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Article MASONIC PORTRAITS (No. 9.) THE KNIGHT ERRANT. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC PORTRAITS (No. 9.) THE KNIGHT ERRANT. Page 2 of 2 Article EAST, WEST AND SOUTH. Page 1 of 3 →
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Masonic Portraits (No. 9.) The Knight Errant.
selfishness , usually regards the modern knig ht errant as a dreamer and an enthusiast . The purer a man ' s motives may be , the less easy it is for grovelling natures to understand him . The vulgar theory that every man has his price , iir , in other words , that men do not work for society
without a selfish motive , is too commonly entertained by persons who would at once disclaim for themselves all thought of ministering to the wants of their fellows . Purity of heart , benevolence , and charity , these people do not understand ; and if we were to introduce to their
notice the Masonio knight errant whose virtues have inspired the foregoing reflections , they would understand him as little . Yet , our knight has done valiant deeds , which fully entitle him to wear the golden spurs . His armour and shield , if we may be permitted the use of a figure of
speech , bear marks of many a passage of arms in which he has gallantly upheld the cause of truth and Masonry . At this moment , he is preparing to break a lance with doughty warriors on the other side of the Atlantic ; the coming melee is , however , but a mere interlude in his busy
life ; and , between the episodes of lance breaking , he finds time to continue those great labours which have made him famous throughout the Order . Our knight errant ' s most trusty weapon , we need scarcely say , is the pen . He has written and has edited many works , and is a diligent
contributor to the Masonic press at home and abroad . His " Charges " and " Memorials " are widely known and appreciated . With the prosaic and the practical portion of the fraternity , he might pass for a dreamer . He possesses , indeed , a poetic nature , though we are not aware that he has given any outward manifestation of it in verse . All the so-called
dreamers and enthusiasts are essentially poetical . The half truth to a dull mind becomes to their mental vision a fully-developed and glorious reality , opening up vistas of distant fields of conquest or new ideas for study and reflection .
Our knight errant has turned over the musty pages of the past in search of antiquarian lore , and has written learnedly upon those abstruse historical questions in connection with Masonry w"hich have exercised the minds of many of the brightest members of the fraternity . He is
a philanthropist in tho widest acceptation of the term , and never speaks or writes without an eye to an ulterior object , which is the good of his fellow men . Although a controversialist by nature , no man with whom we are acquainted is more tolerant of the opinions of his fellows . The noble
English spirit of fair play predominates in his mind , and although he can strike an opponent hard , he never takes an unfair advantage , or spurs in hot pursuit of the vanquished . He holds strong opinions on social questions not connected with Masonry , but he never attempts to thrust these upon
his friends . The expression of strong opinions in rude language forms one of the nuisances of the day . The man who lacks culture always imagines that he is in duty bound to proselytise upon all occasions , and it is only refined minds who know how to keep silence upon questions
which deeply affect the welfare of humanity . He who can say a true thing at the proper moment may be accounted sufficiently discreet , but he who knows how and when to be silent may be regarded as truly wise . Our knight errant , as becomes his rank in chivalry ,
has taken a high place in the ranks of Masonry ; a mere list of his honours and titles , and of the Lodges with which he is connected , would fill a column . The Masons of the United States have honoured themselves by including him in the rank of their distinguished members . His pen
has influenced many of the Masonic thinkers on the other side of the Atlantic , and whatever he writes always receives respectful attention . Amongst the brethren in this country , no man is better known or more widely respected . He is a member of Grand Lodge , and holds the
rank of P . G . S . D . of England . The Lodges of the Western counties owe much to his active exertions and wise administration . He accounts nothing a toil which may conduce to the good of the Order , and is as read y to compile a mass of statistics as he is to prepare an essay or
a volume . We have before us , at this moment , some statistical work of his in relation to the Province of Cornwall , which exhibits great labour . It is merely one of many of the papers our industrious brother is in the
habit of throwing off as occasion demands , and in his estimation it contains nothing remarkable . Our knight errant is no gloomy ascetic , but a social being , who can be gay in the company of his fellow creatures . For the mere festive aspect of Masonry he has no regard ; he does not ,
Masonic Portraits (No. 9.) The Knight Errant.
indeed , object to an occasional dinner , hut he dislikes and sots his face against largo expenditure upon the mero pleasures of the table when so much practical good might be done with the cash which goes to pay for banquets . As a
Vice-President of the Masonic Institution for Boys , and Life Governor of the other great Charities , he is deeply anxious that every available source of revenue should bo laid under contribution for the benefit of the
orphan and the distressed . In this respect , indeed , our knight errant shows himself to bo a thoroughly practical Mason ; his speculative studies having in no wise blunted his feelings or closed his heart against the claims of the poor .
