Thomas Q. Ellis, Grand Master 1925, Mississippi
I stand at the same sacred altar
Where, prompted by brotherly love,
I vowed solemn vows without falter
Witnessed by Him from above.
As once I knelt there in rev′rence
I stand rev′rently there …
My thoughts have suffered no sev′rence,
As I vowed…so I′ll vote…on the square
If through friendship I favor the seeker
But think him unworthy at heart …
Lest my Lodge by my ballot grow weaker,
Such favor from justice must part.
At the altar where light flooded o′er me,
I′ll betray not the trust that I bear,
I′ll shame not the emblems before me,
But I′ll cast my vote on the square.
Or should he be not to my liking,
But merit by action the trust;
My soul I′ll not perjure by striking
A blow when such a blow be unjust …
But I′ll welcome his step ′cross the border,
I′ll honor the trust that I bear,
I′ll vote for the good of the order
By casting my vote on the square.
Time flies … and ere long my petition
Will be filed in the Grand Lodge above.
I′ll be glad then I tempered such mission
With justice and brotherly love.
"With the measure ye mete" has been spoken
By the Worshipful Master up there …
No promise e′re made has He broken
And He′ll handle my case on the square.
I stand at the same sacred altar
Where, prompted by brotherly love,
I vowed solemn vows without falter
Witnessed by Him from above.
As once I knelt there in rev′rence
I stand rev′rently there …
My thoughts have suffered no sev′rence,
As I vowed…so I′ll vote…on the square
If through friendship I favor the seeker
But think him unworthy at heart …
Lest my Lodge by my ballot grow weaker,
Such favor from justice must part.
At the altar where light flooded o′er me,
I′ll betray not the trust that I bear,
I′ll shame not the emblems before me,
But I′ll cast my vote on the square.
Or should he be not to my liking,
But merit by action the trust;
My soul I′ll not perjure by striking
A blow when such a blow be unjust …
But I′ll welcome his step ′cross the border,
I′ll honor the trust that I bear,
I′ll vote for the good of the order
By casting my vote on the square.
Time flies … and ere long my petition
Will be filed in the Grand Lodge above.
I′ll be glad then I tempered such mission
With justice and brotherly love.
"With the measure ye mete" has been spoken
By the Worshipful Master up there …
No promise e′re made has He broken
And He′ll handle my case on the square.