~ 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.
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