My Masonic Poetry

Over the years I have written some poetry.  Some good, some not so good and some just trite.  Some have been on Masonic subjects.  They are here.  If you want to see my other poetry you will have to go to my poetry blog.

Why Members Leave

Did you make him feel welcome?
Did you hold out your hand?
Did you listen to his troubles?
With him, did you stand?

Are the secrets which you shared
Ones that will keep him coming back?
Or are they merely empty forms
And it’s brotherhood they lack?

Was there something for him to find
Here among his Brothers and friends?
Or did he look in vain
For those on whom he could depend?

Was this a place for him to shine
To be with others of like mind?
With true fellows of the craft,

Was that there for him to find?

If all these things are here
Nothing will keep him away.
If not, I doubt that anyone

Can persuade him to stay.

December 31, 2007

Another Third Degree

Once again the drama unfolds
Parts are played and lessons told

A Brother enters - hoodwinked, unaware
Of what fell doings will happen there.

He need not fear, the Craft is kind.
‘tis a great lesson which he will find.

The Obligation is taken yet one more time
and still another vow is made.

Since ancient times Brothers learn and grow
This sacred mystery to know.

To learn to be a Master subduing all strife
Brothers helping Brothers throughout life

No secrets here - the truth is for all to know
To study, to learn, and always to grow.

To find God’s reward at the end of the search
A Master Mason, a Brother, a true friend each.

Lodge is a school and our life a study, we work together and once again
The drama unfolds, parts are played and we learn to be men.

A Mason’s Working Tools

A tool resting upon a shelf
Can do nothing by itself.
But if taken up with purpose pure
It can build and shape for sure

The Mason's tool will help him grow
If he looks inside to learn and know
The tool has a greater message for each
As life's important lessons it does teach.

That tool in his hands can change his life.
Raise him above mortal strife
Used with purpose and with care
He can build a temple fair.

Some tools give a standard true,
To measure our lives through and through
While others shape a character fair
As we learn their lessons there.


The compass around us a circle draws
In which we overlook our flaws
With the plumb line and the level we meet others.
Upright and true we travel with our brothers

The gavel governs and teaches all alike
That our rough edges from us we should strike
Smoothing and shaping as a block of stone
Ready to stand before God's holy throne.

With a twenty-four inch gauge
time is divided into work and rest,
Service to God and to our fellow man -
measured and laid out - drawn by the best.
A trowel binding into a sacred group
spreads the cement of brotherly love
Masons building, learning and growing -
guided with light from above.

We use our tools most sublime.
And take them up our lives to shape
Tools for learning - tools for growing
Tools for building - tools for knowing.

And when at last our journey ends
And from our hands the tools fall
When tis time to "Part upon the square"
May it be said of each and of all

He knew the lessons which were taught
And with those lessons hard he wrought

To build a character so sublime

One noble, upright, pure and fine.

One which stood the test of time.

This poem means a lot to me as a Mason the working tools teach me many lessons.  I am pleased with it.

My Brother

He may be young
He may be old.
He may be a doctor,
A bricklayer,
A Lawyer or college professor
No matter
I meet my Brother
“On the Level”

He may be richer than I
He may be poorer
Drive a big car
Or an old jeep.
He may wear plain clothes
Or be a fancy dresser
No matter
I greet my Brother
“On the Level”

He may have taken his degrees over time
Or received them all in one day
For the time being
He may hold office
In the Lodge or in the state
He may be married
Have children or not
No matter
He is my Brother
And we meet
“On the Level”

The whole idea of meeting "on the level" appeals to me.  In Masonry we don't  (or shouldn't) worry about any other title that BROTHER.

A Mason’s Faith

Is Masonry a religion.?
No
Not a religion
But a man must have faith
A Mason’s trust is in his God.

He first came to the Lodge
Was asked to kneel…
A Brother prayed for him.
Another walked with him,
Never alone –
Always upright like the Plumb
Trusting in the Brother and his God.

He walked a path others had walked.
For centuries every Mason has walked that path -- learning and growing
Trusting his Brothers and his God.

Progress brought light, more light and further light.
The light from God “In the beginning.”
The light of learning and knowledge.
Light from the God in whom he put his trust.

The Mason grew as he made his promises.
Secrets to keep – Secrets to look for.
The Master’s Word was lost.
Searched for and never found.
But still he could trust in his God.

Working tools taught him lessons
A good man was made better.
Passions were subdued and the tools helped him build.
Build his character as a stone
Whose rough edges are smoothed
For the Temple of His God.

Almighty Father of the Universe
Great Architect of the Universe
However He is addressed
He is the One to trust.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in Unity” The Mason prayed that discordant passions be subdued,
That Brotherly Love and Affection be spread with the Master’s trowel.
And God is the one he trusts to answer that prayer.

And so may the blessing of Heaven
Rest upon all Masons. May we meet upon the level and part upon the square always trusting in our God.

Not a religion
But a man must have faith
A Mason’s trust and his faith
are in his God.

Jay Cole Simser
March 22. 2004
Inspired by M.W. Brother Tom Eggleston
Dedicated to R.W. Bill Yungclas

Tom Eggleston, PGM is one of my Masonic Heroes.  When I decided to write a tribute to Brother Bill as he became Grand Chaplain I thought of Tom and he was the inspiration for this.