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Article MASONIC PORTRAITS, No. 53. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC PORTRAITS, No. 53. Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Portraits, No. 53.
brother , though then only , as it Avere , in his Masonic childhood , was chosen by the then Prov . Grand Master , Colonel Kemeys-Tynte , to be Provincial Grand Deacon , and on the accession to office , in 1865 , of the late deeply-lamented Prov . G . M ., Bro . Theodore Mansel Talbot , he Avas selected
to fill the important post of Dep . Prov . G . M ., and this he held uninterruptedly till the death of hia chief last year . HOAV he performed the arduous dutios which devolved upon him is in the recollection of all Avho know him . Indeed , without vanity he may look round upon the evidence of
his labours everywhere visible , and exclaim , " Si monumen . turn queer-is , circumspice . " We have but to ask any Mason in South Wales to describe the present condition of the
Province as compared Avith Avhat it Avas before our brother ' s Aviso administration , and there will be but one opinion expressed , and that in tho highest degree favourable . And in order to understand what his labours must have been to
have produced such magnificent results , it is only necessary to point out that the Province includes the three counties of Glamorgan , Brecon , and Radnor , and that there aro eleven Lodges , several of Avhich are tAventy , thirty , and even fifty miles distant from the homo of our brother .
Yet this dispersion of the Lodges over so considerable an area Avas little heeded by him , and there is now no Province under the United Grand Lodgo of England which can boast a higher degree of efficiency . No wonder his praises have been the theme of every tongue in South Wales , and that
the knowledge of his merits having reached the ears of our rulers in Great Queen-street , he should at length have had bestowed upon him the much-coveted honours of the socalled " Purple " of Grand Lodge . In April of this year he was made a Grand Deacon of England , and the
appointment gave the greatest satisfaction to the brethren , not only in his own , but likewise in the adjoining Province . Many travelled long distances in order to attend Grand Lodge on the occasion ; and had there been a longer notice ,
there is no doubt that many more Avould have been present . As it was , the Lodges in Swansea , Neath , Llanelly , Carmarthen , Aberystwith , Brecon , Pontypridd , & c , were represented by brethren of high standing .
We have , however , said enough in proof of our brother ' s commanding merits , at least in respect of this portion of his career . But there are other achievements of his , in the field of Charity , which demand our attention , and to which Ave fear we shall find some difficulty in rendering our just
tribute of praise . Before the days of the late Prov . Grand Master , the contributions to our several Institutions had been comparatively small in amount , nor was there any systematic attempt made among the South Wales Lodges to secure a larger share of support for them . It was felt
that this state of things Avas unworthy of the Province , and , after many consultations among the leading brethren it was resolved to adopt a system of SteAvard representation . Early in 1864 , the Prov . G . M . had an interview Avith the Secretary of the Boys' School , the result of which was
tho introduction of our " Achilles" to " Our Hercules , " just a fortnight before the annual Festival . It is needless , of course , to say that the latter furnished his neAV friend with all the needful material for the brief campaign ; and how successful Achilles was may be gathered from the fact that
he was able to attend the Festival , in company with several friends , with a list amounting to two hundred guineas . The year following the Girls' School had the advantage of his advocacy , and at a later period he completed the round of his Stewardships by handing Bro . Terry a list of £ 325
for the Benevolent Institution , thereby gaining for himself the position of Champion Steward for the year . But these are not the only good that has resulted from the new system . Regularly every year since it was inaugurated , has
the Province been represented by some energetic Steward , and the annual contributions to the several Institutions have been in the aggregate , and taking the lowest estimate , at the rate of £ 300 .