In tho world our knight is known as a first-rate man of business , and holds a place of high trust and confidence in a noted firm in the west of England . In his domestic relations he is an affectionate husband , and is untiring in his devotion to the amiable lady who is his wife . How much
or how highly they are both respected in the social circle in which they move it is not for us to say . It is not our business to lift tho veil which conceals the private virtues of those who frequent onr studio . It is with his public career that we have to do , and that career affords matter
for many and sage reflections , if it were our aim to conclude these sketches with a moral . The obvious lesson of a life like his may , however , be learned and applied by the dullest reader . Our knight has spent his strength and his skill fighting for a good cause . His reward here is the respect
of all good men , and the approval of his own conscience . He has yet battles to fight and victories to win ; the day indeed , may come , when he must put off his armour and
hang his sword on the wall like a veteran whose duty is done . That day is , however , still distant ; as far as human foresight' can judge , he is yet destined to do knightly service for the cause he has at heart .
" Arm thee , Sir Knight , and lay thy lance in rest , There is war i' the air ; armies fight i' the sky ; A flaming sword sweeps yon arch of azuro ;
Tho shouts of phantom foemen ring in onr ears . Arouse , and arm : cover thy breast with steel , And thy head with plumed adamant . Thy trade is Danger , and there are toils in store . "
East, West And South.
EAST , WEST AND SOUTH .
BY A WANDERING FREEMASON . V . "jVTOW , when all the Dailys are teeming with reports by J-1 their specials , of the reception of the Prince of Wales by the towns of India , of salutes , processions , inaugurations , State dinners , balls , and spectacles of all
sorts , my mind naturally reverts to somewhat similar doings on a smaller scale , which were once on a time set going in a distant land , to do all honour to his brother , Prince Alfred .
It has , moreover , been my lot to participate in not a few gorgeous spectacles , in countries where State ceremonials , of European routine , have been enacted with barbaric pomp : officially representing our flag in some of them—a victim in buttoned uniform under a tropical sky .
In November 18 G 9 , I was stationed , as H . M . ' s Vice-Consul , at Manila , a place known to fame chiefly by its cigars , and had just got steadied after a lively earthquake , during which I had to stride wide like a pair of compasses ,
swaying to and fro with the ground , and an iuterestino ' hurricane , such as this week has been again announced from that quarter . Consular duties—Notarial and Marine—include also the
taking of evidence and committal for offences , varying from pitch and toss ( in a leaky ship ) to manslaughter or murder . The Foreign Office , the Board of Trade , the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty ' s Treasury , the Admiralty , and the Governors of the nearest Colonies , amongst others , are
being constantly communicated with . But perhaps the following dialogue will best illustrate the more usual sample of the business in my office . J . Johnson , A . B .: " I was just coilin' away a rope ' s end by
the scuppers , yer Worshup , when he cum and put his foot right in the middle of it , and when I says , ' Bill , will you just ' ave the kindness to move , because I can't go on coilin ' away the rope while your foot ' s in it , ' he says , ' You lubber , take that , ' and guv me over the head with a belayin ' - pin . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Portraits (No. 9.) The Knight Errant.
selfishness , usually regards the modern knig ht errant as a dreamer and an enthusiast . The purer a man ' s motives may be , the less easy it is for grovelling natures to understand him . The vulgar theory that every man has his price , iir , in other words , that men do not work for society
without a selfish motive , is too commonly entertained by persons who would at once disclaim for themselves all thought of ministering to the wants of their fellows . Purity of heart , benevolence , and charity , these people do not understand ; and if we were to introduce to their
notice the Masonio knight errant whose virtues have inspired the foregoing reflections , they would understand him as little . Yet , our knight has done valiant deeds , which fully entitle him to wear the golden spurs . His armour and shield , if we may be permitted the use of a figure of
speech , bear marks of many a passage of arms in which he has gallantly upheld the cause of truth and Masonry . At this moment , he is preparing to break a lance with doughty warriors on the other side of the Atlantic ; the coming melee is , however , but a mere interlude in his busy
life ; and , between the episodes of lance breaking , he finds time to continue those great labours which have made him famous throughout the Order . Our knight errant ' s most trusty weapon , we need scarcely say , is the pen . He has written and has edited many works , and is a diligent
contributor to the Masonic press at home and abroad . His " Charges " and " Memorials " are widely known and appreciated . With the prosaic and the practical portion of the fraternity , he might pass for a dreamer . He possesses , indeed , a poetic nature , though we are not aware that he has given any outward manifestation of it in verse . All the so-called
dreamers and enthusiasts are essentially poetical . The half truth to a dull mind becomes to their mental vision a fully-developed and glorious reality , opening up vistas of distant fields of conquest or new ideas for study and reflection .
