-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC PORTRAITS. (No. 49.) ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC PORTRAITS. (No. 49.) Page 2 of 2 Article SPECIAL GRAND LODGE, EASTERN DIVISION, SOUTH WALES. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Portraits. (No. 49.)
installed as Grand Master . Our brother waa one of the additional body of Stewards on whom devolved the duty of seeing that the arrangements incident to the occasion were properly carried out . Manifold , however , as havo been the duties he has been called upon to discharge , there is
one office in which he has principally distinguished himself . He is deeply versed iu our mysteries , and one of the ablest and most precise expositors of the beauties of onr system . There are few , if any , who are more capable than he is in working our several ceremonies , but it is more
particularly as an Installing Master that he has acquired his greatest reputation . He acted in this capacity for very many years in the Fidelity Lodge , No . G 63 , Devizes , of which , as we have said , he was one of the promoters . We have likewise alluded en passant to the praise bestowed
upon him for his signal ability in rendering the same ceremony in the Grey Friars Lodge . But he has also acted as Installing Master in the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope , No . 574 , Newbury , and at the Lodge of Economy , No . 76 , Winchester , on the occasion of its holding its
Centenary Festival in 1861 . Indeed his ability as a complete master of our ritual has been exemplified during tho whole of his career , not only in Hampshire , Wiltshire , and Berks and Bucks , with which Provinces wo have seen him associated , but in Somerset , in the Channel Islands
and elsewhere . Fortunate , indeed , is Sir Daniel Gooch in having among the brethren of the Province over which he presides one who is so capable of exhibiting the light of Freemasonry to less experienced or less studious brethren . It is to such Craftsmen as these that our Society owes its
chiefest strength ; it is to these we look that our ritual shall remain intact in all its simple beauty . They are , in fact , our Remembrancers , to whom we must trust for the perfect tradition of our teaching from generation to
generation ; and if ever Grand Lodge should think it worth while to insist on complete uniformity in our ritual and lectures , it is undoubtedly to the limited class of brethren of whom an Installing Master is so perfect a type that the duty would have to be entrusted .
The long and varied experience which our brother has acquired gives him an enduring claim upon the respect of all his brethren , but he is also entitled to our admiration for the services he has rendered to our charitable
Institutions . He served the office of Steward at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls in 1867 , and his name is on its roll of Life Governors ; while in 1870 he acted as Steward for the Boys' School , and made not only
himself , but likewise his wife , his three daughters , and two sons , Life Governors of that Institution . Thus , iu the field of benevolence , as in the field of labour , he has given unquestionable proof of his sincere attachment to the Craft .
We have said that only a short time since he tendered his resignation of the Grand Secretaryship of the Province in which he now resides , a position he had held with so much honour to himself and such advantage to the Province during the last eight years . He felt necessitated to
take this step by reason of the increasing demands which the work made on an amount of leisure already far too restricted . His bnsiness , like that of our Peripatetic Brother , necessitates his travelling about the country , and it was only during the small amount of rest he was enabled to snatch from his labours that he could devote himself to the
duties of his office . Unwillingly , therefore , he withdrew from the Provincial Grand Secretaryship , but he will still be able to render valuable services to the Craft . His retirement from active participation in the labours of Provincial Grand Lodge will in no wise affect his ability to
promote the welfare of Freemasonry in his other spheres of duty . He can still incite , by precept and example , the members of his Province to fulfil the obligations they have incurred . He can still give the Lodges he frequents the benefit of his knowledge and experience . He can still go
on installing Masters with the same accuracy and precision as in the days that are past . All these things it is still open to him to do , nor imagine we for a single moment that he lacks the will any more than he does the abilit y to act in any capacity , be it the humblest or the most exalted of
those in which he has acquired such reputation . In fact , to quote the words in our report of the proceedings at the last meeting of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge of Berks and Bucks , he will always do all he can " to advance the
interests of Masonry , " in that Province , " even to accepting the post of P . Grand Tyler , were it deemed necessary . " That one who has so thoroughly identified himself with the labours of Masonry in this and other Provinces should
Masonic Portraits. (No. 49.)
