Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Buncombe.
BUNCOMBE .
LAST week , when we read the paragraph we inserted from the " Man of the World , " as to the doings of the Sphinx Olub , wherein it is recorded that the members , in spite of the good fellowship that is general among them , are allowed to say no good of each other , we felt we could really enjoy
association with it , as affording some pleasant relief from the eternal flattery—pure buncombe we regard it in many instances —that seems to be inseperable from ordinary after-dinner speaking , but which is especially prominent at Masonic
gatherings . The fact of being able to listen to something quite original , in the form of severe good natured criticism form the proposer of a toast , must be so much of a novelty as to give particular interest to the proceedings , and we can imagine
such comments as are here referred to being far more entertaining , and even more complimentary , than the string of soft words which are customary around the festive board , and which , more often than not , stamp themselves as absurdities ,
by reason of the extremes to which they are carried , and are occasionally , we may add , uttered with the proposer , the subject of the toast , and all around fully alive to the fact
that the observations are pure buncombe ; offered , it may be , half heartedly , and with no real effort on the part of the proposer to induce his listeners to believe he is speaking with anything approaching sincerity .
The novelty of proceedings at the Sphinx Club does not , however , limit itself bo the speech-making , the proposition of a new member being accompanied by an elaborate indictment , giving fancy details of his past villainous career , and ending
by his being unanimously blackballed before he can be admitted ; all of which proceedings are but further steps in the desirable direction of doing away with some of the buncombe
of ordinary propositions , in which much that is imaginary is sandwiched in between the few facts known to the speaker , the whole being accepted as pure matter of course procedure —mere empty words , in fact , or approaching thereto .
We never could understand the necessity for the great amount of fulsome flattery that follows an ordinary Masonic meeting , and often wonder how it is that educated men , such
as are usually to be found at our gatherings , cannot find something really entertaining to talk about , in place of the buncombe so generally uttered by one speaker after another .
It seldom happens that anything beyond personal laudation or personal thanks are heard during a long sitting , and when one is a frequent visitor to different Lodges tbe
similarity of the utterances are so marked as to make the infliction of listening to them even more tiresome , but custom seems to ordain that this is to be continued , and like other slaves to fashion we must perforce bow to the goddess .
In thus accepting the inevitable , however , we would fain ask rising aspirants for fame in the Masonic world to give the question their consideration , and see if they cannot discover a method of introducing more variety into any remarks they
Buncombe.
may be called upon to make , remembering at the same time that in the opinion of many capable judges it is far better to adopt that excellent virtue , Silence , than launch into such lofty , flowery language as can only be set down as buncombe .
Our readers will be pleased to learn that Mr . W . B . Chapman , the third son of Bro . John Chapman P . P . G . D . Devon , was initiated into Freemasonry , in the Birtle Lodge , No . 39 , Manitoba , Canada , on the 7 th ult . We are only voicing the
general feeling of our Order when we congratulate our distinguished Brother on the very pleasing addition that has been made to the Canadian roll of members , and trust that his son , Bro . W . B . Chapman , may become as diligent and successful a Masonic student as his respected father .
We are gratified to hear that the vexed question as to the frequent admission of candidates to a superior degree at short intervals—even the same night—in Lodges under the Scotch Constitution , is in a fair way of being settled to the satisfaction of those who regard a period of probation as necessary .
Our contemporary , " The Mallet , " in his column in the " Glasgow Evening News , " says : " the law on the conferring of more than one degree on a candidate within fourteen days is now put beyond cavil by the issue of a circular from the Grand Lodge offices enforcing obedience to the law , and pointing out that it came into force on the date on which it was passed by Grand Lodge . "
The Brethren of Lytham are about to change their quarters , and they will very shortly occupy that building which in its time has played an important part in the social and political life of the borough in the old days—I refer to the Molyneux Assembly Eoorns . The structure is now in course of renovation , and one
satisfactory result of the change will be that this long-disused building , which has been an eyesore to Merton Eoad , will become instead an ornament to the neighbourhood . It is not yet quite ready for occupation , but when the alterations and decorations
are complete it is expected that the various Masonic Lodges within the district will in the future make the hall their habitat . — " Lytham Times . "
Consecration.
CONSECRATION .
BOROUGH LODGE .
ON Monday , 20 th ult ., the Borough Lodge , No . 2589 , was consecrated at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . George Everett as S . W . James Terry as J . W ., Eev . J . Studholme Brownrigg as Chaplain , Frank Richardson as D . C , and David D . Mercer as I . G .
The Grand Secretary installed Bro . James O'Dea I . P . M . No . 1179 as first Master , and that Brother appointed and invested his Oflicers as follow : —Bros . Dr . W . Roots S . W ., Alf Atkin J . W ., John Hattersley Treasurer and acting I . P . M ., E . Bridges Secretary , Harry Bulpitt S . D ., E . J . Morley J . D ., J . A .
Cannon I . G ., Tom Woodberry Steward . Bro . Harding was unanimously elected and invested as Tyler of the Lodge . The Grand Secretary and assistant Officers were elected as hon . members , and each was presented with a Founder ' s jewel as a souvenir of the occasion .
The business being ended , the Lodge was closed in due form , and adjourned until the third Wednesday in February . The Grand Officers and Brethren then retired to the banquet , which was supplied by Bro . J . Pearce .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Buncombe.