Our knight errant has turned over the musty pages of the past in search of antiquarian lore , and has written learnedly upon those abstruse historical questions in connection with Masonry w"hich have exercised the minds of many of the brightest members of the fraternity . He is
a philanthropist in tho widest acceptation of the term , and never speaks or writes without an eye to an ulterior object , which is the good of his fellow men . Although a controversialist by nature , no man with whom we are acquainted is more tolerant of the opinions of his fellows . The noble
English spirit of fair play predominates in his mind , and although he can strike an opponent hard , he never takes an unfair advantage , or spurs in hot pursuit of the vanquished . He holds strong opinions on social questions not connected with Masonry , but he never attempts to thrust these upon
his friends . The expression of strong opinions in rude language forms one of the nuisances of the day . The man who lacks culture always imagines that he is in duty bound to proselytise upon all occasions , and it is only refined minds who know how to keep silence upon questions
which deeply affect the welfare of humanity . He who can say a true thing at the proper moment may be accounted sufficiently discreet , but he who knows how and when to be silent may be regarded as truly wise . Our knight errant , as becomes his rank in chivalry ,
has taken a high place in the ranks of Masonry ; a mere list of his honours and titles , and of the Lodges with which he is connected , would fill a column . The Masons of the United States have honoured themselves by including him in the rank of their distinguished members . His pen
has influenced many of the Masonic thinkers on the other side of the Atlantic , and whatever he writes always receives respectful attention . Amongst the brethren in this country , no man is better known or more widely respected . He is a member of Grand Lodge , and holds the
rank of P . G . S . D . of England . The Lodges of the Western counties owe much to his active exertions and wise administration . He accounts nothing a toil which may conduce to the good of the Order , and is as read y to compile a mass of statistics as he is to prepare an essay or
a volume . We have before us , at this moment , some statistical work of his in relation to the Province of Cornwall , which exhibits great labour . It is merely one of many of the papers our industrious brother is in the
habit of throwing off as occasion demands , and in his estimation it contains nothing remarkable . Our knight errant is no gloomy ascetic , but a social being , who can be gay in the company of his fellow creatures . For the mere festive aspect of Masonry he has no regard ; he does not ,
Masonic Portraits (No. 9.) The Knight Errant.
indeed , object to an occasional dinner , hut he dislikes and sots his face against largo expenditure upon the mero pleasures of the table when so much practical good might be done with the cash which goes to pay for banquets . As a
Vice-President of the Masonic Institution for Boys , and Life Governor of the other great Charities , he is deeply anxious that every available source of revenue should bo laid under contribution for the benefit of the
orphan and the distressed . In this respect , indeed , our knight errant shows himself to bo a thoroughly practical Mason ; his speculative studies having in no wise blunted his feelings or closed his heart against the claims of the poor .
In tho world our knight is known as a first-rate man of business , and holds a place of high trust and confidence in a noted firm in the west of England . In his domestic relations he is an affectionate husband , and is untiring in his devotion to the amiable lady who is his wife . How much
or how highly they are both respected in the social circle in which they move it is not for us to say . It is not our business to lift tho veil which conceals the private virtues of those who frequent onr studio . It is with his public career that we have to do , and that career affords matter
for many and sage reflections , if it were our aim to conclude these sketches with a moral . The obvious lesson of a life like his may , however , be learned and applied by the dullest reader . Our knight has spent his strength and his skill fighting for a good cause . His reward here is the respect
of all good men , and the approval of his own conscience . He has yet battles to fight and victories to win ; the day indeed , may come , when he must put off his armour and
hang his sword on the wall like a veteran whose duty is done . That day is , however , still distant ; as far as human foresight' can judge , he is yet destined to do knightly service for the cause he has at heart .
" Arm thee , Sir Knight , and lay thy lance in rest , There is war i' the air ; armies fight i' the sky ; A flaming sword sweeps yon arch of azuro ;
Tho shouts of phantom foemen ring in onr ears . Arouse , and arm : cover thy breast with steel , And thy head with plumed adamant . Thy trade is Danger , and there are toils in store . "
East, West And South.
EAST , WEST AND SOUTH .
BY A WANDERING FREEMASON . V . "jVTOW , when all the Dailys are teeming with reports by J-1 their specials , of the reception of the Prince of Wales by the towns of India , of salutes , processions , inaugurations , State dinners , balls , and spectacles of all
sorts , my mind naturally reverts to somewhat similar doings on a smaller scale , which were once on a time set going in a distant land , to do all honour to his brother , Prince Alfred .
It has , moreover , been my lot to participate in not a few gorgeous spectacles , in countries where State ceremonials , of European routine , have been enacted with barbaric pomp : officially representing our flag in some of them—a victim in buttoned uniform under a tropical sky .
In November 18 G 9 , I was stationed , as H . M . ' s Vice-Consul , at Manila , a place known to fame chiefly by its cigars , and had just got steadied after a lively earthquake , during which I had to stride wide like a pair of compasses ,
swaying to and fro with the ground , and an iuterestino ' hurricane , such as this week has been again announced from that quarter . Consular duties—Notarial and Marine—include also the
taking of evidence and committal for offences , varying from pitch and toss ( in a leaky ship ) to manslaughter or murder . The Foreign Office , the Board of Trade , the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty ' s Treasury , the Admiralty , and the Governors of the nearest Colonies , amongst others , are
being constantly communicated with . But perhaps the following dialogue will best illustrate the more usual sample of the business in my office . J . Johnson , A . B .: " I was just coilin' away a rope ' s end by
the scuppers , yer Worshup , when he cum and put his foot right in the middle of it , and when I says , ' Bill , will you just ' ave the kindness to move , because I can't go on coilin ' away the rope while your foot ' s in it , ' he says , ' You lubber , take that , ' and guv me over the head with a belayin ' - pin . "