The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James' Lodge
The speaker bids a heartfelt farewell to his dear brothers of the mystic tie as he leaves for foreign lands to pursue Fortune, promising to remember them with a melting heart and brimful eye. He recalls their cheerful festive nights, his honour in presiding over the sons of light, and the lasting impression of their shared scenes and hieroglyphic. He prays that Freedom, Harmony, and Love may unite them beneath the Omniscient Eye and the glorious Architect Divine, guiding them by the unerring line and plummet’s law until Order shines completely. He then honours one whose merits earn the highest badge and whose name is dear to Masonry and Scotia, asking that the brethren, when they yearly assemble, raise one round to the Bard far away.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Farewell Poem, Occasional Poetry, Masonic Poetry · 340 words
First lines
Tune-"Guidnight, and joy be wi' you a'."
Adieu! a heart-warm fond adieu; / Dear brothers of the mystic tie! / Ye favoured, enlighten'd few, / Companions of my social joy; / Tho' I to foreign lands must hie, / Pursuing Fortune's slidd'ry ba'; / With melting heart, and brimful eye, / I'll mind you still, tho' far awa.
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Genres
- Farewell Poem — The work is explicitly an emotional adieu to the brethren of St. James' Lodge as the speaker prepares to leave for foreign lands.
- Occasional Poetry — It was composed for a specific social and ceremonial occasion: Burns's departure from his Masonic lodge at Tarbolton.
- Masonic Poetry — Its subject, imagery, and vocabulary are deeply rooted in Freemasonry, including the mystic tie, Craftsmen, the Architect Divine, the plummet, and lodge fellowship.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem is a short, musical first-person expression of personal feeling, memory, affection, and separation.
Tags
Scottish poetry · 18th-century poetry · farewell poem · Masonic verse · Freemasonry · fraternal fellowship · Tarbolton · Scotland · departure for foreign lands · fortune seeking · exile and separation · memory
What this Textopian page supports
The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James' Lodge, Tarbolton is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1786 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1786 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Farewell Poem, Occasional Poetry, Masonic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry
- Length: 340 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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