Songs of Freemasonry’s Festive Board Most lodges in Victoria, including Devotion, have a “visitor’s song”.
Themes are generally Masonic, but some are occasionally simply amusing ditties like that sung at Vietnam Veterans Memorial No 912 UGLV.
They are generally sung to the tune of existent and (previously) well known songs.
Drinking “to the bonds of masonry/friendship” is a common theme as are the celebration of fraternity and the values of Freemasonry.
These songs are used in our “Souths” (Festive Boards) and generally sung after the toast to the visitors, and before the visitors respond. The Lodge will be upstanding while visitors are seated, often lodges will move around the room and clink glasses or shake hands with as many visitors as they can while the song is being sung.
American readers might be surprised to see references to the Queen in some of these songs. This of course is the Queen of England who is our head of state – Australia. Likewise, most of our lodges are not dry - they serve alcohol.
We would be interesting in any lodges visitors songs. You can submit your lodge song here.
Here are the words to some Visitors Songs; A Toast to each and ev-ry one Drink to the bonds of friend-ship Stand and give our clas-ses a clink To all our friends who we hold dear
That’s the way De-vo-tion say Do come a-gain and see us There a wel-come on our door-mat To each and ev-ry one of you …
SEAVIC Lodge No. 8 (UGLV)
(Chorus)
Our brethren from over the ocean,
(Chorus) Duke of Sussex No 48 UGLV
Oh we're the Duke of Sussex, Sussex Forty-Eight (Chorus)
Walhalla 69 Lodge Song Welcome to Walhalla
FOOTSCRAY ST JOHN'S LODGE NO 71 UGLV
We're happy to see you,
Bless them all,
SEYMOUR FREEMASONS LODGE 87 UGLV Sung to the tune of the Aeroplane Jelly jingle. A very popular Australian commercial song released in 1935 still remains popular today There's always a welcome at Seymour
As soon as you step in the door From the country, the city The Mountains and plains In Seymour you're welcome Again and again Have a plate, and a glass, and a laugh and a song You can give us a speech Though it need not be long There's always a welcome at Seymour Come back and see more of Seymour Commonwealth Lodge 186 UGLV  Just a song of Welcome, just a song of Cheer, You'll find a latch-key waiting, and a greeting true, To every one of you
The words were composed by WBro Walter J Tuck, and at the regular meeting each month to the tune of "Just a song at Twilight, forty of fifty hearty male voices fill the South as a special welcome to visitors. (Sung to the tunes of "Lily Marlene") We would like to welcome you to Middle Park And we make our welcome extended from our heart We hope you enjoy our company And come again, there'll always be A warm and friendly welcome To join our harmony A warm and friendly welcome To join our harmony ! Outtrum Lodge 209 UGLV (Tune: The Wild Colonial Boy) We welcome you to Outtrim Our number two 0 nine We my not be all grace and style But promise a good time Our food and drink is unsurpassed The company's just fine Oh, welcome to Old Outtrim So Glad you spared the time. We guarantee you'll come again This proudly is our boast The hospitality's just great We're please to be your hosts Our friendliness is known by ll Who come from coast to coast Oh, welcome to Old Outtrim We're glad to drink this toast. Lodge of the Golden Fleece 300 UGLV “Jason’s Toast” Fill your glasses up and drink Drink to the bonds of Mason-ry Stand and give our Masters a "CHEER" And drink to all that he holds dear So drink to all the happy hours Spent at the Golden Flee-ce Drink to all the good times spent together Let each and everyone here drink. To our Lodge! To our Lodge! To our Lodge in it's glorious happiness! To the Chair! To the Chair! To the man that is leading and guiding us! To the Queen! To the Queen! To the rulers of men and their destinies! To the Craft! To the Craft! To the good work it's doing today! Fill your glasses up and drink Drink to the bonds of friend-ship Stand and give your glasses a "CLINK To everything that we hold dear. So drink to all the happy hours Shout till the rafters ring; Drink to all the good times spent together Let each and everyone here sing. Old Melbournians No 317 UGLV (Tune: Men of Harlech)
At three-one-seven we're glad to say
You've come to visit us today
Welcome, Brethren, and we pray
We'll see you again !
