To all poor and distressed brethren,
Wheresoever they may be,
On the land, the sea or in the air.
A speedy relief from their suffering,
And a safe return to their native land, If they so desire.
(Response)
To all poor and distressed brethren.

To all poor and distressed freemasons,
Wherever they may be,
On the land, on the sea or in the air.
A speedy relief from their afflictions,
And a safe return to their native land,
If they so desire.
(Response)
To all poor and distressed brethren.

Then 'ere’s to the sons o' the Widow,
Wherever, 'owever they roam.
'Ere’s all they desire, an' if they require
A speedy return to their 'ome.
 

 

Rudyard Kipling

'Are your glasses all charged in the West and the South?' the Worshipful Master cried!
'All charged in the West'
'All charged in the South'
Came the Wardens' prompt reply.
 

 

Then to our final toast tonight, our glasses freely drain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
 

 

The mason’s social brotherhood around the festive board,
Reveals a truth more precious far, than any miser’s hoard.
We freely share the bounteous gifts, that generous hearts contain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
 

 

We meet as masons free and true, and when our work is done,
The merry song and social glass is not unduly won.
And only at our farewell pledge is pleasure mixed with pain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
 

 

Amidst our mirth we drink to all poor masons o'er the Earth,
On every shore our flag of love is gloriously unfurled.
We prize each Brother, fair or dark, who bears no moral stain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
 

 

We Masons prize that noble truth, the Scottish peasant told,
That rank is but a guinea stamp: The man himself the gold.
We meet the rich and poor alike, the equal rights maintain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
 

 

Dear brethren of the mystic tie, the night is waning fast,
Our work is done, our feast is o'er, this toast must be the last.
Good night to all, once more good night,
again that farewell strain,
(Response)
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.

Pocket, heart, hand
(Repeat 3 times with gestures)
Here’s to the sons of the widow
Whenever, wherever they roam
A speedy relief to their afflictions
And if they desire,
a speedy return to their home.

To all poor and distressed Masons, wherever dispersed over the face of Earth and Water, wishing them a speedy relief from all their sufferings, and a safe return to their native country; should they so desire it.

A Tyler’s Toast
 

by Iain Macdonald

 
The Craftsmen’s work of day is done, the Brethren now must part.
"A Tyler’s Toast" our Master cries, "to warm each faithful heart."
For though we go our separate ways, our bond is ever strong.
The magic of the mystic tie will draw us back ere long.

Until then, think, each time you meet a Brother down on luck,
Whose life is marked by poverty, perhaps by illness struck.
That "If not for the Grace of God, I might walk in his shoes,
I wonder how much I can spare, to help him meet his dues."

And spare a wish for Brethren, who through no fault, their own,
May find themselves in foreign lands, and labouring alone.
That once the day shall come when they no longer need to roam,
May each enjoy a swift and happy voyage to his home.

Long may our Lodges welcome Craftsmen, travelling to the East.
And may our secrets guide good hearts, until each soul’s release
To wing its own way Heav'nward, these heartfelt words ingrain,
We're happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.

To our next merry meeting.

R.W. Bro. Iain Macdonald is a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge No. 72 in Vancouver, BC, where he has often given the Tyler’s Toast.

 
The final toast
 

by Bro. Peter Richardson, Calcutta 1852.

 
 

1. Are your glasses charged in the West and South, the
Worshipful Master cries;
They're charged in the West, They're charged in the South,
are the Warden's prompt replies;
Then to our final toast tonight your glasses fairly drain
"Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again!"

 

Chorus: Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again,
Oh, Happy to meet again!"

 

2. The Mason's social brotherhood around the festive board,
Reveal a wealth more precious far than selfish miser's
hoard —
They freely share the priceless stores that generous hearts
contain —
"Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again!"

 

3. We work like Mason's free and true, and when our task is
done,
A merry song and cheering glass are not unduly won;
And only at our farewell pledge is pleasure touched with
pain —
"Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again!"

 

4. Amidst our mirth we drink "To all poor Masons o'er the
world" —
On every shore our flag of love is gloriously unfurled,
We prize each brother, fair or dark, who bears no moral stain —
"Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again!"

 

5. The Mason feels the noble truth the Scottish peasant told
That rank is but the guinea's stamp, the man himself's the
gold,
With us the rich and poor unite and equal rights maintain —
"Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again!"

 

6. Dear Brethren of the Mystic Tie, the night is waning fast —
Our duty's done - our feast is o'er - this song must be
our last: —
"Good night." "Good night" - once more, once more repeat
the festive strain —
"Happy to meet - Sorry to part - Happy to meet again!"