I’ve been trying to write a sonnet a day for April; and this is the one for the 18th of April, which happened to be the 250th anniversary of the ride of Paul Revere and Robert Dawes, which occurred the night before the American Revolution’s first shots were fired.
We tend to think about Paul Revere’s ride as a spontaneous act — but Revere had been in the Grand Line of officers for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, off and on, for ten years… and had served as worshipful grand master more than once, as well as being worshipful master of his own lodge and an honorary member of most other lodges in Massachusetts at the time. He was a joiner of groups, and an active member — and admired and respected as a result. People followed him not because he was anonymous, but because he was an active participant.
18 April 2025
We like to forget that he was Master,
Not some anonymous dude on a horse.
He only needed to travel faster
than the redcoats leaving Boston, of course.
Everyone knew the plump-faced silver smith:
he came to all the meetings of the lodge,
“He answered letters,” he rode all the kith,
“He knew the lectures,” and knew when to dodge
in the rituals; he made apprentices
And raised up Masons, faithful to the Craft.
When he and others risked death sentences,
we did not wait for recruitment, nor draft,
but heard his shout as he rode through the night;
We put on our britches and joined the fight.