That one who has thus distinguished himself in the ranks of the Craft and rendered such signal services to our noble Institutions should carry with him into his retirement from active work the love and respect of all Avho have been associated with him , be it never so humbly , is
a matter of course . Already , as our readers will remember , at a Special Meeting of the Grand Lodge of his Province , a highly complimentary
resolution has been passed , and ordered to be illuminated and presented to our worthy brother . Since then , many of his old colleagues have quietly and unostentatiously arranged that there shall be a further and fuller
Masonic Portraits, No. 53.
recognition of his labours . As a first and most graceful act in this direction , his name has been added to the list of Vice-Patrons of tho Boys' School—the Institution which reaped tho benefit of his earliest labours in the cause of
Masonic Charity ; and tho surplus that remains will be devoted to tho purchase of a handsome addition to hia library , in the shape of some hundred volumes of standard literature .
Thus far havo Ave contented ourselves with tracing his Masonic career , and marking the exploits by Avhich it has been distinguished ; but it is impossible to conclude this sketch Avithout somo reference to those social virtues Avhich aro in truth his principal characteristics .
To fully appreciate these , we need do littlo more than refer to tho intimate relations which existed between him and his lamented chief . How cordially and harmoniously they laboured together was , of necessity , known only to a few ; but there is hardly a Craftsman in tho Province who will
not have attributed to their unity of thought and action , the successful administration Avhich is a source of such intense pride to overy one . All must have felt , oven if they had no certain knoAvledgo , that mutual love and respecfc , superadded to great abilities in the Chief and his Deputy , formed
the groundwork of their common labours , and the cause and origin of their joint success . Yet it was not alone in the Council Chamber , in Lodge , Chapter , or Conclave , that the talents of Achilles were so conspicuous . There , of course , in all the pomp and circumstance of official
dignities , he would certainly be the admired of all admirers . But to know him thoroughly , it was necessary to meet him in the quiet social circle , Avhen , having laid aside the gilded trappings of his high Masonic rank , he might be seen presiding as tho genial host , the successful organiser of
country-trip or pic-nic , and even—infandum!—of the going doAvn to the sea in ships , " the " guide , philosopher , and friend , " who 3 e very strictures were passed in all kindliness , though at the moment they may have fallen on inappreciative ears . Here it was that Achilles
was seen at his best , mirthful himself and the cause of mirth in others , ready at all times Avith quip , jest , or merry conceit , and joyful always the more he saw others rejoice . Nor must AVO pass unnoticed Avhat is not so generally knoAvn of our brother , that he is a man of literary tastes ,
and gifted , in no ordinary degree , with the " poetic fire . " Few have more largely studied " the world in books , " and few are so fortunate in the possession of a well-stored memory . Had ho , indeed , Avooed the poetic muse with a
constant passion , instead of indulging in fitful capricious flirtations with her , his contributions to "Verses of Society " would have placed him in the same category with a Locker or a Praed .
Our task is now ended . We fear the lights and shades may have been put in Aveakly and ineffectively . It may be , in fact , that our sketch is an etching rather than a portrait ; but there are many Avho can fill in the lines necessary for its completion , and to others we assign the agreeable task of revelling in the " Pleasures of Imagination . "
Our readers will have seen that the effort to raise a subscription for the widow of the late Bro . Goddin , or , as she has died since the proposal Avas first started , for her orphan children , has been attended Avith a fair measure of success . This week Ave are able to announce that a sum of nine
guineas has been remitted by the Great City Lodge , and £ 4 5 s by the Cripplegate Lodge . We believe Ave are right in saying that great praise is clue to our worthy Bro . Steedman for his zeal in bringing this most deserving case
under the notice of these two Lodges . We hear it is proposed to endeavour to get one of the children into an Orphan School , and we sincerely hope that funds Avill be subscribed so that this excellent scheme may be realised .
The ceremonies of Consecration and Installation will be rehearsed in the Crusaders Lodge of Instruction , No . 1677 , at the Old Jerusalem Tavern , St John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , on Thursday evening next , the 20 th inst ., at 7 p . m ., by Bro . James Terry , Prov . D . C . Herts , P . M . 128 , 228 , 1336 , P . Z . 174 , 975 , and Secretary to Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .
