The Free-Mason's Garland/The Building of Solomon's Temple
THE
BUILDING OF
SOLOMON's TEMPLE,
A MASONIC SONG.
Tune—"Darry down, down."
——————
In history we read of a Free-mason King,The monarch of Israel, his praises we'll sing;He built a fine Fabric. as we do understand,On the mount Moriah, near Jerusalem.Derry-down down, hey derry-down.
He that slew Goliath in history we find,He pure as'd the land for to raise his design:He ordered young Solomon, he bring his son,To raise up the strong works that he had begun.
Said David to Solomon with heart full love,As we two are chosen by the Powers above,That great Itcintecture of honour we see,He gave all these patterns in writings to me.
Then Solomon in order to raise that fine plan,He went and he number'd the workmen of the land,Seventy thousand, to bear burdens, he then did reserve:Eighty thousand in the mountains to cut, hew & carve.
Three thousand, six Hundred he order'd to beMasters of the workmen, and to oversee: And if you will believe me, I will tell you true,He clothed them all in the Orange and Blue.
Then Solomon a letter to Tyre did send,Hoping kind Hiram he would him befriend:And be being willing him to relieve,Sent him that cunning workman call'd Hiram the brave.
He was son to a widow, a daughter of Dan,And in every particular you'll find him a man:He did all things put to him, he did nothing amiss,He exceeded them all at the casting of brass.
He cast two fine pillars, five cubits in height;He finish'd them all and he sat them upright:He set one on each side of King Solomon's Porch,That all Israel might see them as they went to church.
We cast two cherubims of fine image-work;They spread forth their wings to cover the ark;They stood better there than they did in the field,They were made by old Ehab or by Bezaleel.
Jerusalem was a city with walls great and high;'Twas a wonder to strangers as they did pass by.It's the top of that vision of which we have seen,On the Isle of Patmos, by St. John the Divine.
In the morning early, when the clouds do swell,And the sun shines upon it, I'm sure it looks well: When light against light in such beauty doth shine,Sure such a fine building there never was seen!
When the Queen of Sheba she heard of it's fame,To the city of Jerusalem she instantly came;And when she came there she with wonder did gazeOn that beautiful temple she saw with her eyes!
She ask'd him some questions according to art;And he told her the secret that came to her part,Of wisdom and justice, things both great and less,Shew'd he was King Solomon the grandson of Jesse.
When the noble Craftsmen the stones they did square.Made them ready for building before they come there,Upon proper carriages they were brought down,And on that fine building ne'er a hammer did sound.
When our noble Free Masons in a Lodge they all join,Each brother is cloathed with jewels most fine!When our Master, right noble, he sits in his chair,He governs them all by his compass and square.
May, be that doth rule in the temple above,Bless all our Free Masons with honour and love;Bless Solomon in memory, and Hiram also—Come fill up a bumper, we'll drink ere we go.
