Festive Board

Eternal Father

Eternal father, strong to save
Whose arms hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep.
O hear us when we cry to the
For those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power
Our Brethren shield in dangers hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe
Protect them whereso'er they roam.
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad hymn of praise from land and sea.
                                        
                        So Mote it be

Absent Brethren

Holy Father, in Thy mercy
Hear our anxious prayer,
Keep our loved ones, now far absent
`Neath Thy care

When in sorrow, when in danger.
When in loneliness
In Thy love look down and comfort
Their distress

Father, in Thy love and power
Architect Divine
Bless them, guide them, save them, keep them, 
They are Thine

So mote it be.

General Toast

Prosper the art, prosper the art,
Join in the chorus, prosper the art.

Personal Toast

Let us have harmony.
Let us have harmony,
Let us have harmony, so say we all.

Peace, Love and harmony. so say we all
etc.

Join us in harmony, so say we all.
etc.

Song Of Welcome

Brethren from the East and West.
Who have stood the Tyler's Test,
You will find a welcome here,
Bright, Fraternal and sincere.

Chorus:
Warm Masonic hearts to meet you,
Hands of fellowship to greet you,
May our welcome here today
Cheer each Brother on his way.

We salute the man of worth.
Whether high or low his birth,
Whatsoever be his lot
Rich or poor it matters not.

And when we have said adieu,
May our love remain with you,
And may we renew that love,
In a Grander Lodge Above.

Visitor’s Toast

Brother(or: Worthy) Freemasons all.
Brother Freemasons all,
The King and the craft, the mystic tie,
Brother Freemasons all.

The Entered Apprentice's Song

1.--Solo:
Come, let us prepare; We Brothers that are
Met together on merry Occasion;
Let's drink, laugh and sing; Our Wine has a Spring,
Here's a health to an Accepted Mason.

Chorus:
Let's drink, laugh and sing; Our Wine has a Spring,
Here's a health to an Accepted Mason.

2.--Solo:
The world is in pain our secrets to gain,
But still let them wonder and gaze on;
'Til they're shown the Light; They'll ne'er know the Right
Word or Sign of an Accepted Mason.

Chorus:
‘Til they're shown the Light; They'll ne'er know the Right
Word or Sign of an Accepted Mason.

3.--Solo:
Tis this and 'tis that, They cannot tell what,
Why so many great Men of the Nation,
Should Aprons put on, To make themselves one.
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.

Chorus:
Should Aprons put on, To make themselves one.
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.

4.--Solo:
Great Kings Dukes and Lords have laid by their swords,
This our Mist'ry to put a good grace on;
And ne'er been ashamed to hear themselves named
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.

Chorus:
And ne'er been ashamed to hear themselves named
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.

 5.--Solo :
Antiquity's pride We have on our side,
It makes each man just in his station;
There's nought but what's good to be understood
By a Free or an Accepted Mason.

Chorus:
There's nought but what's good to be understood
By a Free or an Accepted Mason.

6.--Solo :
We're true and sincere,  We're just to the Fair;
They'll trust us on any occasion;
No mortal can more The Ladies adore
Than a Free and an Accepted Mason.

Chorus:
No mortal can more The Ladies adore
Than a Free and an Accepted Mason.

All standing and joining hand, right over left

7.--Solo :
Then joyn hand in hand, T'each other firm stand;
Let's be merry and put a bright face on:
What mortal can boast so noble a toast
As a Free or an Accepted Mason.
    
Chorus:
What mortal can boast so noble a toast
As a Free or an Accepted Mason

Master's Song

1.-Solo:
This world is so hard and so stony;
That if a man is to get through,
He'd need have the courage of Nelson,
And plenty of Job's patience too.
But a man who is kind to another
And cheerfully helps him along,
God Bless such a man and a brother,
And here's to his health in a song.

And here's to his health, here's to his health
And here’s to his health in a song.

All sing Chorus:
And here's to his health, here's to his health
And here's to his health in a song.

2.-Solo:
This life is as cheerless as Winter,
To those who are cold in the heart;
but a man who is warm in his nature,
Bids Winter for ever depart
The ground that he treads on will blossom,
`Till beauty around him shall throng;
God Bless such a man and a brother,
And here's to his health in a song.

And here's to his health; here's to his health
And here's to his health in a song.

All sing Chorus

3.-Solo:
As clouds that in sunshine are open,
And silvered by light passing through;
So men who are generous in spirit,
Are blessed by the good deeds they do;
There's nothing like helping another
For getting one's own self along;
Who does this is truly a brother.
And here’s to his health in a song.

And here's to his health; here's to his health
And here’s to his health in a song.

All standing sing chorus

The Installation of the Master Elect

Stand forth O worthy Craftsmen,
In order’s fair array,
Stand forth with strains of gladness,
To greet our festal day.

Praise we the Great Creator,
Our hearts and voices raise,
His gates with songs to enter,
And tread His courts with praise.

Here joined in holy union,
Assembling year by year,
With one accord to serve Him,
We in the Lodge appear.

So with a joyful anthem,
Our praises shall unite:
May this our humble service,
Be pleasing in His sight.

So Mote It Be.

Lodge

Opening Ode

Hail! Eternal! by whose aid
All created things were made; 
Heaven and earth Thy vast design; 
Hear us, Architect Divine!

May our work begun in Thee, 
Ever blest with order be; 
And may we when labours cease, 
Part in harmony and peace.

By Thy Glorious Majesty-  
By the trust we place in Thee-
By the badge and mystic sign-
Hear us! Architect Divine!
                        
 So mote it be

Closing Ode

Now the evening shadows closing.
Warn from toil to peaceful rest;
Mystic arts and rights reposing
Sacred in each faithful breast.

God of Light, whose love unceasing
Doth to all Thy works extend,
Crown our Order with Thy blessing,
Build,-sustain us to the end.

Humbly now we bow before Thee,
Grateful for Thy aid divine;
Everlasting power and glory,
Mighty Architect! be Thine.
                               
             So mote it be

Third Degree

Days and moments quickly flying,
Blend the living with the dead;
Soon will you and I be lying
Each within his narrow bed.

Soon our souls to God Who gave them
Will have sped their rapid flight;
Able now by grace to save them,
Oh! that while we can we might.

As the tree falls, so must it lie;
As the man lives, so must he die;
As the man dies, so must he be
All through the days of eternity.

                                 So mote it be.

Tyler's Ode and Toast - South Australia

"Architect for Thy protection
Now we humbly pray:
Guard and comfort all our brethren
Far away;

Grant that we in true remembrance
May not be remiss;
Let them know that in this hour 'tis
Them we miss;

If their absence be through wandering
Or through grief or pain:
Bless them, heal them, bring them to us
Safe again."

The Tyler's Toast is then proposed by the Tyler standing and is honoured
in silence with all seated:-
 
"To all poor and distressed Masons, wherever dispersed over the face of
earth or water; wishing them a speedy relief from all their sufferings,
and a safe return to their native country if they so desire."

The manner of giving the Toast and the words are prescribed in our
ritual book.

 
Courtesy of Richard Num  Sth Australia