Glandore Masonic Lodge 551

The Parting Glass & The Farewell

But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Lyrics from the song the Parting Glass popular in Ireland but originating in Scotland in 1770.

The earliest known appearance of the tune today associated with this text is as a fiddle tune called "The Peacock", included in James Aird's A Selection of Scots, English, Irish and Foreign Airs in 1782.

Robert Burns referred to the air in 1786 as "Good night, and joy be wi' ye a'." when using it to accompany his Masonic lyric "The Farewell. To the brethren of St. James's Lodge, Tarbolton".

'The Farewell' speaks of his affection for Freemasonry and of the dread of his impeding immigration to Jamaca and it is not hard to see why his situation was in need of intervention.

1786 was probably the most critical year in Burns’ life. Living in disarray, his farm was going from bad to worse; he had “Betty”, a child from his maid Elizabeth Paton; his future wife Jean Armour was pregnant with twins who would be born in September; and another woman, Mary Campbell was also to become pregnant and would die in October.

In those terrible days, Burns was offered a position as a “book-keeper” (overseeing enslaved people in sugar cane fields) by Ayrshire landowner Dr. Patrick Douglas, whose family owned Ayr Mount near Port Antonio in Portland on the northeastern coast of Jamaica.

So, his proposed departure to the West Indies, “with foreboding anguish, thro’ his soul”, captured much of his poetic creation and “farewell” was its greatest expression.

Although the last line laments that the Bard will be 'Far awa, this never came to pass as the Brethren of Tarbolton Lodge managed to avoid his emigration

Adieu! a heart-warm fond adieu;
Dear brothers of the mystic tie!
Ye favoured, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Robert Burns as a freemason, dressed in his Depute Master Masonic regalia.