carry with him into his retirement tho affectionate regard of all his fellows will surprise no one . But , though tho many tributes of respect he has received are in themselves and to such a man a sufficient recompense for the untiring
zeal and the conspicuous ability he has exhibited throughout his five and twenty years of service , still it must bo an additional gratification to him , and especially to his family , to know that the recognition by his brethren of such long aud faithful and onerous services will take a more
substantial form than a vote of thanks . He already boasts several decorations which testify to the esteem in which ho is held and the ability he has shown , nor is it possible that any one could havo spoken more cordially or in a moro unqualified manner of his achievements than Sir Daniel
Gooch , but there is something further in the way of recognition yet to come . A testimonial is in the course of being raised in Berks and Bucks , in order that the memory of our worthy brother may be perpetuated , and his children and their descendants will havo handed down to them an
enduring evidence of his merit . To carry out this proposal , which emanated from the Prov . Grand Master himself , and was unanimously endorsed by the brethren of the Province in Grand Lodge assembled , a sum of twenty-five guineas has already been voted from the funds
of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and a Committee , formed of the Masters of the Lodges in the Province , is now engaged in supplementing this vote with other contributions , so that the testimonial may be worthy alike of the Province and the recipient . That the brother who is thus honoured
may live long to enjoy his Avell-earned repose , must be the wish , not only of his friends—and their number is legionbut of all who can admire a just and upright man , who has laboured diligently in tho station in which he is placed , and who has devoted no small portion of a busy life to the
earnest study of our glorious science . We , who must , unfortunately , distribute ourselves into a multitude of atoms , in order to arrive at the knowledge we possess of men and things—for our duty is to traverse the whole domain of Freemasonry , and be everywhere , so to speak , at one and
the same moment—we , albeit our personal knowledge of the subject of this sketch is necessarily atomic , have nevertheless acquired , from many and various sources , sufficient knowledge of his career as a Mason to enable us to present his portrait to our readers . And in fulfilling this task we
have experienced a great deal of pleasure . We have felt that , how inartistically soever we might discharge our duty , we shonld be helping tho Craft universal to a better knowledge of one who has striven so ably , so earnestly , and so unremittingly to do whatever was required of him .
And now we take our leave , thankful we have had this opportunity of paying him , even in this rude form , oar humble tribute of respect . He has our heartiest good wishes , as he has those of all who know him , personally or by repute , for a long continuance of that honourable career he has adorned so well .
Special Grand Lodge, Eastern Division, South Wales.
SPECIAL GRAND LODGE , EASTERN DIVISION , SOUTH WALES .
ON Thursday , 30 th August , a special Grand Lodge of the Eastern Division of South Walea waa held , nnder the banner of the " Glamorgan " Lodge , No . 36 , at tho Masonic Hall , Cardiff , presided over by Sir G . Elliot , Prov . G . M ., in order to repair the grave omission , at the Grand Lodge , held at Aberdare , of all recognition by the Provinco , as a Province , of the death of its late chief , Bro . T . Mansel Talbot . This omission was the more singular , bucanse every Lodge
in the Province had , at its first meeting after his death , very cordially recognised the high worth and sterling Masonic qualities of the chief , who , aided by hi 3 able and indefatigable deputy , Bro . Edward J . Morris , had raised the Provinco to a pitch of prosperity it had never reached before . The brethren , as members of tho several private Lodges in tho Province , having recognised by every means in their
power their indebtedness to their late Prov . G . M ., were pained and distressed when the first Provincial Grand Lodge held after the death , in office , of their chief , was closed without any mention of him . These feelings of grief and pain , after a short time , took the form of a namerously and influentially signed requisition to Sir George Elliot , asking him to hold a special Grand Lodge at which their feelings of respect and esteem for Bro . Talbot might have
expression . The Prov . Grand Master having agreed to the prayer of the requisition , the promoters of the meeting held counsel , and agreed that as the services of the late lamented Bro . Talbot were at length about to be recognised , those of his Deputy , who bad filled the office for so many years with profit to the Province , shonld also be fittingly acknowledged . A second resolution to that effect was therefore included in the business of the Lodge . The special Grand Lodge wa 3 well attended , the attendance of brethren of high Masonic rank
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Portraits. (No. 49.)
