Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hertfordshire

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Mark Master Mason's Chant

Mark Masters all appear
Before the Chief Overseer:
In concert move.
Let him your work inspect,
For the Chief Architect,
If there be no defect,
He will approve

You who have passed the Square,
For your rewards prepare;
Join heart and hand,
Each with his mark in view,
March with the just and true;
Wages to you are due,
At your command.

Now to the Westward move,
Where, full of strength and love,
Hiram doth stand.
But if imposters are
Mixed with the worthy there,
Caution them to beware
Of the right hand.

The Mark Master's Chant is usually sung to the tune "Moscow" which was written by Felice de Giardini. De Giardini was a well known violinist, composer and director. He sang as a choir boy in Milan, Italy, and studied music in Turin. In the 1730s, he began playing the violin in orchestras, and toured Europe in the 1750s. He moved from Italy to London where he was involved with the opera. He also worked as music master for the Duke of Gloucester. In 1796, de Giardini moved to Moscow, but died in poverty shortly afterward. His tune "Moscow" is also known as "The Italian Hymn."

In English churches another hymn is often sung to the same tune with words by Charles Wesley: "Come, Thou Almghty King" the first verse of which is:

Come Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise:
Father, all-glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

The Webmaster is indebted to W Bro Charles Lowry, ProvGOrg (Essex) for his help in tracking down both the printed music and also the MIDI file.

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