The Apollo: being a collection of English songs; including a selection of Masonic songs, anthems, odes, preludes, prologues, epilogues, toasts, &c.

MASONIC SONGS.

SONG I.

[Tune, Behold this fair Goblet, &c.]

YE sons of great science, impatient to learn What's meant by a Mason you here may discorn; He strengthens the weak, and gives light to the blind, And the naked he cloaths, and befriends human kind.

CHORUS.

All shall yield to Masonry, all shall yield to Masonry, Bend to thee, blest Masonry! bend to thee blest Masonry! Matchless was he who founded thee, And thou like him immortal shalt be, And thou like him immortal shalt be.

He walks on the level of Honour and Truth, And shuns the vile passions of folly and youth; The compass and square all his actions improve, And his ultimate object is brotherly love. All shall yield, &c.

By feeling inspir'd he doth bounty impart, For charity rangeth at large in his heart; And an indigent brother reliev'd from his woes, Feels a pleasure inferior to him who bestows. All shall yield, &c.

The temple of Knowledge he nobly doth raise, Supported by Wisdom, and Learning its base; Thus rear'd and adorn'd, strength and beauty, unite And he views the ••air structure with conscious delight. All shall yield, &c.

With Fortitude blest, he's a stranger to fears, And govern'd by Prudence, he cautiously steers,

'Till Temperance shows him the port of Content, And Justice unmasked, gives a sign of consent. Ail shall yield, &c.

Thus a Mason I've drawn, and set forth to your view, And Truth must acknowledge the picture is true; Then members become, let's be brethren and friends, There's a secret remaining will make us amends. All shall yield, &c.

SONG II.

Sung by Mr. WOOLLS at the Theatre in Kingston, JAMAICA.

[Tune, From the East breaks the Morn.]

WHEN the Deity's word Thro' all chaos was heard, And the universe rose at the sound; Trembling Night skulked away, Bursting Light hail'd the day, And the spheres did in concert resound.

Then the Grand Architect, In omnipotence deck'd, Into order the mass did compound; Deem'd the Sun king of Light, Crown'd the Moon queen of Night, And the Earth with an atmosphere bound.

Mighty Man then was form'd, With five senses adorn'd, Which the noble sive orders expound: With the birth of the Sun Architecture begun, And 'till Nature expires 'twill abound.

Bible, Compass, and Square, As our ensigns we wear, The bright symbols of Wisdom profound; And while these are our guide, Ev'ry mystery beside, As a soil to our art will be found.

SONG III.

[Tune, In Infancy, &c.]

LET Masonry, from pole to pole, Her facted laws expand, Far as the mighty waters toll, To wash remotest land:

That virtue has not left mankind, Her social maxims prove, For stamp'd upon the Mason's mind, Are Unity and Love,

Ascending to her native sky, Let Masonry increase; A glorious pillar raised on high, Integrity its base. Peace adds to olive boughs, entwin'd, An emblematic dove, As stamp'd upon the Mason's mind Are Unity and Love.

SONG IV.

[Tune, He comes, &c.]

UNITE, unite, your voices raise; Loud, loudly sing Free-Masons' praise: Spread far and wide their spotless fame, And glory in the sacred name.

Behold, behold the upright band, In Virtue's paths go hand in hand; They speak no ill, they do no wrong, And Truth is seated on their tongue.

How just, how just, are all their ways, Superior far to common praise; Their worth description far exceeds, For matchless are Free-Masons' deeds.

Go on, go on, ye just and true, Still, still the same bright paths pursue; Th' admiring world shall on you gaze, And Friendship's altar ever blaze.

Begone, begone, fly Discord hence, With Party Rage and Insolence: Sweet Peace shall bless this happy band. And Freedom smile throughout the land.

SONG V.

[Tune, Rule Britannia.]

'ERE God the universe began, In one rude heap all matter lay, With wild disorder over-ran, Nor light sent torch one glimmering ray. Darkness brooded o'er the whole, Confusion reign'd without controul, Then God his awful thunder hurl'd, And bade the elements arise;

In air he hung the pendant world, And o'er it spread the azure skies; Stars in circles caus'd ••o••••n. And in the centre six'd the sun.

