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Article THE PRESS AND THE INSTALLATION. ← Page 2 of 3 Article THE PRESS AND THE INSTALLATION. Page 2 of 3 →
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The Press And The Installation.
assigned . Those who have had the great advantage of visiting the Eastern districts of our globe—and especially Egypt and Indiamust have perceived that the glorious fanes which still exist in those lands—monuments as they are both of skill and majesty—were reared originally for the purpose of offering adoration to the Most High upon a settled plan , and after a regular form and pattern that rarely
were departed from . The lofty Pyramids and the other stupendous structures of Egypt , no less than tho gorgeous Bhuddist temples of India , tell of events and circumstances which , in all human probability , had their origin at tho period of tho great dispersion , when , although tho language of tho nations became diversified , each took with its respective generation certain substituted symbols , whereby
in times to come they could and would be recognised ; so that even now , in this nineteenth century of our era , wherever the foot of man treads , or the investigation of inquiry is carried , sure proofs and evidences aro met with that enable Masons to discover as Brethren some few , at least , who are bound together by the strictest bonds of fraternal communication . If the " cloud capped canopy " cover no
building , in which the rites , that still exist and prevail , are celebrated , there at least such signs , tokens and words are used , as make it impossible to doubt of secret arts and solemn ceremonies having a most positive resemblance and purpose ; just as it is impossible to enter any one of our own Cathedral Churches , or other sacred buildings of a long past period , without at once perceiving that they
were planned and completed upon ono great principle , the main features of which are identical whatever may be the annexations and adornments , with which they have been accompanied . Never can the trne and faithful Craftsman enter , or worship , within such "hallowed fanes , " without bonding with gratitude to the Great Master of all , and acknowledging that "order" here , as well as
everywhere besides in the Universe , " is Heaven ' s first law . But should doubt intrude concerning such facts , tho Masons' marks on every portion of tho bnilding , deeply indented hero and there , remain to indicate and prove that , whether it be heathen temple or Christian fane , it had its origin from that mystic Craft , which , then operative no less than speculative , is now adopted—almost exclusively—in the
latter sense . Independently , however , of other proofs in this direction , the recent discoveries at Jerusalem , made under the superintendence of worthy and well skilled English Brethren , go conclusively to show that , there at least , the evidences of this theory is as positive as it is multifarious . It is constantly asked by the outside world , "What is the use of
Freemasonry ?"—Those who have not been initiated , constantly express doubt as to its utility , whilst they are often inclined to ridicule its origin—as has been witnessed in several of tho leading articles of the daily journals , which have referred to the event of Wednesday last . One of the chief causes for this inquiry undoubtedly arises from the fact , that speculative Masonry has , for the most
part , accomplished the work for winch it was primarily devised . In the dark nges of the world , Masonry was the great pioneer of civilisation , the mother of the arts and sciences , tho solo means whereby greater light than universally prevailed was diffused over the face of earth and water . With tho growth of that civilisation its principles fell into comparative abeyance , until , at last , its work in this direction
being accomplished , it has ceased to bo regarded as tho great author and means of human progress . In many parts of Europe it still , in a measure , retains much of its ancient prestige in this directionpro-emiiipntly so in Sweden , where it was greatly to the advantage of the Prince of Wales to have been brought to light . Here , however , in our own land—where the claims for superior cleverness
and enlarged views upon every subject of modern thought , or with reference to the teaching of antiquity , have become , as it wore , a fashion—not only has the outside world been induced to suppose that Masonry is little else than a Benefit Society , but that it is merely the menus for frequent convivial reunions under the name of , and for the diffusion of , "Charity , "—an idea which very many , who
have been admitted into the Order , and failed to discern anything beyond such impiessions , have helped much too largely to increase . This result , indeed , as it can but be believed , has of late years solely arisen from an indiscriminate admission of members into tho Order , and from an influence that has induced quantity rather than quality to be considered . Yet , in spite of such a violation of tho ancient
landmarks , however much the members of tho Order may be ridiculed , they can still show what Masonry does , and can do , in the way of " Brotherly love , relief and truth , " although they can no longer claim for it that high and prominent place it once occupied for tho maintenance and advancement of civilisation . War ' s fierce assaults between Frank and Teuton on tho soil of Franco have once
again been the means of proving that all is not barren in Masonic profession ; for even those , who were then locked together in the deadliest strife—on the discovery of their Brotherhood being made ¦—again and again saved each other ' s lives , took care of one another , and acted on the square truly as Brethren when the fight had ended , whether they had been conquered , or were the conquerors . Just ,
indeed , as in the great Indian Mutiny , every woman and child who took refuge iu the Masonic Lodge rooms , were preserved from danger , violation , and death , simply because very many Mahomrnodans and Hindoos , who were in revolt against our countrymen , were members of the Fraternity , and respected their most solemn obligation ; whilst the rest of the native population looked upon
those Lodge rooms as of a Fetish character , which would bring disaster to themselves , if their sanctity were violated . It is the earnest hope—a desire ever to be remembered in the posture of the daily supplication of every good and faithful Brotherthat Freemasonry may yet thrive and flourish—although the needs of its existence is now by no means so great , important , or invaluable
as it was in days of yore , so as to give proof ' s incalculab e , and evidences unnumbered , of its being something more than a myth , much more than an empty name . No one , wc believe , with the slightest particle of feeling in his composition , can ever listen to , or take part iu , the sacred rites and noble ceremonies of Freemasonry without being solemnly impressed with tho deep-
The Press And The Installation.
