Here are two versions from the oral tradition - one collected by Sharp, one by Greig. (I'll put the tunes up later when I have time).

The notes in Sharp (ed Karpeles) say "Published in Carols, No.16. A text of the carol is printed on a broadside by T. Nicholson of Belfast. This, like the version given here, has some unintelligible passages. The Irish broadside is a Masonic song.

    The first stanza is as follows:
      Come all you Craftsmen that do wish
      To propagate the grand design,
      Come, enter into our high temple
      And learn the art that is divine.
  
  The carol used to be sung annually at Christmas by a party of Male singers. Cecil Sharp doubts whether it can be regarded as a folk song"
  

Mick


THE SONS OF LEVI
(Sharp from James Beale, Warehorn, Kent 1908)

Come all you knights, you knights of honour
When the wars they first began,
That you might shine in your armour bright
All in the new Jerusalem.
For we are the true-born sons of Levi,
Very few they can compare,
For we are the root and the branch of David
By the light and glorious star, for we are.

It was in Gilgarlich Moses wandering
Playing on his musical horn,
It was in Gilgarlich Moses was quartered
There he left on a rolling mark.

It was in the wilderness Moses wandering
Near unto the place as good
Where the Christians smote the Egyptians
Turning the waters into blood.

Broad is the place that leads to ruin,
Many walk that way therein
That will take them to that simple [sinful?] temple
That burdened with sin.

Narrow is the path that leads to Heaven,
Very few that walks therein,
That will take them to that holy temple,
That very place that is free from sin.



THE SONS OF LEVI
(Greig-Duncan from F.R. Brown)

Come all ye knights of Malta, come forth
In glittering armour shine
Assist your good and worthy Prince
To protect the ark divine.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We wear the black and scarlet garter
On our left breast a blazing star.

With trembling steps I slow advanced
Sometimes I knocked both loud and shrill
Until a knight in armour bright
Demanded me what was my will
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We wear the black and scarlet garter
On our left breast a blazing star.

After some questions being asked
To which I answered with some fear
They told me neither Turk nor heathen
Could by any means enter here.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We wear the black and scarlet garter
On our left breast a blazing star.

With a cross and star placed on my breast
And justice girded my loins all around
Always remember the twelve stones
On Jordan's banks are to be found.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We are the root and branch of David
That bright and glorious morning star.

Noah planted the first garden
Moses planted the first rod
He smote the waters for the Egyptians
And turned the Jordan into blood.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We wear the black and scarlet garter
On our left breast a blazing star.

As Joshua and I passed over Jordan
These twelve stones we bore along
It was the twelve priests and our Grand Master
That moved the ark of God along.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We are the root and branch of David
That bright and glorious morning star.

Come all you brethren and join with me
And bear the cross as I have done
Come enter into this bright temple
Fitted near Jerusalem.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We wear the black and scarlet garter
On our left breast a blazing star.

There are seven trumpets of ram's horn
Sounded loud before the ark
Gilgal is our resting quarter
And there we left our holy mark.
For we are true-born sons of Levi
Few on Earth to us compare
We are the root and branch of David
That bright and glorious morning star.