The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James’s Lodge, Tarbolton
By Robert Burns
(1)
Adieu! a heart-warm, fond adieu!
Dear brothers of the mystic tie!
Ye favour’d, ye 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’.
(2)
Oft have I met your social band,
And spent the cheerful, festive night;
Oft honour’d with supreme command,
Presided o’er the sons of light:
And by that hieroglyphic bright,
Which none but craftsmen ever saw!
Strong mem’ry on my heart shall write
Those happy scenes when far awa’.
(3)
May freedom, harmony, and love
Unite you in the grand design,
Beneath th’ Omniscient Eye above,
The glorious architect divine!
That you may keep th’ unerring line,
Still rising by the plummet’s law,
Till order bright completely shine,
Shall be my pray’r when far awa’.
(4)
And you farewell! whose merits claim,
Justly, that highest badge to wear!
Heav’n bless your honour’d, noble name,
To masonry and Scotia dear!
A last request permit me here,
When yearly ye assemble a’,
One round — I ask it with a tear, —
To him, the Bard that’s far awa’.
Poem Analysis:
Robert Burns's The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James’s Lodge, Tarbolton is a touching and dignified poem written as a parting tribute to the members of a Masonic lodge with which the poet had a deep and heartfelt connection. Burns, a Freemason himself, uses this poem to convey his sorrow at leaving his brethren as he prepares to journey abroad in pursuit of better fortune. More than a mere goodbye, the poem is a reflection of fraternity, shared ideals, and enduring loyalty—a heartfelt blend of personal emotion and Masonic symbolism.
Context and Background
Robert Burns joined the Freemasons in 1781 and became an active and enthusiastic member, eventually rising to serve as Depute Master. Masonic lodges in 18th-century Scotland were not only fraternal but also intellectual and social centers, and they played a formative role in Burns’s literary and personal life.
The poem is addressed to the St. James’s Lodge in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, a group of "enlighten’d few" who were part of his inner circle. The “farewell” is believed to be connected to Burns’s intentions to travel to Jamaica in 1786 to escape financial troubles, though he ultimately did not go.
Adieu! a heart-warm, fond adieu! / Dear brothers of the mystic tie!
The opening lines immediately establish the tone of emotional sincerity and affectionate farewell. Burns emphasizes the bond of Freemasonry—the “mystic tie”—as something deeper than mere friendship; it is a spiritual and philosophical union.
With melting heart, and brimful eye, / I’ll mind you still, tho’ far awa’.
This final couplet is a beautiful encapsulation of nostalgia and affection. Even as he departs, Burns pledges to remember his brethren with deep emotion. The Scottish dialect ("awa'") grounds the poem in his native culture, giving it intimacy and authenticity.
Oft have I met your social band, / And spent the cheerful, festive night;
This stanza reflects on the convivial gatherings at the lodge. Masonic meetings were as much about camaraderie and warmth as they were about rituals, and Burns captures this dual spirit of joy and purpose.
Strong mem’ry on my heart shall write / Those happy scenes when far awa’.
The metaphor of memory "writing" on the heart reinforces the emotional weight of these recollections. The poet casts his time with the brethren not merely as happy moments but as enduring and formative experiences.
May freedom, harmony, and love / Unite you in the grand design,
This stanza is a poetic invocation of Masonic ideals: liberty, brotherhood, and love. The phrase "grand design" references both Masonic cosmology (with God as the “Great Architect”) and the vision of moral and social improvement through fraternal unity.
Till order bright completely shine, / Shall be my pray’r when far awa’.
The reference to the “plummet’s law” and “unerring line” are images from stonemasonry, symbolizing moral integrity and upright conduct. Burns wishes that the lodge members continue to build metaphorical temples of virtue.
And you farewell! whose merits claim, / Justly, that highest badge to wear!
This stanza appears to be a direct address to an individual of high Masonic standing—perhaps the Master of the Lodge or a particularly esteemed member. Burns blesses him, linking his stature to both the fraternity and to Scotland.
One round — I ask it with a tear, — / To him, the Bard that’s far awa’.
In this emotionally resonant closing, Burns requests that his brethren toast him in his absence—not out of vanity, but as a symbol of enduring fellowship. The phrase “with a tear” captures the melancholic affection of the moment, while "the Bard that’s far awa’" becomes both a humble self-reference and a poetic epitaph.
Themes
- Brotherhood and Loyalty: Above all, the poem celebrates human connection through the lens of Masonic fellowship. The poet’s ties to the Lodge are portrayed as sacred and unbreakable, even by distance. The consistent refrain "tho’ far awa’" reinforces that spiritual bonds surpass physical separation.
- Memory and Legacy: Burns is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of time and the lasting power of memory. His farewell is not a severing of ties but a passage into remembrance. The poem itself becomes an artifact of his legacy—an enduring link between poet and brethren.
- Masonic Ideals: The poem is saturated with Masonic symbolism: the "plummet’s law," the "grand design," the "Omniscient Eye," and the "sons of light." These metaphors convey the fraternity’s values—moral uprightness, enlightenment, and harmony—as aspirations not just for Masons but for all humankind.
- Scottish Identity: Burns’s use of Scots dialect and references to “Scotia” reinforce the national character of the work. This is not just a farewell to a Lodge, but to a homeland. The poem is infused with a sense of rootedness, even as the poet prepares to depart.
Structure and Language
The poem follows a consistent stanzaic form of eight-line stanzas (octaves) in iambic tetrameter with a regular rhyme scheme, mostly alternating. The rhythm, musicality, and warmth of the Scots dialect add to its charm and emotional accessibility. Each stanza ends with a variant of “tho’ far awa’,” unifying the work with a refrain that echoes separation and loyalty.
The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James’s Lodge, Tarbolton is a rich and emotionally resonant poem that merges personal sentiment with philosophical and fraternal ideals. Through evocative language and Masonic symbolism, Robert Burns bids farewell not only to a group of men but to a way of life, a spiritual brotherhood, and a cherished homeland.
The poem stands as a testimony to the poet’s character—loyal, reflective, and deeply aware of the bonds that define a meaningful life. It remains one of Burns’s most poignant works of parting, imbued with both the sorrow of leaving and the enduring light of friendship.