installed as Grand Master . Our brother waa one of the additional body of Stewards on whom devolved the duty of seeing that the arrangements incident to the occasion were properly carried out . Manifold , however , as havo been the duties he has been called upon to discharge , there is
one office in which he has principally distinguished himself . He is deeply versed iu our mysteries , and one of the ablest and most precise expositors of the beauties of onr system . There are few , if any , who are more capable than he is in working our several ceremonies , but it is more
particularly as an Installing Master that he has acquired his greatest reputation . He acted in this capacity for very many years in the Fidelity Lodge , No . G 63 , Devizes , of which , as we have said , he was one of the promoters . We have likewise alluded en passant to the praise bestowed
upon him for his signal ability in rendering the same ceremony in the Grey Friars Lodge . But he has also acted as Installing Master in the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope , No . 574 , Newbury , and at the Lodge of Economy , No . 76 , Winchester , on the occasion of its holding its
Centenary Festival in 1861 . Indeed his ability as a complete master of our ritual has been exemplified during tho whole of his career , not only in Hampshire , Wiltshire , and Berks and Bucks , with which Provinces wo have seen him associated , but in Somerset , in the Channel Islands
and elsewhere . Fortunate , indeed , is Sir Daniel Gooch in having among the brethren of the Province over which he presides one who is so capable of exhibiting the light of Freemasonry to less experienced or less studious brethren . It is to such Craftsmen as these that our Society owes its
chiefest strength ; it is to these we look that our ritual shall remain intact in all its simple beauty . They are , in fact , our Remembrancers , to whom we must trust for the perfect tradition of our teaching from generation to
generation ; and if ever Grand Lodge should think it worth while to insist on complete uniformity in our ritual and lectures , it is undoubtedly to the limited class of brethren of whom an Installing Master is so perfect a type that the duty would have to be entrusted .
The long and varied experience which our brother has acquired gives him an enduring claim upon the respect of all his brethren , but he is also entitled to our admiration for the services he has rendered to our charitable
Institutions . He served the office of Steward at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls in 1867 , and his name is on its roll of Life Governors ; while in 1870 he acted as Steward for the Boys' School , and made not only
himself , but likewise his wife , his three daughters , and two sons , Life Governors of that Institution . Thus , iu the field of benevolence , as in the field of labour , he has given unquestionable proof of his sincere attachment to the Craft .
We have said that only a short time since he tendered his resignation of the Grand Secretaryship of the Province in which he now resides , a position he had held with so much honour to himself and such advantage to the Province during the last eight years . He felt necessitated to
take this step by reason of the increasing demands which the work made on an amount of leisure already far too restricted . His bnsiness , like that of our Peripatetic Brother , necessitates his travelling about the country , and it was only during the small amount of rest he was enabled to snatch from his labours that he could devote himself to the
duties of his office . Unwillingly , therefore , he withdrew from the Provincial Grand Secretaryship , but he will still be able to render valuable services to the Craft . His retirement from active participation in the labours of Provincial Grand Lodge will in no wise affect his ability to
promote the welfare of Freemasonry in his other spheres of duty . He can still incite , by precept and example , the members of his Province to fulfil the obligations they have incurred . He can still give the Lodges he frequents the benefit of his knowledge and experience . He can still go
on installing Masters with the same accuracy and precision as in the days that are past . All these things it is still open to him to do , nor imagine we for a single moment that he lacks the will any more than he does the abilit y to act in any capacity , be it the humblest or the most exalted of
those in which he has acquired such reputation . In fact , to quote the words in our report of the proceedings at the last meeting of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge of Berks and Bucks , he will always do all he can " to advance the
interests of Masonry , " in that Province , " even to accepting the post of P . Grand Tyler , were it deemed necessary . " That one who has so thoroughly identified himself with the labours of Masonry in this and other Provinces should
Masonic Portraits. (No. 49.)
