Don't bring into the lodge-room <br />Anger, and spite, and pride. <br />Drop at the gate of the temple <br />The strife of the world outside. <br />Forget all your cares and trials, <br />Forget every selfish sorrow, <br />And remember the cause you meet for, <br />And haste ye the glad to-morrow. <br /> <br /> <br />Drop at the gate of the temple <br />Envy, and spite, and gloom. <br />Don't bring personal quarrels <br />And discord into the room. <br />Forget the slights of a sister, <br />Forget the wrongs of a brother, <br />And remember the new commandment, <br />That ye all love one another. <br /> <br /> <br />Bring your heart into the lodge-room, <br />But leave yourself outside, <br />That is, your personal feelings, <br />Ambition, vanity, pride. <br />Centre each thought and power <br />On the cause for which you assemble, <br />Fetter the demon liquor, <br />And make ye the traffic tremble. <br /> <br /> <br />Ay! to fetter and to chain him, <br />And cast him under our feet, <br />This is the end we aim at, <br />The object for which we meet. <br />Then don't bring into the lodge-room, <br />Envy, or strife, or pride, <br />Or aught that will mar our union, <br />But leave them all outside.<br /><br />Ella Wheeler Wilcox<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-lodge-room/
