Lodge Number One, the North
Pole
Author Unknown
'Twas the Night
before Christmas, and down at the lodge
not a gavel was stirring, and in the hodge-podge.
Of aprons and
jewels and chairs East and West
You could savor the silence, most gladly divest
All metal and
mineral, it mattered not,
Since Christmas was nigh and the coals were still hot.
In the hearth of
your homeplace, all Masons abed,
As visions of trestleboards danced in their head;
When up on the
roof there arose such a clatter
Our Tiler jumped up to see what was the matter!
He picked up his
sword and ran fast to the door,
Three knocks shook the panels - he wondered 'What for?'
He answered the
knocking with raps of his own,
And once the door opened he saw, with a moan
Of delight it was
Santa, all jolly and red
Except for one notable feature instead!
Upon his large
finger he wore what we knew
Was compasses and square on a background of blue!
'Why Santa!' he
shouted and lowered his blade,
'I see you're a Mason!' the Tiler relayed.
He looked tow'rd
the Master's most dignified chair
And said, voice near trembling, 'Most Worshipful Sir
There's a
Gentleman properly clothed at the gate!
The Master replied, 'Let's allow him - but wait!
You tell me a
Gentleman, but I don't see
His Apron beneath that red suit, can it be
Our visitor hasn't
been properly raised?
Must we offer a test that is suitably phrased?
'I do beg your
pardon,' ol' Santa said quick
As he pulled up his coat and displayed not a stick
But a cane with
engraving, two balls did appear
And oh, what an apron, he wore and held dear!
Adorned like the
Master's, complete with a sign
Of "Lodge Number One, the North Pole" on one line!
"Now let this man
enter," the Master declared,
And once in the Lodge room, the Brethren all stared,
For Santa was
wearing a jewel not seen
For many a century - there in between
The fur of his
coat and the splendid red collar
Gleamed two golden reindeer that shone line a dollar!
"It's Donner and
Blitzen, who I must confess
"Are actually images brought from the West
By my Warden, a
craftsman like none in the world!"
And with a great laugh from his bag he unfurled
An ear of fine
corn, and some oil from the East,
"My friend I have plenty, tonight we will feast
On all that is
good! We are Masons, kind sir!"
A murmur went throughout the Lodge, quite a stir,
As presents and
promises flew from his sack!
This Santa, a Mason, showed he had a knack
For making this
Christmas the best you could glean,
And soon even Deacons were laughing, they'd seen
On this very night
only happiness reigned!
This jolly Saint Nicholas quickly explained
That only a Mason
could be so inclined
To make all kids happy, make all people find
A Christmas so
special, yes, Santa was right!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