carry with him into his retirement tho affectionate regard of all his fellows will surprise no one . But , though tho many tributes of respect he has received are in themselves and to such a man a sufficient recompense for the untiring
zeal and the conspicuous ability he has exhibited throughout his five and twenty years of service , still it must bo an additional gratification to him , and especially to his family , to know that the recognition by his brethren of such long aud faithful and onerous services will take a more
substantial form than a vote of thanks . He already boasts several decorations which testify to the esteem in which ho is held and the ability he has shown , nor is it possible that any one could havo spoken more cordially or in a moro unqualified manner of his achievements than Sir Daniel
Gooch , but there is something further in the way of recognition yet to come . A testimonial is in the course of being raised in Berks and Bucks , in order that the memory of our worthy brother may be perpetuated , and his children and their descendants will havo handed down to them an
enduring evidence of his merit . To carry out this proposal , which emanated from the Prov . Grand Master himself , and was unanimously endorsed by the brethren of the Province in Grand Lodge assembled , a sum of twenty-five guineas has already been voted from the funds
of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and a Committee , formed of the Masters of the Lodges in the Province , is now engaged in supplementing this vote with other contributions , so that the testimonial may be worthy alike of the Province and the recipient . That the brother who is thus honoured
may live long to enjoy his Avell-earned repose , must be the wish , not only of his friends—and their number is legionbut of all who can admire a just and upright man , who has laboured diligently in tho station in which he is placed , and who has devoted no small portion of a busy life to the
earnest study of our glorious science . We , who must , unfortunately , distribute ourselves into a multitude of atoms , in order to arrive at the knowledge we possess of men and things—for our duty is to traverse the whole domain of Freemasonry , and be everywhere , so to speak , at one and
the same moment—we , albeit our personal knowledge of the subject of this sketch is necessarily atomic , have nevertheless acquired , from many and various sources , sufficient knowledge of his career as a Mason to enable us to present his portrait to our readers . And in fulfilling this task we
have experienced a great deal of pleasure . We have felt that , how inartistically soever we might discharge our duty , we shonld be helping tho Craft universal to a better knowledge of one who has striven so ably , so earnestly , and so unremittingly to do whatever was required of him .
And now we take our leave , thankful we have had this opportunity of paying him , even in this rude form , oar humble tribute of respect . He has our heartiest good wishes , as he has those of all who know him , personally or by repute , for a long continuance of that honourable career he has adorned so well .
Special Grand Lodge, Eastern Division, South Wales.
SPECIAL GRAND LODGE , EASTERN DIVISION , SOUTH WALES .
ON Thursday , 30 th August , a special Grand Lodge of the Eastern Division of South Walea waa held , nnder the banner of the " Glamorgan " Lodge , No . 36 , at tho Masonic Hall , Cardiff , presided over by Sir G . Elliot , Prov . G . M ., in order to repair the grave omission , at the Grand Lodge , held at Aberdare , of all recognition by the Provinco , as a Province , of the death of its late chief , Bro . T . Mansel Talbot . This omission was the more singular , bucanse every Lodge
in the Province had , at its first meeting after his death , very cordially recognised the high worth and sterling Masonic qualities of the chief , who , aided by hi 3 able and indefatigable deputy , Bro . Edward J . Morris , had raised the Provinco to a pitch of prosperity it had never reached before . The brethren , as members of tho several private Lodges in tho Province , having recognised by every means in their
power their indebtedness to their late Prov . G . M ., were pained and distressed when the first Provincial Grand Lodge held after the death , in office , of their chief , was closed without any mention of him . These feelings of grief and pain , after a short time , took the form of a namerously and influentially signed requisition to Sir George Elliot , asking him to hold a special Grand Lodge at which their feelings of respect and esteem for Bro . Talbot might have
expression . The Prov . Grand Master having agreed to the prayer of the requisition , the promoters of the meeting held counsel , and agreed that as the services of the late lamented Bro . Talbot were at length about to be recognised , those of his Deputy , who bad filled the office for so many years with profit to the Province , shonld also be fittingly acknowledged . A second resolution to that effect was therefore included in the business of the Lodge . The special Grand Lodge wa 3 well attended , the attendance of brethren of high Masonic rank