toned revelation of the truths they enunciate . Again and again—wo have it upon the very best authority—have those cere - monies had tho most beneficial—it may he said , even saving and redeeming—effects upon the profligate , whilst they have ever armed " The just and upright man" with the best inducements to stand fast in his integrity , to help and support his brethren in every
time of need , and to do his duty in the face of all trials and calamities in whatsoever state of lif ' o the Most High may have been pleased to place him . Devoutly is it to ho both desired and hoped , thai such principles may never die out , but that they may rather live and flourish for the
benefit of untold generations yet to come , and more especially that so auspicious an event as that of Wednesday last , may tend still more positively to promote the glorious principles of "loyalty and charity , " which it has over been , still continues to be , and always will be tho predominant wish of every true and faithful Mason ' s heart to promote , extend , and increase .
From the SATURDAY REVIEW , 1 st May . THE Freemasons have met , paraded , cheered the Prince of Wales , dined together in various circles of mysterious hononr , and gone homo happy , as far as ono can judge from the melodious utterances which were heard in the streets adjoining the hostelries where they broke up for the night . Some of them perhaps may not havo been quite so happy next morning , but heroic natures have consolation
for headaches in the proud concionsness of great duties performed at any personal sacrifice . A published account of the hidden ceremonies of a fraternity sworn to secresy obviously carries its own comment with it , and it is to be feared that tho newspapers must have suborned agents who , if the old rules of this society were in force , would by this time have been found strewn about with daggers in their hearts ,
each with a paper attached to it inscribed " A warning to traitors . " If theso miscreants have any chance of a trial before execution , the best plea wo can suggest for them is that the more tho secret practices of the Freemasons are exposed the less likelihood will there be of any mystery being discovered . Possibly , however , it may turn out that the reports in the papers were simply fiction . Any one who
happened to be in tho South Kensington district after noon on Wednesday last would have seen streams of respectable-looking men clad in black , with white ties , which set off to advantage their generally rubicund countenances , moving towards the Albert Hall . Nothing could be more decorous and inoffensive than their appearance , bnt a watchful eye could not fail to observe that each carried in his hand
either a paper parcel , or a japanned tin box , or a bag , or that his coat-tail pockets bulged in an unnatural and suspicious manner . These were , in fact , tho higher ranks of the Masonic body on their way to their rendezvous , their superiors having issued a decree that out-ofdoors they should dispense with decorations , and endeavour , as far as they could , to look merely like ordinary people—an effort in which ,
wo should say from our own observation , most of them perfectly succeeded . They walked in the usual way on their legs , no magical influence interposed to prevent the dust from settling on their boots , they wiped the prespiration from their steaming brows , and partook of refreshment at convenient dtinking-bars exactly as tho common run of humanity has been seen to do on other occasions wheu
the weather was hot and tho sense of self-importance somewhat suffocating . Beyond the gates of the Hall , however , tho eyes of the profane world could not follow them . Once or twice , it is said , there was a sudden explosion at the doors , followed by the violent discharge of an unhappy person , coatless aud bareheaded , who was understood to have been , like the Claimant , a victim of insufficient evidence of
identity in the character he had assumed . As to what passed within the mysterious inner precincts , it is of course impossible to obtain any authentic intelligence . A Mason who is capable of betraying to the public the secret rites which , by every tie of honour and obedience , he is bound to conceal , is obviously unworthy of confidence , and is much more likely to be taking advantage
of tho reader s simplicity than telling tho truth . On the other hand , it is possible , as we have before suggested , that the accounts of tho proceedings in tho Albert Hall are a pure invention of unscrupulous editors . Tho Times gives a somewhat prosaic version of the snpposed doings , and the Daily News is guardedly archaeological . Iu the Daily Telegraph we naturally find what we expected to find . The livel y
