Rudyard Kipling's The Banquet Night

The Tyler’s Lyre presents The Banquet Night. Poem by Rudyard Kipling. I’ve taken the liberty of setting Kipling’s poem to music as a song—with affectionate apologies to any Kipling purists listening. I hope this interpretation preserves the warmth and spirit of fellowship in his words. First published in 1926 in Debits and Credits, “Banquet Night” draws on the building of King Solomon’s Temple to explore fellowship, shared labour and the setting aside of rank. Quarrymen, seafarers, craftsmen and rulers gather at one table—as equals. Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was a British poet and storyteller, known for The Jungle Book and “If—”. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907. Kipling became a Freemason in 1886, aged twenty, joining Hope and Perseverance Lodge No. 782 in Lahore. There he experienced fellowship among men of different religions and backgrounds. These early experiences continued to inform his writing, and the spirit of brotherhood across social divisions finds expression in “Banquet Night”. © 2026 Julian P B Smith / Scionpoint Productions. No copyright claimed in Rudyard Kipling’s original poem. You may share this film for non-commercial purposes, provided it remains complete and unedited, with all titles and credits intact, and Julian P B Smith / Scionpoint Productions credited. Other uses of material in which I hold rights require written permission. BANQUET NIGHT By Rudyard Kipling “Once in so often,” King Solomon said, Watching his quarrymen drill the stone, “We will club our garlic and wine and bread And banquet together beneath my Throne, And all the Brethren shall come to that mess As Fellow-Craftsmen—no more and no less.” “Send a swift shallop to Hiram of Tyre, Felling and floating our beautiful trees, Say that the Brethren and I desire Talk with our Brethren who use the seas. And we shall be happy to meet them at mess As Fellow-Craftsmen—no more and no less.” “Carry this message to Hiram Abif— Excellent master of forge and mine:— I and the Brethren would like it if He and the Brethren will come to dine (Garments from Bozrah or morning-dress) As Fellow-Craftsmen—no more and no less.” “God gave the Hyssop and Cedar their place— Also the Bramble, the Fig and the Thorn— But that is no reason to black a man’s face Because he is not what he hasn’t been born. And, as touching the Temple, I hold and profess We are Fellow-Craftsmen—no more and no less.” So it was ordered and so it was done, And the hewers of wood and the Masons of Mark, With foc’sle hands of Sidon run And Navy Lords from the Royal Ark, Came and sat down and were merry at mess As Fellow-Craftsmen—no more and no less. The Quarries are hotter than Hiram’s forge, No one is safe from the dog-whip’s reach. It’s mostly snowing up Lebanon gorge, And it’s always blowing off Joppa beach; But once in so often, the messenger brings Solomon’s mandate: “Forget these things! Brother to Beggars and Fellow to Kings, Companion of Princes—forget these things! Fellow-Craftsmen, forget these things!” Poem and publication notes: The Kipling Society https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poem... https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/readers-g...