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Article "DESECRATION," OR SACRILEGE? ← Page 2 of 3 Article "DESECRATION," OR SACRILEGE? Page 2 of 3 →
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"Desecration," Or Sacrilege?
upon the outlay involved ; besides which , it wonld be the means of placing within the reach of several of the Lodges who chose to make use of ifc , a veritable " home" and mosfc suitable Temple , in which the ancient ceremonies of
the Craft might be carried on reverently and in order . By the accounts published at the time , and to which we have already briefly alluded , it would appear that the
" plans of the ground buildings and all the details of the inner arrangements betokened an anxious desire to make the structure alike suitable and fitted for our Masonic
ceremonials and the comfort and convenience of the brethren ; " and those who have had an opportunity of visiting fche Hall within the last ten or twelve years will
not fail to admit that all these conditions have been amply verified . Those who have met there most frequently have realised how much the privacy , the independence , the comfort , and the self-respect which a freehold Lodge
building affords , and that the Hall has reflected the highest credit in all respects upon those who planned and
carried its arrangement to a successful issue . True , the history of the undertaking has been somewhat chequered , like the histories of many such institutions are , but nevertheless in the result it has developed into a system of convenience of which the brethren and many outside the
Craft would be very sorry to be now deprived . We have frequently had the pleasure of assisting in some of the important ceremonies enacted there , and whether in the Lodge room or in the convivialities that followed , we have been impressed with the entire suitability of the whole
interior economy of the establishment . Returning to the subject more immediately under consideration , however , namely , the laying of the foundationstone of the Hall , now just twelve years ago , we find that
a numerous and distinguished company of Masons assembled on the occasion , all of whom appeared in Masonic clothing , for which a special dispensation was granted to Bro . James Stevens , by the then Most Worshipful Grand
Master the Marquis of Ripon . Bro . Stevens , who is better known now than he was then in the Masonic world , as an author and lecturer , was at that time Worshipful Master of The Great City Lodge , No . 14-26 , and was
moreover Chairman of the Directors of the Surrey Masonic Hall Company . In those positions he naturally formed a prominent figure in the gathering around which such a vast amount of interest and importance clustered . We are told
that the display of bunting in the vicinity of the site was "lavish in the extreme , " and the assemblage of a vast
crowd m Camberwell New Road bespoke an attraction of no ordinary character . Many of the brethren whose names we observe amongst those who were present on the occasion will doubtless retain vivid memories of the
scene presented along that much frequented thoroughfare , when tbe labours of the Company assumed such practical and gratifying shape . The interior arrangements were very complete ; and these , the report goes on to say ,
" generally fell very well on the shoulders of Bro . James
Stevens , to whom the greatest ; praise is due for the admirable manner in which they were carried out . " Amongst the selections of music played by the military bands was a march founded on Bro . Stevens's now familiar
Masonic song , " What better theme than Masonry ? " and tbe ceremony of laying the stone was performed in perfect manner by Colonel Francis Burdett , as Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex . In the course of his address fche gallant Colonel ( now Sir Francis ) spoke of the building as one which they hoped would last for a great many years , and be a benefit not only to those who prompted it , but to the Order in general . He hoped the Craffc would support
the building , which had been undertaken by several members of the Craffc— ' ¦ most enthusiastic men and Masons . The " perfect stone" having been well and truly laid ,
well squared , level and perpendicular , Bro . James Stevens presented the Provincial Grand Master with a drawing of fche building , and expressed the hope thafc the proceedings of the day might make a very lively impression upon all who had attended them , and on other members of the
Craft , and lead them to do all they could to render the structure thus commenced a credit to the Craft , a useful building for the neighbourhood , and an honour to all
concerned in its construction . They adopted one of the principles of the Craft ' s teaching , namely , Faith , without which they could not be Masons at heart ; and they adopted it in the same spirit that actuated Sir Christopher Wren
in the erection of the great metropolitan cathedral of St . Paul ' s , who acted as a true Mason shonld , and never
"Desecration," Or Sacrilege?
rested till the building was completed . The Provincia Grand Master having received the picture at the hands of Bro . Stevens , with "lively satisfaction , " the proceedings were completed in form , and at the subsequent banquet the
latter occupied the seat of honour on the right hand of Col . Burdett , who proposed Prosperity to the Surrey Masonic Hall Company , coupling with the toast the name of Bro . James Stevens as its Chairman . The customary
amenities , of course , followed , and the name of Brother Stevens was throughout a theme of the utmost laudation and congratulation . In one of his speeches the Provincial
Grand Master observed that they all knew he ( the speaker ) had done a great deal in Freemasonry , but still if it had not been for the support he had received from such brethren as Bro . Stevens and other members of the
Province to which he belonged , he should never have held the office he now did . Having recounted , probably at as great length as
necessary , the proceedings which characterized the laying of a memorial-stone nnder such brilliant and stirring auspices , the grave and important question now presents itself , as alluded to by our correspondents , how and by what means
the " extraordinary phenomenon " occurs that the name of the Brother who tooked so prominent a part in the movement , should have been erased from the stone , and sup . planted by another ? The question is so startling in its
character , that at the first blush it might well cause men to pause , and answer it by another , " Can such really be the case ? " One writer , whose letter appeared in our
issue of the 29 th ult . —curiously enough the twelfth anniversary of the laying of the stone—observed that the stone has the name ol our much-esteemed Bro . Colonel Sir
Francis Burdett inscribed upon it , along with the names of other worthy brethren of lesser note . He adds , " now , one of these names always appeared to be haunted , if I may use the term , by another , on which it had apparently been
superimposed , and the ghastly name was always more or less indistinct , influenced , probably , by atmospheric changes , and having one in the depths of conjecture as to what the nomen in quo was . " Underneath this satire , the drift of
which is readily comprehended , by those who have read what looks like a Masonic romance , we have a clue to the problem which is just now puzzling so many of the brethren and ourselves . He adds , " On looking at the stone on fche
last occasion I visited the Hall , I was surprised to find the prominent name ( Bro . James Stevens's ) had disappeared in toto , while the underlying one had , doubtless by some molicular disturbance (!) of the stone , come boldly up to
the surface ! " It scarcely needs the aid of a microscope to see the hidden meaning of sentences so pithily put , but in plain language it means , that the name of the then Chairman of the Company , the prime mover in the scheme , the
Worshipful Master to whom the special dispensation alluded to was granted , and the hononred guest at the ceremony , has been expunged from the stone , and another substituted for ifc . No Vandalism surely could go much further than that !