imagination which has before now dragged from his lair the old savage of the desert , and to which wo have more recently been indebted for tho fight between Brumniy and the Dog , is again equal to the occasion . Any one , it is suggested , who "has visited the Coliseum by moonlight "—this , by the way , is an easier feat for a Telegraph writer , who has always the moon at command -without reference to tho
almanack , than for other people— " and gazed upon its broken walls , as tho silvery beams have danced and flickered in the grim ruins , and pictured to himself the majesty of the place when in Rome ' s best clays it was filled with pleasure seekers , the gallant courtiers and fair dames of the Eternal City , " and all the rest of the well-known jargon , will have a faint idea of the splendour of the scene of Wednesday in
the Albert Hall . Aud what , it may bo asked , was this wonderful sight ? " Tier after tier of seats , neatly divided off by gangways , " " above the tiers , boxes with rows of five deep , " and filled with " seven thousand brothers clad in collar , glove , and apron , sitting in rows . " It rather spoils tho reference to Rome ' s best days to find that no dames are present , but the writer seems to think that , after all , the only good of women is to infuse a little colour into society
by their clothes , and that men , if gorgeously arrayed , answer tlio purpose just as well . "With scarcely an exception they wore collars of brightest blue , gauntlets of similar colour , and the aprons . '' " On their breasts , one and all , a thousand jewels glitter in the rays of tlio sun . " These jewels are , it seems , "tho reward of upright and worthy conduct in office , " and are " of purest gold , curious in device , as often as not boasting emeralds or rubies , "—more often perhaps , we may suspect , imitations in glass—" and always making a brave
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Press And The Installation.
assigned . Those who have had the great advantage of visiting the Eastern districts of our globe—and especially Egypt and Indiamust have perceived that the glorious fanes which still exist in those lands—monuments as they are both of skill and majesty—were reared originally for the purpose of offering adoration to the Most High upon a settled plan , and after a regular form and pattern that rarely
were departed from . The lofty Pyramids and the other stupendous structures of Egypt , no less than tho gorgeous Bhuddist temples of India , tell of events and circumstances which , in all human probability , had their origin at tho period of tho great dispersion , when , although tho language of tho nations became diversified , each took with its respective generation certain substituted symbols , whereby
in times to come they could and would be recognised ; so that even now , in this nineteenth century of our era , wherever the foot of man treads , or the investigation of inquiry is carried , sure proofs and evidences aro met with that enable Masons to discover as Brethren some few , at least , who are bound together by the strictest bonds of fraternal communication . If the " cloud capped canopy " cover no
building , in which the rites , that still exist and prevail , are celebrated , there at least such signs , tokens and words are used , as make it impossible to doubt of secret arts and solemn ceremonies having a most positive resemblance and purpose ; just as it is impossible to enter any one of our own Cathedral Churches , or other sacred buildings of a long past period , without at once perceiving that they
were planned and completed upon ono great principle , the main features of which are identical whatever may be the annexations and adornments , with which they have been accompanied . Never can the trne and faithful Craftsman enter , or worship , within such "hallowed fanes , " without bonding with gratitude to the Great Master of all , and acknowledging that "order" here , as well as
everywhere besides in the Universe , " is Heaven ' s first law . But should doubt intrude concerning such facts , tho Masons' marks on every portion of tho bnilding , deeply indented hero and there , remain to indicate and prove that , whether it be heathen temple or Christian fane , it had its origin from that mystic Craft , which , then operative no less than speculative , is now adopted—almost exclusively—in the
latter sense . Independently , however , of other proofs in this direction , the recent discoveries at Jerusalem , made under the superintendence of worthy and well skilled English Brethren , go conclusively to show that , there at least , the evidences of this theory is as positive as it is multifarious . It is constantly asked by the outside world , "What is the use of
Freemasonry ?"—Those who have not been initiated , constantly express doubt as to its utility , whilst they are often inclined to ridicule its origin—as has been witnessed in several of tho leading articles of the daily journals , which have referred to the event of Wednesday last . One of the chief causes for this inquiry undoubtedly arises from the fact , that speculative Masonry has , for the most
