~ Auld Lang Syne ~

By Gerald (Jerry) L. Carver
Senior Grand Warden
January 2005

As we begin to look forward to the year ahead and reflect back on the year past, we often travel back in our memories and recall those times when we gathered together with dear friends and relatives and sang “Auld Lang Syne” as the clock struck midnight bringing in a New Year.  The words that we know today as the “Auld Lang Syne” song were penned in 1788 by Robert Burns a renowned Poet and a Brother Freemason.  Brother Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland on January 25, 1759 and died on July 21, 1796 in Dumfries, Scotland.  He was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on October 1, 1781 in St. David’s Lodge No. 174 in Tarbolton, Scotland.  “The words “Auld Lang Syne” are Scottish words that literally mean “Old Long Ago”.   During the Holidays, as I was reading “The Masonic Monthly” Volume II, No. X, a publication dated August 1865 and compiled by Brother Edward Mitchell in Boston, I came across a “Masonic Auld Lang Syne” in an article by Brother Robert Morris, who was considered by the Craft as the Masonic Poet-Laureate in the late 1800s.  Brother Morris indicated in the same “Masonic Monthly” publication that the following lines were much used during the gatherings of the Craft.

We do not sigh for pleasures past,
Nor fondly, vainly pine:
Yet let us give one memory
To Auld Lang Syne.

With Gavel, Trowel, Gauge, we work,
With Level, Square, and Line;
Come, join the CHAIN OF LOVE, and sing
Of Auld Lang Syne!

For Auld Lang Syne, my dear,
For Auld Lang Syne;
Ah, who like us can sing the days
Of Auld Lang Syne?

“Twas sweet when evening’s shadows fell-
How bright our lights did shine!
Down from the East to hear the words
Of Auld Lang Syne.

The ‘Prentice knocked with trembling hand,
The Craft sought Corn and Wine,
The Master stood, and nobly fell,
In Auld Lang Syne.

With step so true, with form upright,
We drew the Grand Design;
“Twas well we knew “to square the work,”
In Auld Lang Syne.

A tear to them, The Early Dead,
Fond memory would consign;
We dropped the green sprig o’er their head,
In Auld Lang Syne.

And till the Master call us hence
To join the Lodge Divine,
Let’s sometimes give a grateful thought
To Auld Lang Syne!

I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to our MEC Committeemen, our MSA Committeemen, other Grand Lodge Committeemen, our District Deputy Grand Masters, our Brother Instructors, our Grand Lodge Officers, and our Grand Master for their dedication, hard work, and support in preparing, conducting, and attending the many District Instructional meetings and the Worshipful Master’s workshop.  I also want to express a special “Thank You” to Illustrious Brother Mike Smith, SGIG and the Brethren of the Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville Scottish Rite Bodies for supporting our Lodges and our Grand Lodge by permitting their beautiful facilities to be used for Instructional meetings and the Worshipful Master’s workshop.  I especially want to thank all of the Brethren who made the meetings and the workshop a success with their attendance and participation.