TEMPUS FUGIT

From The Brighthelmstone Deacon 1993   no : 40

There is an hour that we hold dear

In our fraternity

When Absent Brethren.far and near,

Draw close to you and me.

When seated at our Festive Board,

Where we are met to dine,

A time arrives when we are called

To rise-for it is Nine.

And we all hope-and this is true-

That brothers far away

Will,hopefully think of us,too,

At this time of day.

Wheter they merely be elsewhere,

Or ill-perheps in pain-

We hope the knowledge that we care

Will warm their hearts again.

And so,my brothers,you can see

This is a Toast with a power,

But it can only work if we

Keep to the very hour-

Not “quarter past”or “half past nine”

For then you are aware

The clocks two hans would not combine

To form that perfect square.

If you would simply try the most

-As brotherhood is reckoned-

To honour absent brethren’s ttoast

Precisely to the second 1

Then rise to meet the clarion call

Prized above the others:

The words ring clearly, “Brethren All”

The Toast is –Absent brothers

W.Bro Ken Brown  PPrGReg