The ceremony of Installation -will be worked in the Jordan Lodgo of Instruction , at the Devonshire Arms , Devonshire-street , on Tuesday next . Bro . Koester will occupy the chair .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Portraits, No. 53.
brother , though then only , as it Avere , in his Masonic childhood , was chosen by the then Prov . Grand Master , Colonel Kemeys-Tynte , to be Provincial Grand Deacon , and on the accession to office , in 1865 , of the late deeply-lamented Prov . G . M ., Bro . Theodore Mansel Talbot , he Avas selected
to fill the important post of Dep . Prov . G . M ., and this he held uninterruptedly till the death of hia chief last year . HOAV he performed the arduous dutios which devolved upon him is in the recollection of all Avho know him . Indeed , without vanity he may look round upon the evidence of
his labours everywhere visible , and exclaim , " Si monumen . turn queer-is , circumspice . " We have but to ask any Mason in South Wales to describe the present condition of the
Province as compared Avith Avhat it Avas before our brother ' s Aviso administration , and there will be but one opinion expressed , and that in tho highest degree favourable . And in order to understand what his labours must have been to
have produced such magnificent results , it is only necessary to point out that the Province includes the three counties of Glamorgan , Brecon , and Radnor , and that there aro eleven Lodges , several of Avhich are tAventy , thirty , and even fifty miles distant from the homo of our brother .
Yet this dispersion of the Lodges over so considerable an area Avas little heeded by him , and there is now no Province under the United Grand Lodgo of England which can boast a higher degree of efficiency . No wonder his praises have been the theme of every tongue in South Wales , and that
the knowledge of his merits having reached the ears of our rulers in Great Queen-street , he should at length have had bestowed upon him the much-coveted honours of the socalled " Purple " of Grand Lodge . In April of this year he was made a Grand Deacon of England , and the
appointment gave the greatest satisfaction to the brethren , not only in his own , but likewise in the adjoining Province . Many travelled long distances in order to attend Grand Lodge on the occasion ; and had there been a longer notice ,
there is no doubt that many more Avould have been present . As it was , the Lodges in Swansea , Neath , Llanelly , Carmarthen , Aberystwith , Brecon , Pontypridd , & c , were represented by brethren of high standing .
We have , however , said enough in proof of our brother ' s commanding merits , at least in respect of this portion of his career . But there are other achievements of his , in the field of Charity , which demand our attention , and to which Ave fear we shall find some difficulty in rendering our just
tribute of praise . Before the days of the late Prov . Grand Master , the contributions to our several Institutions had been comparatively small in amount , nor was there any systematic attempt made among the South Wales Lodges to secure a larger share of support for them . It was felt
that this state of things Avas unworthy of the Province , and , after many consultations among the leading brethren it was resolved to adopt a system of SteAvard representation . Early in 1864 , the Prov . G . M . had an interview Avith the Secretary of the Boys' School , the result of which was
tho introduction of our " Achilles" to " Our Hercules , " just a fortnight before the annual Festival . It is needless , of course , to say that the latter furnished his neAV friend with all the needful material for the brief campaign ; and how successful Achilles was may be gathered from the fact that
he was able to attend the Festival , in company with several friends , with a list amounting to two hundred guineas . The year following the Girls' School had the advantage of his advocacy , and at a later period he completed the round of his Stewardships by handing Bro . Terry a list of £ 325
for the Benevolent Institution , thereby gaining for himself the position of Champion Steward for the year . But these are not the only good that has resulted from the new system . Regularly every year since it was inaugurated , has
the Province been represented by some energetic Steward , and the annual contributions to the several Institutions have been in the aggregate , and taking the lowest estimate , at the rate of £ 300 .
That one who has thus distinguished himself in the ranks of the Craft and rendered such signal services to our noble Institutions should carry with him into his retirement from active work the love and respect of all Avho have been associated with him , be it never so humbly , is
a matter of course . Already , as our readers will remember , at a Special Meeting of the Grand Lodge of his Province , a highly complimentary
resolution has been passed , and ordered to be illuminated and presented to our worthy brother . Since then , many of his old colleagues have quietly and unostentatiously arranged that there shall be a further and fuller
Masonic Portraits, No. 53.
recognition of his labours . As a first and most graceful act in this direction , his name has been added to the list of Vice-Patrons of tho Boys' School—the Institution which reaped tho benefit of his earliest labours in the cause of
Masonic Charity ; and tho surplus that remains will be devoted to tho purchase of a handsome addition to hia library , in the shape of some hundred volumes of standard literature .
