game,each plays its part,

And in Masonry the very same applies.

If ,as the game of life is played,

You call a spade a spade,

And enduring as a Diamond play your part,

Club together with your Brothers

Mindful of the needs of others-

And practice Masonry-with all your Heart !

Ken Brown PPrGReg