part , accomplished the work for winch it was primarily devised . In the dark nges of the world , Masonry was the great pioneer of civilisation , the mother of the arts and sciences , tho solo means whereby greater light than universally prevailed was diffused over the face of earth and water . With tho growth of that civilisation its principles fell into comparative abeyance , until , at last , its work in this direction
being accomplished , it has ceased to bo regarded as tho great author and means of human progress . In many parts of Europe it still , in a measure , retains much of its ancient prestige in this directionpro-emiiipntly so in Sweden , where it was greatly to the advantage of the Prince of Wales to have been brought to light . Here , however , in our own land—where the claims for superior cleverness
and enlarged views upon every subject of modern thought , or with reference to the teaching of antiquity , have become , as it wore , a fashion—not only has the outside world been induced to suppose that Masonry is little else than a Benefit Society , but that it is merely the menus for frequent convivial reunions under the name of , and for the diffusion of , "Charity , "—an idea which very many , who
have been admitted into the Order , and failed to discern anything beyond such impiessions , have helped much too largely to increase . This result , indeed , as it can but be believed , has of late years solely arisen from an indiscriminate admission of members into tho Order , and from an influence that has induced quantity rather than quality to be considered . Yet , in spite of such a violation of tho ancient
landmarks , however much the members of tho Order may be ridiculed , they can still show what Masonry does , and can do , in the way of " Brotherly love , relief and truth , " although they can no longer claim for it that high and prominent place it once occupied for tho maintenance and advancement of civilisation . War ' s fierce assaults between Frank and Teuton on tho soil of Franco have once
again been the means of proving that all is not barren in Masonic profession ; for even those , who were then locked together in the deadliest strife—on the discovery of their Brotherhood being made ¦—again and again saved each other ' s lives , took care of one another , and acted on the square truly as Brethren when the fight had ended , whether they had been conquered , or were the conquerors . Just ,
indeed , as in the great Indian Mutiny , every woman and child who took refuge iu the Masonic Lodge rooms , were preserved from danger , violation , and death , simply because very many Mahomrnodans and Hindoos , who were in revolt against our countrymen , were members of the Fraternity , and respected their most solemn obligation ; whilst the rest of the native population looked upon
those Lodge rooms as of a Fetish character , which would bring disaster to themselves , if their sanctity were violated . It is the earnest hope—a desire ever to be remembered in the posture of the daily supplication of every good and faithful Brotherthat Freemasonry may yet thrive and flourish—although the needs of its existence is now by no means so great , important , or invaluable
as it was in days of yore , so as to give proof ' s incalculab e , and evidences unnumbered , of its being something more than a myth , much more than an empty name . No one , wc believe , with the slightest particle of feeling in his composition , can ever listen to , or take part iu , the sacred rites and noble ceremonies of Freemasonry without being solemnly impressed with tho deep-
The Press And The Installation.
toned revelation of the truths they enunciate . Again and again—wo have it upon the very best authority—have those cere - monies had tho most beneficial—it may he said , even saving and redeeming—effects upon the profligate , whilst they have ever armed " The just and upright man" with the best inducements to stand fast in his integrity , to help and support his brethren in every
time of need , and to do his duty in the face of all trials and calamities in whatsoever state of lif ' o the Most High may have been pleased to place him . Devoutly is it to ho both desired and hoped , thai such principles may never die out , but that they may rather live and flourish for the
benefit of untold generations yet to come , and more especially that so auspicious an event as that of Wednesday last , may tend still more positively to promote the glorious principles of "loyalty and charity , " which it has over been , still continues to be , and always will be tho predominant wish of every true and faithful Mason ' s heart to promote , extend , and increase .