BUNCOMBE .
LAST week , when we read the paragraph we inserted from the " Man of the World , " as to the doings of the Sphinx Olub , wherein it is recorded that the members , in spite of the good fellowship that is general among them , are allowed to say no good of each other , we felt we could really enjoy
association with it , as affording some pleasant relief from the eternal flattery—pure buncombe we regard it in many instances —that seems to be inseperable from ordinary after-dinner speaking , but which is especially prominent at Masonic
gatherings . The fact of being able to listen to something quite original , in the form of severe good natured criticism form the proposer of a toast , must be so much of a novelty as to give particular interest to the proceedings , and we can imagine
such comments as are here referred to being far more entertaining , and even more complimentary , than the string of soft words which are customary around the festive board , and which , more often than not , stamp themselves as absurdities ,
by reason of the extremes to which they are carried , and are occasionally , we may add , uttered with the proposer , the subject of the toast , and all around fully alive to the fact
that the observations are pure buncombe ; offered , it may be , half heartedly , and with no real effort on the part of the proposer to induce his listeners to believe he is speaking with anything approaching sincerity .
The novelty of proceedings at the Sphinx Club does not , however , limit itself bo the speech-making , the proposition of a new member being accompanied by an elaborate indictment , giving fancy details of his past villainous career , and ending
by his being unanimously blackballed before he can be admitted ; all of which proceedings are but further steps in the desirable direction of doing away with some of the buncombe
of ordinary propositions , in which much that is imaginary is sandwiched in between the few facts known to the speaker , the whole being accepted as pure matter of course procedure —mere empty words , in fact , or approaching thereto .
We never could understand the necessity for the great amount of fulsome flattery that follows an ordinary Masonic meeting , and often wonder how it is that educated men , such
as are usually to be found at our gatherings , cannot find something really entertaining to talk about , in place of the buncombe so generally uttered by one speaker after another .
It seldom happens that anything beyond personal laudation or personal thanks are heard during a long sitting , and when one is a frequent visitor to different Lodges tbe
similarity of the utterances are so marked as to make the infliction of listening to them even more tiresome , but custom seems to ordain that this is to be continued , and like other slaves to fashion we must perforce bow to the goddess .
In thus accepting the inevitable , however , we would fain ask rising aspirants for fame in the Masonic world to give the question their consideration , and see if they cannot discover a method of introducing more variety into any remarks they
Buncombe.
may be called upon to make , remembering at the same time that in the opinion of many capable judges it is far better to adopt that excellent virtue , Silence , than launch into such lofty , flowery language as can only be set down as buncombe .
Our readers will be pleased to learn that Mr . W . B . Chapman , the third son of Bro . John Chapman P . P . G . D . Devon , was initiated into Freemasonry , in the Birtle Lodge , No . 39 , Manitoba , Canada , on the 7 th ult . We are only voicing the
general feeling of our Order when we congratulate our distinguished Brother on the very pleasing addition that has been made to the Canadian roll of members , and trust that his son , Bro . W . B . Chapman , may become as diligent and successful a Masonic student as his respected father .
We are gratified to hear that the vexed question as to the frequent admission of candidates to a superior degree at short intervals—even the same night—in Lodges under the Scotch Constitution , is in a fair way of being settled to the satisfaction of those who regard a period of probation as necessary .
Our contemporary , " The Mallet , " in his column in the " Glasgow Evening News , " says : " the law on the conferring of more than one degree on a candidate within fourteen days is now put beyond cavil by the issue of a circular from the Grand Lodge offices enforcing obedience to the law , and pointing out that it came into force on the date on which it was passed by Grand Lodge . "
The Brethren of Lytham are about to change their quarters , and they will very shortly occupy that building which in its time has played an important part in the social and political life of the borough in the old days—I refer to the Molyneux Assembly Eoorns . The structure is now in course of renovation , and one
satisfactory result of the change will be that this long-disused building , which has been an eyesore to Merton Eoad , will become instead an ornament to the neighbourhood . It is not yet quite ready for occupation , but when the alterations and decorations
are complete it is expected that the various Masonic Lodges within the district will in the future make the hall their habitat . — " Lytham Times . "
Consecration.
CONSECRATION .
BOROUGH LODGE .
ON Monday , 20 th ult ., the Borough Lodge , No . 2589 , was consecrated at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . George Everett as S . W . James Terry as J . W ., Eev . J . Studholme Brownrigg as Chaplain , Frank Richardson as D . C , and David D . Mercer as I . G .
The Grand Secretary installed Bro . James O'Dea I . P . M . No . 1179 as first Master , and that Brother appointed and invested his Oflicers as follow : —Bros . Dr . W . Roots S . W ., Alf Atkin J . W ., John Hattersley Treasurer and acting I . P . M ., E . Bridges Secretary , Harry Bulpitt S . D ., E . J . Morley J . D ., J . A .
Cannon I . G ., Tom Woodberry Steward . Bro . Harding was unanimously elected and invested as Tyler of the Lodge . The Grand Secretary and assistant Officers were elected as hon . members , and each was presented with a Founder ' s jewel as a souvenir of the occasion .
The business being ended , the Lodge was closed in due form , and adjourned until the third Wednesday in February . The Grand Officers and Brethren then retired to the banquet , which was supplied by Bro . J . Pearce .