Thus far havo Ave contented ourselves with tracing his Masonic career , and marking the exploits by Avhich it has been distinguished ; but it is impossible to conclude this sketch Avithout somo reference to those social virtues Avhich aro in truth his principal characteristics .
To fully appreciate these , we need do littlo more than refer to tho intimate relations which existed between him and his lamented chief . How cordially and harmoniously they laboured together was , of necessity , known only to a few ; but there is hardly a Craftsman in tho Province who will
not have attributed to their unity of thought and action , the successful administration Avhich is a source of such intense pride to overy one . All must have felt , oven if they had no certain knoAvledgo , that mutual love and respecfc , superadded to great abilities in the Chief and his Deputy , formed
the groundwork of their common labours , and the cause and origin of their joint success . Yet it was not alone in the Council Chamber , in Lodge , Chapter , or Conclave , that the talents of Achilles were so conspicuous . There , of course , in all the pomp and circumstance of official
dignities , he would certainly be the admired of all admirers . But to know him thoroughly , it was necessary to meet him in the quiet social circle , Avhen , having laid aside the gilded trappings of his high Masonic rank , he might be seen presiding as tho genial host , the successful organiser of
country-trip or pic-nic , and even—infandum!—of the going doAvn to the sea in ships , " the " guide , philosopher , and friend , " who 3 e very strictures were passed in all kindliness , though at the moment they may have fallen on inappreciative ears . Here it was that Achilles
was seen at his best , mirthful himself and the cause of mirth in others , ready at all times Avith quip , jest , or merry conceit , and joyful always the more he saw others rejoice . Nor must AVO pass unnoticed Avhat is not so generally knoAvn of our brother , that he is a man of literary tastes ,
and gifted , in no ordinary degree , with the " poetic fire . " Few have more largely studied " the world in books , " and few are so fortunate in the possession of a well-stored memory . Had ho , indeed , Avooed the poetic muse with a
constant passion , instead of indulging in fitful capricious flirtations with her , his contributions to "Verses of Society " would have placed him in the same category with a Locker or a Praed .
Our task is now ended . We fear the lights and shades may have been put in Aveakly and ineffectively . It may be , in fact , that our sketch is an etching rather than a portrait ; but there are many Avho can fill in the lines necessary for its completion , and to others we assign the agreeable task of revelling in the " Pleasures of Imagination . "
Our readers will have seen that the effort to raise a subscription for the widow of the late Bro . Goddin , or , as she has died since the proposal Avas first started , for her orphan children , has been attended Avith a fair measure of success . This week Ave are able to announce that a sum of nine
guineas has been remitted by the Great City Lodge , and £ 4 5 s by the Cripplegate Lodge . We believe Ave are right in saying that great praise is clue to our worthy Bro . Steedman for his zeal in bringing this most deserving case
under the notice of these two Lodges . We hear it is proposed to endeavour to get one of the children into an Orphan School , and we sincerely hope that funds Avill be subscribed so that this excellent scheme may be realised .
The ceremonies of Consecration and Installation will be rehearsed in the Crusaders Lodge of Instruction , No . 1677 , at the Old Jerusalem Tavern , St John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , on Thursday evening next , the 20 th inst ., at 7 p . m ., by Bro . James Terry , Prov . D . C . Herts , P . M . 128 , 228 , 1336 , P . Z . 174 , 975 , and Secretary to Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .
The ceremony of Installation -will be worked in the Jordan Lodgo of Instruction , at the Devonshire Arms , Devonshire-street , on Tuesday next . Bro . Koester will occupy the chair .