Charlie is My Brother

It will soon be the anniversary of the death of a dear friend and brother Freemason. He was an
older man, a member of my Masonic Lodge and, in many ways, a second father to me. It's been
twelve years... my goodness. On the evening I learned that he had cancer, it was aggressive, and
it was terminal... the following poured out of me in a brief, scribbling moment. I'm pleased he had
a chance to hear me recite it in lodge during his last mortal visit with the brethren.

Dedicated to Brother Charles R. Groves (Born: December 11, 1920 -- Died: April 16, 1998),
Friend, Past Master, Recipient of the Golden Trowel Award... a great, good and noble man.

Charlie is my Brother. He has marked a path for me.

And ahead of him, leading us both, is the "Man from Galilee."

The lessons Charlie taught me, by his actions and his deeds,

I take upon myself, in brotherhood, and promise his examples I'll heed.

None will ever leave my Lodge without my cheerful smile.

Never will passions unbridled flare, without my reconcile.

Never will a Brother find himself with no sweet sympathy.

Never will a Brother lie alone in lonely infirmary.

Never will a Brother's pain go unremarked in prayer,

For I pledge to kneel before my God and plead for His Holy care.

None will ever leave my Lodge, when I sit in the Orient fair,

But he will hear from me, the pleasure I had, in his being there.

Thus do I pledge to honor this man who's taught so much to me.

This dear, sweet Brother, who's leading us all, to the "Man from Galilee."

David G Terrell, PM, Smithfield #455, Grand lodge of Texas AF&AM