Charles Swikert was a very active member of the F. & A. M. (Free and Accepted Masons). He and a few others were founding members of the Council Oak Lodge in Clay Twp., north of South Bend, Indiana. He wrote a few poems commemorating various events at the Lodge.

To Brothers Ray Bracher and George Inglett, 50th Year Awards, May 13, 1985

Fifty years have come and gone
Since the gates were opened wide,
When two Brothers knocked upon the door
And asked to come inside.

They both had met the standards
That Masons hold so high,
And kept the Faith that Hiram taught
Through all the years gone by.

You have reached a milestone
That few of us can share,
But all of us are hoping
That someday we will be there.

You have been a guiding light,
When with the craft you labor,
Or when you give a helping hand
To all your friends and neighbors.

Tonight we wish to honor you
For those fifty years of sharing,
Helping us get through our days,
Because of someone's caring.

We all appreciate what you have done
To keep our lodge the best.
So, I wish to honor you,
Along with all the rest.

A Tribute To Brother Sam Williamson, December 14, 1985

Masonry has changed our lives
Of many of us here,
And brought us lasting friendships
That will last for many years.

I wish to pay a tribute
To a friend that many loved.
He is now a member of
That Celestial Lodge above.

I sometimes sit in silence,
And it seems that I could see
Sam sitting in the shadows
Of that famous old oak tree.

I know he will be watching
From his honored place above,
To see his son made master
Of the lodge he dearly loved.

Dale, you will be the master,
A master good and true,
And I hope your father's friendliness
Will be passed along to you.

I wish for you the very best
In every thing you do,
And may our friendship grow,
As Sam would want it to.

I wish I could be there
This night that's meant for you,
But you will not be alone
Because Sam is watching you.

Let us pause now to remember
Those in the great beyond,
For we know the day is coming
When we too will travel on.

For life and death is nature
That we do not understand,
But it has been his way of doing
Ever since the world began.

Let us enjoy our blessings
As we labor side by side,
And we will meet our friends in Heaven
When we cross that great divide.

Frank Rist's retirement as master of Council Oak Lodge, Dec. l975

We had a master in '74
Who ruled with an iron hand.
The way he used the gavel
We all could understand.

He made us all work very hard,
He kept us on the run.
And when we started to complain,
He said it was only fun.

He had a lot of projects,
From Christmas trees to fruit.
And when the treasurer gave his report
He rubbed his hands and said "That's goot."

Now maybe he was tough on us
When he was reigning high,
And still despite the things I've said,
We think he's quite a guy.

Get Well Sambo

I know a guy,
His name is Sam.
I will let him guess
Just who I am.

I can't come to see you
While you are in there.
They don't allow visitors
In intensive care.

Now eat what they give you
And do what they say,
So you can get out
In a very few days.

Your family and friends
All want you back home.
With friends like yours
You are never alone.

A Tribute To Ladies Auxiliary

Council Oak Lodge is a lodge for men,
For men that are good and true,
But could we have built it,
If it hadn't been for you?

Remember how we worked all day,
Right up to the noon hours too.
But what would we have done for lunch time,
If it hadn't been for you?

Our lodge room is covered with carpet,
With carpet that is blue.
But would we have that carpet,
If it hadn't been for you?

Our social room was hot and muggy
On summer days that's true.
But would we have gotten that cooler,
If it hadn't been for you?

We needed chairs to sit on,
Though we had purchased quite a few.
But how could we increase that number,
If it hadn't been for you?

We sit on the davenport in the corner.
That's the first thing that we do.
But what would we have sat on,
If it hadn't been for you?

The roof was old and leaking.
The water was coming right through.
But how could we put a roof on,
If it hadn't been for you?

When we have barbecued chicken,
And pies, we need quite a few.
So we send out a plea to you ladies,
And you ladies always came through.

Now how could we ever have managed
The various meals that we do,
Without the knowledge and workers,
If it hadn't been for you?

The officers are wearing their aprons,
And proud of them they are too,
But plain white ones they would be wearing
If it hadn't been for you.

Now I know many things I am missing,
For things slip from my mind, too.
But all of us feel grateful,
Even for little things that you do.

Now some of you wish to be quitting,
And think it's the best thing to do,
But now we are more financially able,
We want to do something for you.

So don't think any more of quitting,
For quitting is easy to do,
But think of the ways you have helped us
And what we would do without you.