From the SATURDAY REVIEW , 1 st May . THE Freemasons have met , paraded , cheered the Prince of Wales , dined together in various circles of mysterious hononr , and gone homo happy , as far as ono can judge from the melodious utterances which were heard in the streets adjoining the hostelries where they broke up for the night . Some of them perhaps may not havo been quite so happy next morning , but heroic natures have consolation
for headaches in the proud concionsness of great duties performed at any personal sacrifice . A published account of the hidden ceremonies of a fraternity sworn to secresy obviously carries its own comment with it , and it is to be feared that tho newspapers must have suborned agents who , if the old rules of this society were in force , would by this time have been found strewn about with daggers in their hearts ,
each with a paper attached to it inscribed " A warning to traitors . " If theso miscreants have any chance of a trial before execution , the best plea wo can suggest for them is that the more tho secret practices of the Freemasons are exposed the less likelihood will there be of any mystery being discovered . Possibly , however , it may turn out that the reports in the papers were simply fiction . Any one who
happened to be in tho South Kensington district after noon on Wednesday last would have seen streams of respectable-looking men clad in black , with white ties , which set off to advantage their generally rubicund countenances , moving towards the Albert Hall . Nothing could be more decorous and inoffensive than their appearance , bnt a watchful eye could not fail to observe that each carried in his hand
either a paper parcel , or a japanned tin box , or a bag , or that his coat-tail pockets bulged in an unnatural and suspicious manner . These were , in fact , tho higher ranks of the Masonic body on their way to their rendezvous , their superiors having issued a decree that out-ofdoors they should dispense with decorations , and endeavour , as far as they could , to look merely like ordinary people—an effort in which ,
wo should say from our own observation , most of them perfectly succeeded . They walked in the usual way on their legs , no magical influence interposed to prevent the dust from settling on their boots , they wiped the prespiration from their steaming brows , and partook of refreshment at convenient dtinking-bars exactly as tho common run of humanity has been seen to do on other occasions wheu
the weather was hot and tho sense of self-importance somewhat suffocating . Beyond the gates of the Hall , however , tho eyes of the profane world could not follow them . Once or twice , it is said , there was a sudden explosion at the doors , followed by the violent discharge of an unhappy person , coatless aud bareheaded , who was understood to have been , like the Claimant , a victim of insufficient evidence of
identity in the character he had assumed . As to what passed within the mysterious inner precincts , it is of course impossible to obtain any authentic intelligence . A Mason who is capable of betraying to the public the secret rites which , by every tie of honour and obedience , he is bound to conceal , is obviously unworthy of confidence , and is much more likely to be taking advantage
of tho reader s simplicity than telling tho truth . On the other hand , it is possible , as we have before suggested , that the accounts of tho proceedings in tho Albert Hall are a pure invention of unscrupulous editors . Tho Times gives a somewhat prosaic version of the snpposed doings , and the Daily News is guardedly archaeological . Iu the Daily Telegraph we naturally find what we expected to find . The livel y
imagination which has before now dragged from his lair the old savage of the desert , and to which wo have more recently been indebted for tho fight between Brumniy and the Dog , is again equal to the occasion . Any one , it is suggested , who "has visited the Coliseum by moonlight "—this , by the way , is an easier feat for a Telegraph writer , who has always the moon at command -without reference to tho
almanack , than for other people— " and gazed upon its broken walls , as tho silvery beams have danced and flickered in the grim ruins , and pictured to himself the majesty of the place when in Rome ' s best clays it was filled with pleasure seekers , the gallant courtiers and fair dames of the Eternal City , " and all the rest of the well-known jargon , will have a faint idea of the splendour of the scene of Wednesday in
the Albert Hall . Aud what , it may bo asked , was this wonderful sight ? " Tier after tier of seats , neatly divided off by gangways , " " above the tiers , boxes with rows of five deep , " and filled with " seven thousand brothers clad in collar , glove , and apron , sitting in rows . " It rather spoils tho reference to Rome ' s best days to find that no dames are present , but the writer seems to think that , after all , the only good of women is to infuse a little colour into society
by their clothes , and that men , if gorgeously arrayed , answer tlio purpose just as well . "With scarcely an exception they wore collars of brightest blue , gauntlets of similar colour , and the aprons . '' " On their breasts , one and all , a thousand jewels glitter in the rays of tlio sun . " These jewels are , it seems , "tho reward of upright and worthy conduct in office , " and are " of purest gold , curious in device , as often as not boasting emeralds or rubies , "—more often perhaps , we may suspect , imitations in glass—" and always making a brave