Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love [No. 3]

He in whose heart love for his fellow-men
Hath ne’er ta’en root, a Mason cannot be!
It is the first great requisite; and he
Would be a Cowan in our midst, e’en when
All ceremonies we could on him waste 5
Had been perform’d. Sign he might give, ‘tis true,
Pass-words might answer, and might catch the cue
To act an unfelt part; but ne’er in haste,
Nor e’en at leisure, would we find that man
By Brotherly Love e’er moved to do a deed 10
To help another in his utmost need,
Or comfort the distress’d: for no one can
Make a true Mason of such worthless stuff;
And base material we have quite enough.

by George Markham Tweddell  1st published 1887