Truth, No. I

Truth, No. I. [No. 5]

Of all the virtue which mankind can bless,
Truth shines the brightest; all the rest would pale
Without it; but it can never fail
To make our Earth an Eden. Let us caress
Truth in our inmost hearts; Truth not alone 5
In words but thoughts and actions, so that we
May stand upright in our integrity,
Like true and perfect Masons. Ev’ry zone
Of Earth shall see the Light; Falsehood be driven
Back to its native Hell; and ev’ry clime 10
With joy will welcome in the glorious time
When Truth alone shall reign. Then, as in Heaven,
God will be truly served; all wars will cease,
And Love and Charity for aye increase.

by George Markham Tweddell  1st published 1887