Then man he call'd from out the dust, And sorm'd him with a living soul; Committed all things to his trust, And made him ruler of the whole. But ungrateful soon to Heaven Man prov'd, and was from Eden driven.

From thence proceeded all our woes; Nor could mankind one comfort share, Until our order greatly rose, And form'd another Eden here; Where true pleasure ever reigns, And native innocence remains.

Here Virtue all her treasures shows; Here nothing vile can enter in; See here the tree at knowledge grows, Whose fruit we taste, yet free from sin; Whilst Friendship and sweet Peace abound, And guardian angels hover round.

SONG VI.

[Tune, Goddess of Ease.]

GENIUS of Masonry descend, And with thee bring thy spotless train; Do thou our sacred rites attend, While we adore thy peaceful reign: Bring with thee Virtue, brightest maid, Bring Love, bring Truth, and Friendship here, Let social Mirth too lend her aid, To smooth the wrinkled brow of Care.

Let Charity with Goodness crown'd, Encircled in her Heav'nly robe, Diffuse thy blessings all around, To ev'ry corner of the globe. See where she comes with pow'r to bless, Grasping in either hand a heart, Which wounded is at man's distress, And bleeds at ev'ry human smart.

Tho' Envy mischiefs may devise, Tho' Falsehood be thy constant foe, Thou Masonry shall tow'ring rise, And sink thy adversaries low: Thy well-built pile shall long endure, Thro' rolling years preserve its prime; It stands upon a tock secure, And braves the rude assaults of Time.

Ye happy few, who here extend In perfect lines from east to west. With fervent zeal the Lodge defend, And lock its secrets in your breast Since ye are met upon the Square, Bid Love and Friendship jointly reign; Be Peace and Harmony your care; They form an adamantine chain.

In order see the planets move, Directed by the hand divine; Then imitate those lights above, And as the sun resplendent shine: That future Masons when they meet, May all our glorious deeds rehearse, And say their fathers were so great, That they adorn'd the universe.

SONG VII.

[Tune, Attic fire.]

WHEN first a Mason I was made, What terrors then did me invade, Oh! how I was alarm'd: But when the solemn scene was o'er, My fears and terrors were no more; I found myself unharm'd.

For since a Brother I'm become, A member of the social room, The scene is alter'd quite: With pleasure now my hours pass; With Brethren free, and temperate glass, I spend the cheerful night.

My grateful thanks I now return, And will with emulation burn, Such favours to deserve: From Masons' ancient mystic ites, Which Truth with Friendship e'er unites, From such I'll never swerve.

Hail Masonry! thou glorious art, Which to thy vot'ties dost impart Truth, Honour, Justice. Love: Thy sacred na••ne rever'd shall stand, In foreign climes, and distant land, Which Slander shall not move.

SONG VIII.

[Tune, Derry Down.]

FIDELITY once had a fancy to rove, And therefore she quitted the mansions above;

On earth she arrived, but so long was her tour, Jove thought she intended returning no more. Derry Down.

Then Mere'ry was hasten'd in quest of the dame, And soon to this world of confusion he came; At Paris he stopp'd, and enquir'd by chance, But heard that Fidelity ne'er was in France.

The God then to Portugal next took his rout, In hopes that at Lisbon he might find her out; But there he was told she had mock'd Superstition, And left it for sear of the Grand Inquisition.

Being thus disappointed to Holland he flew, And strictly enquir'd of an eminent Jew; When Mordecai readily told him thus much, Fidelity never was lik'd by the Dutch,

Arriving at London, he hasten'd to court, Where numbers of little great men oft resort; Who all stood amaz'd when he ask'd for the dame, And swore they had scarce ever heard of the name,

To West minster-Hall next the God did repair, In hopes with Dame Justice she might be found there; For both he enquir'd, when the court answer d thus, The persons you mention, Sir, ne'er trouble us.

Then bending his course to the Cyprian grove, He civilly ask'd of the young God of Love; The urchin reply'd, could you think here to find her, When I and my mother you know never mind her?

In one only place you can find her on earth, The seat or true Friendship, Love, Freedom, and Mirth; To a Lodge of Free-Masons then quickly repair, And you need not to coubt but you'll meet with her there.

