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Poem
February 8, 1808
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
Poem by Lyndon Arnold of Providence on the death of B. Marshall, Tyler of St. John's Lodge, who died at the Lodge door. It depicts a dialogue where Death offers release to the impoverished Marshall, who requests to attend one last Lodge meeting before dying, and Death grants it.
Clipping
OCR Quality
90%
Excellent
Full Text
Poetry.
The beauty of the following lines richly entitle them to a place in our poetical department. They were written by the late Lyndon Arnold, Esq. of Providence, on the death of Mr. B. Marshall, the Tyler of St. John's Lodge in that place, who fell dead at the door of the Lodge, immediately on the last brother entering the room.
P. Friend.
In such want, infirmity opprest,
Death! O Marshall, thou shalt shortly be releas'd
I see no reason for thy tarrying here,
But fear or hope, and 'tis vain to fear:
No wife remains with thee thy griefs to share,
No tender infants to demand thy care.
Few are thy comforts, numerous are thy woes,
And few thy friends, but what the Lodge compose;
Stay with one blow shall I thy soul release,
And send it joyful to the realms of peace"
The sage reply'd, "These things, O Death, are true-
One boon I ask, and then submit to you;
Those genuine friends, those brothers of my heart,
Whom kind affection prompted to impart,
The means of living to my feeble age,
And still sustain my tottering on the stage;
This night in social brotherhood convene,
My wish, O Death, would lead me to the scene,
There when the Lodge in harmony shall close,
And each one listens homeward to repose,
I'll wait thy coming, thy command obey,
And through thy regions meet eternal day
Twas Reason's claim, nor Death refus'd the grace,
But met him punctual at the time and place"
The beauty of the following lines richly entitle them to a place in our poetical department. They were written by the late Lyndon Arnold, Esq. of Providence, on the death of Mr. B. Marshall, the Tyler of St. John's Lodge in that place, who fell dead at the door of the Lodge, immediately on the last brother entering the room.
P. Friend.
In such want, infirmity opprest,
Death! O Marshall, thou shalt shortly be releas'd
I see no reason for thy tarrying here,
But fear or hope, and 'tis vain to fear:
No wife remains with thee thy griefs to share,
No tender infants to demand thy care.
Few are thy comforts, numerous are thy woes,
And few thy friends, but what the Lodge compose;
Stay with one blow shall I thy soul release,
And send it joyful to the realms of peace"
The sage reply'd, "These things, O Death, are true-
One boon I ask, and then submit to you;
Those genuine friends, those brothers of my heart,
Whom kind affection prompted to impart,
The means of living to my feeble age,
And still sustain my tottering on the stage;
This night in social brotherhood convene,
My wish, O Death, would lead me to the scene,
There when the Lodge in harmony shall close,
And each one listens homeward to repose,
I'll wait thy coming, thy command obey,
And through thy regions meet eternal day
Twas Reason's claim, nor Death refus'd the grace,
But met him punctual at the time and place"
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Friendship
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Elegy Marshall
Masonic Lodge
Dialogue Death
Providence Tyler
Brotherly Friendship
Eternal Peace
What entities or persons were involved?
The Late Lyndon Arnold, Esq. Of Providence
Poem Details
Author
The Late Lyndon Arnold, Esq. Of Providence
Subject
On The Death Of Mr. B. Marshall, The Tyler Of St. John's Lodge
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
In Such Want, Infirmity Opprest,
Death! O Marshall, Thou Shalt Shortly Be Releas'd
Those Genuine Friends, Those Brothers Of My Heart,
Whom Kind Affection Prompted To Impart,
There When The Lodge In Harmony Shall Close,
And Each One Listens Homeward To Repose,
I'll Wait Thy Coming, Thy Command Obey,
And Through Thy Regions Meet Eternal Day
Twas Reason's Claim, Nor Death Refus'd The Grace,
But Met Him Punctual At The Time And Place