Departed Brothers, No. IV.

Departed Brothers, No. IV. [No. 86]

Even now, methinks, I see a genial Band
Of Brothers round me, long since pass’d away
From this sublunar globe; who seems to say:—
Brothers! be faithful to the Craft; both Hand
And Heart with pleasure ready to obey 5
Its high behests; and then thou safely may
Hope for Remembrance here, when Life’s brief Day
Has reach’d Low Twelve; and though wilt Serve for aye
Our Great Grand Master; and to whom Serve is now,
And was, and e’er will be, true Happiness 10
Be not ashamed to Practise and Profess
Our holy Precepts. Faithful to thy Vow,
For thee the Grave no Terrors need possess,—
Being but the gate that leads to realms of endless Bliss.

by George Markham Tweddell 1st published c 1887