To feel and grasp a friendly hand
In Brotherhood is simply grand
Peace be with our happy band, and
And please come back again! Arcadian Veritas Vistors' Song No 340 UGLV Introduction:
 I've always been, since quite a lad, Cheery and gay when things were bad - That is a way I've always 'ad - I look on the bright side! Chorus: I've gotter motter - Always happy and bright! Look around and you will find Every cloud is silver lined; The sun will shine Although the sky's grey. I've often said to meself, I've said, "Cheer up, Boys, you'll soon be dead! It's a short life but a gay one!" The Arcadian Veritas Lodge Song is from the 1909 musical "The Arcadians" by Monckton, Talbot and Wimperis. The Arcadians has long been considered the finest Edwardian musical comedy and certainly is a fitting source for a lodge song that is a little different from the rest. This version was put together by Bro Dennis M, organist for both Lodge Devotion and Arcadian Veritas. Interestingly the last two lines of the song were often quoted in WW1 Trenches Wesley Collegians No 358 UGLV Let Wesley Collegians now honour each guest
Viva La Compagnie
As brothers and masons we greet you with zest
Viva La Compagnie
Viva La, Viva La, Viva L'am our;
Viva La, Viva La, Viva L'am our
Viva La Reine, Viva La Roi, Viva La Compagnie
Our unity, freedom and love may we share
Viva La Compagnie
As we meet each other on the level and part on the square
Viva La Compagnie
Viva La, Viva La, Viva L'am our;
Viva La, Viva La, Viva L'am our
Viva La Reine, Viva La Roi, Viva La Compagnie Lodge Integrity No 376 UGLV
( Tune: Auld Lang Syne)
Now here's a toast to Brethren all
Right glad of it we are
To drink a toast to all who come
To Lodge Integrity
We're glad to have you with us here
Our joys with us to share
We'll meet you on the level
and we'll part part upon the square
We'll part upon the square it's true
and square we'll always be
So come again another night
To Lodge Integrity
King David No 460 UGLV
(Tune; a wee doch & doris)
Four sixty is the number
King David is the name
We want to make you welcome
So you'll come back again
it's nice to have you with us
And then before you go
To "Auld Lang Syne"
Just add this line
Come back to four-six-O Bendigo Reunion No 477 UGLV
( Tune: Waltzing Matilda)
There is a lodge meeting on a certain Saturday
Visitors are always welcome as can be
From Grand Lodge through to Entered Apprentices
Bendigo Reunion is where you should be
Bendigo Reunion, Bendigo Reunion
This is a lodge to be proud of you will agree
For we greet you as friends
and brothers in Freemasonry
here in our lodge where friendship is free.
Lodge of Good Companions # 647 Lodge Song UGLV Good Companions song is a rewrite of a song written in WW1 and popularized after, becoming one of several very widely known songs of WW2. Its title is "Bless 'Em All", (also known as "The Long And The Short And The Tall"), has an earlier more “bawdy” version of "Bless 'Em All", but I will let you Google that one... (To the tune of Bless 'em all) Bless 'em all, Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tll Bless all the Masters and Past Masters too, Bless all the Brethren - we're glad to see you, For we're saying, "Good luck to you all", And thank you so much for the call, You get the notion, We'll show our devotions. So please come again, BLESS 'EM ALL Hearts of Oak No 681 UGLV
To our friends and guests assembled Hearts of Oak bids you good cheer True fair winds and pleasant sailing As your homeward course you steer. May your welcome here this evening Be to you a guiding star, Guide you safely into harbour, Where your friends and loved ones are (Tune: Men of Harlech)
Amicus a welcome gives you Joined in Masonry we seek to Foster friendships and good cheer to Benefit the Craft. Hoping that our time together
Proves to be a mutual pleasure Friends are made and last forever Here at Amicus With our hand we greet you
With our heart we meet you On the square, remaining there Until the Tyler says the time has come To part in peace and harmony Resolving that the time will be Not long before again with thee We meet at Amicus
The Lodge of Evolution says it’s great to have you here, Here’s a toast to you my Brother,
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