MOST EXCELLENT MASTER'S DEGREE
6th Degree York Rite
The Mason's Daughter
(Altered & Revised)
A Mason's daughter, fair and young,
The pride of all the virgin throng,
Thus to her lover said (Lover?)
Though, Damon! I your flame approve;
Your actions praise, your person love,
I must still live as a maid.
No youth shall loose my virgin zone, (No Youth)
But one to whom the secret's known
Of ancient masonry; (Only a Mason knows "The Secret")
In which the great and good combine,
To raise, with generous design,
Man to felicity.
Definitions:
Maid - Young, virgin, domestic servant
Loose - Not firmly or tightly fixed in place
Raise - Lift or move to a higher position or level
Felicity - Intense happiness
The Mason's Daughter
(Original)
Young Damon once the happy Swain.
I, A MASON's daughter fair and young,
The pride of all the virgin throng,
This to her lover said;
Tho' Damon,
I your flame approve,
Your actions praise,
Your person love,
Yet still I'll live a maid.
None shall unite my virgin zone,
But one to whom the secret's known,
Of fam'd, free-masonry;
In which the great and good combine,
To raise with generous design,
Man to felicity.
The lodge excludes the fop and fool,
The plodding knave and party tool,
That liberty would sell;
The noble, faithful and the brave,
No golden charms can e'er deceive,
In slavery to dwell.
This said, he bow'd and went away,
Apply'd, was made, without delay,
Return'd to her again;
The fair one granted his request,
Connubial joys their days have blest,
And may they e'er remain.
To masons and to masons bairns, (bairns = children)
And those that lie in masons arms.