The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-03-02
BROOKS GOOD TEMPLARs.


Poem Delivered Feb. Is, 1905, ON the 18th
Anniversary of Brooks Lodge of Good
Templars by Marcellus j. Dow.
Once more we meet within this hall,
Where oft we've met from year to year,
And pass the time with friendly cheer.
Upon this night the special aim,
And that which we have now in mind,
Is to recall the vanished past
The years that we have LETT behind.
For on this eve we mark the time
That we in years lodge have been
These years have swiftly passed away,
But surely it must now be ten.
In fact we find, as I've been told.
Upon the records in our book,
That it has been eleven years,
Since on ourselves the work we took
To make this lodge source of pride,
To all its members young and old,
And to the friends outside cur doors
Who have not come within our fold.
And this design has been realized,
AS each one here will say,
The lodge has been grand success
In almost every way.
Within the time we've been lodge,
Many have joined our band,
We've given the fraternal hand.
We had the honor for some years,
To be the largest lodge in Maine;
But we have tried to merit praise,
And not to work for empty fame.
OF late we are obliged to own
We have been somewhat left behind,
By Brother Governs own home lodge,
In Waterville; but do not mind,
We still have left upon our rolls
or members good and true,
One hundred and just thirty nine;
SO we do not at all feel blue.
For we all think, in fact we know,
AS every honest person must,
That numbers do not give us strength,
Unless our aim is right and just.
The social features of the lodge,
Have well been worth our care;
We've learned to love our meeting place,
=. And friends who gather there.
We aim to make pleasant home
For all who come, both young and old,
With music, songs and many things,
We try their interest to hold.
We aim to make temperance school,
With good results from day to day;
To have instruction, with some fun;
To do good work, as we'll as play.
We know we shall not soon forget
The many friends we have met here,
Who have helped us in many ways.
To fiji The time with g0Odly cheer.
But change has come, as changes will,
10 every thing we love Of earth,
And times Of sadness we have seen,
AS well as those Of joy and mirth.
For some we loved and cherished here,
We've laid away beneath the sod,
With heavy hearts, and binding tears,
But with trust, i'll Heaven and God.
And now, dear friends, let US still try
Some honest work to do,
For God. and home, and native land;
| Let Us be brave and true,
Let us still closer draw the bonds
That hold us in fraternal love,
Striving to do each duty well,
| With faith in friends and God above.
And to our friends outside the lodge,
Who used to gather with us here,
i We still Shall claim you as our own,
| Without shade vi doubt OF fear.
And may the ones who meet again,
When months and years once more hav
sped,
! 10 glance moment at the past,
And think OF hopes and friends then deaf
! Find, as with retrospective glance
Back to our lodge as tits today,
! There is but little to condemn
In all the things we do or say.
The past secure, then may we strive,
! To still hold close unto the right
Eleven years have passed away,
| We bid you all a kind good night.