These lines were written by Rob Morris in 1854. He
tells how the familiar expression, "We meet upon the Level and
we part upon the Square" had been running through his mind,
when, happening to couple the words with the pretty air of
"Jeannette and Jeanot," he sat down upon a fallen tree, as he
was walking to the home of a neighbor on a summer day, and wrote
the poem. The second line of the third stanza, as originally
written, was, We mingle with the multitude, a cold, unfriendly
crew," the last four words of which were altered to read, "a
faithful band and true." The lines have been translated into
many tongues and sung to many melodies.
We meet upon
the Level and we part upon the Square -
What words of precious
meaning those words Masonic are.
Come, let us contemplate them,
they are worthy of a thought;
With the highest, and the lowest,
and the rarest they are fraught!
We meet upon the level,
though from every station come,
The rich man from his palace and
the poor man from his home.
For the one must leave his wealth
and state outside the Mason's door,
While the other finds
his true respect upon the checkered floor.
We part upon the
square, for the world must have its due;
We mingle with the
multitude, a faithful band and true;
But the influence of our
gatherings in memory is green,
And we long upon the level to
renew the happy scene.
There's a world where all are equal -
we are hurrying toward it fast;
We shall meet upon the level
there - when the gates of death are
past; We shall stand before
the Orient, and our Master will be there,
To try the blocks
we offer by His own unerring square!
We shall meet upon the
level there, but never thence depart;
There's a mansion - 'tis
all ready for each faithful, trusting heart -
There's a mansion,
and a welcome, and a multitude is there.
We have met upon the
level and been tried upon the square.
Let us meet upon the
level, then, while laboring patient here;
Let us meet and let us
labor, though the labor be severe;
Already in the Western sky
the signs bid us prepare
To gather up our working tools and part
upon the square.
Hands round, ye faithful Masons - form the
bright fraternal chain;
We part upon the square below to meet in
heaven again;
Oh, what words of precious meaning those words
Masonic are;
We meet upon the level and we part upon the
square.