SONG IX.

[Tune Lei Ambition fire thy Mind.]

GLORIOUS Craft, which fires the mind With sweet Harmony and Love; Surely thou wert first design'd A foretaste of the joys above.

Pleasures on thee always wait, Thou reformest Adam's race; Stiength and Beauty in thee meet, Wisdom's radiant in thy sace.

Arts and Virtue now combine, Friendship raises cheerful Mirth;

All united to refine Man from grosser parts of earth. Stately temples now arise, And on lofty columns stand; Mighty domes attempt the skies, To adorn this happy land.

SONG X. The ENTERED 'PRENTICES' Song.

COME let us prepare, We Brothers that are Assembled on merry occasion; Let's be happy and sing, For life is a spring, To a Free and an Accepted Mason.

The world is in pain Our secrets to gain, And still let them wonder and gaze on; They ne'er can divine The word or the sign, Of a Free and an Accepted Mason.

'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 and an Accepted Mason.

Great kings, dukes, and lords, Have laid by their swords, Our myst'ry to put a good grace on; And thought themselves fam'd, To have themselves nam'd With a Free and an Accepted Mason;

Antiquity's pride We have on our side, And it maketh men just in their station: There's nought but what's good To be understood By a Free and an Accepted Mason.

We're true and sincere, And just to the fair, They'll trust us on any occasion. No mortal can more

The ladies adroe Than a Free and an Accepted Mason. Then join hand in hand, By each Brother sirm stand, Let's be merry and put a bright face on: What mortal can boast So noble a toast As 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Free and Accepted Mason.

CHORUS 3 times repeated.

SONG XI. The FELLOW CRAFTs' Song

[Tune, Sweet are the charms, &c]

HAIL masonry! thou craft divine! Glory of earth, from heav'n reveal'd! Which doth with jewels precious shine, From all but masons' eyes conceal'd!

CHOR.

Thy praises due who can rehearse, In nervous prose, or flowing verse?

As men from brutes distinguish'd are, A mason other men excels; For what's in knowledge choice and rare, But in his breast securely dwells?

CHOR.

His silent breast and faithful heart Preserve the secrets of the art.

From scorching heat and piercing cold, From beasts whose roar the forest rends, From the assaults of warriors bold, The masons' art mankind desends.

CHOR.

Be to this art due honour paid, From which mankind receives such aid.

Ensigns of state, that feed our pride, Distinctions troublesome and vain, By masons true are laid aside; Art's free-born sons such toys disdain.

CHOR.

Ennobled by the name they bear, Distinguish'd by the badge they wear.

Sweet fellowship, from Envy free, Friendly converse of brotherhood, The lodge's lasting cement be, Which has for ages firmly stood.

CHOR.

A lodge thus built for ages past Has lasted, and shall ever last.

Then in our songs be justice done To those who have enrich'd the art, From Adam to* 1.1—down, And let each brother I ear a part.

CHOR.

Let noble masons' healths go round, Their praise in lofty lodge resound.

SONG XII. The DEPUTY GRAND MASTER's Song.

ON, on, my dear brethren, pursue your great lecture, And refine on the rules of old architecture: High honour to Masons the craft daily brings To those Brothers of Princes, and Fellows of Kings.

We drove the rude Vandals and Goths off the stage, Reviving the art of Augustus' fam'd age: And Vespasian destroy'd the vast temple in vain, Since so many now rise in—'s mild reign.

The noble five orders, compos'd with such art, Will amaze the sixt eye, and engage the whole heart; Proportion's sweet harmony gracing the whole, Gives our work, like the glorious creation, a soul.

Then, master and brethren, preserve your great name, This Lodge so majestic will purchase you fame: Rever'd it shall stand till all Nature expire, And its glories ne'er fade till the world is on fire.

See, see, behold here what rewards all our toil, Inspires our genius, and bids labour smile: To our noble grand master let a bumper be crown'd, To all masons a bumper, so let it go round.

Again, my lov'd brethren, again let it pass, Our ancien, firm union cements with a glass; And all the contention 'mongst Masons shall be, Who better can work, or who better agree.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Insert the Grand Master's name for the time.