But another correspondent writes to say that the letter above quoted induced him to make a personal examination of the Memorial Stone , and we can scarcely be surprised to hear that " I was literally astonished by what I saw . The
stone has been tampered with , and I may almost say desecrated , by the treatment it has received . " After giving an outline of tbe ceremony of laying the stone , the gist of which appears afc fche commencement of this article , the
writer observes , " the worthy Brother who then bore the heat and burthen of the day , " as Chairman of the Company , was the hero of the hour , and received the warmest acknowledgments of all concerned . Sis name was then
engraven on the temple face of the stone ( the italics are our own ) , in its proper place amongst the names of other Directors . It has been ruthlessly removed , and the name of some unknown brother substituted . Why ? Can any
reason whatever justify interference with a truthful record ? I think not ; and ifc grieves me to see so startling an evidence of Anti-Masonic feeling exhibited in a place which had been solemnly dedicated to Brotherly love and Truth . "
Here , but for the principle involved , one might leave the matter in the hands of impartial judgment and fche moral responsibility of those " whom it may concern " to clear
themselves from a stigma of the most dishonourable and scandalous character . The charge is laid in plain language , and is made with no uncertain sound . On a memorial stone dedicated to sacred and solemn purposes ( for we hold
that Masonic purposes are as sacred and solemn as those
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"Desecration," Or Sacrilege?
upon the outlay involved ; besides which , it wonld be the means of placing within the reach of several of the Lodges who chose to make use of ifc , a veritable " home" and mosfc suitable Temple , in which the ancient ceremonies of
the Craft might be carried on reverently and in order . By the accounts published at the time , and to which we have already briefly alluded , it would appear that the
" plans of the ground buildings and all the details of the inner arrangements betokened an anxious desire to make the structure alike suitable and fitted for our Masonic
ceremonials and the comfort and convenience of the brethren ; " and those who have had an opportunity of visiting fche Hall within the last ten or twelve years will
not fail to admit that all these conditions have been amply verified . Those who have met there most frequently have realised how much the privacy , the independence , the comfort , and the self-respect which a freehold Lodge
building affords , and that the Hall has reflected the highest credit in all respects upon those who planned and
carried its arrangement to a successful issue . True , the history of the undertaking has been somewhat chequered , like the histories of many such institutions are , but nevertheless in the result it has developed into a system of convenience of which the brethren and many outside the
Craft would be very sorry to be now deprived . We have frequently had the pleasure of assisting in some of the important ceremonies enacted there , and whether in the Lodge room or in the convivialities that followed , we have been impressed with the entire suitability of the whole
interior economy of the establishment . Returning to the subject more immediately under consideration , however , namely , the laying of the foundationstone of the Hall , now just twelve years ago , we find that
a numerous and distinguished company of Masons assembled on the occasion , all of whom appeared in Masonic clothing , for which a special dispensation was granted to Bro . James Stevens , by the then Most Worshipful Grand
Master the Marquis of Ripon . Bro . Stevens , who is better known now than he was then in the Masonic world , as an author and lecturer , was at that time Worshipful Master of The Great City Lodge , No . 14-26 , and was
moreover Chairman of the Directors of the Surrey Masonic Hall Company . In those positions he naturally formed a prominent figure in the gathering around which such a vast amount of interest and importance clustered . We are told
that the display of bunting in the vicinity of the site was "lavish in the extreme , " and the assemblage of a vast
crowd m Camberwell New Road bespoke an attraction of no ordinary character . Many of the brethren whose names we observe amongst those who were present on the occasion will doubtless retain vivid memories of the
scene presented along that much frequented thoroughfare , when tbe labours of the Company assumed such practical and gratifying shape . The interior arrangements were very complete ; and these , the report goes on to say ,
" generally fell very well on the shoulders of Bro . James
Stevens , to whom the greatest ; praise is due for the admirable manner in which they were carried out . " Amongst the selections of music played by the military bands was a march founded on Bro . Stevens's now familiar
Masonic song , " What better theme than Masonry ? " and tbe ceremony of laying the stone was performed in perfect manner by Colonel Francis Burdett , as Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex . In the course of his address fche gallant Colonel ( now Sir Francis ) spoke of the building as one which they hoped would last for a great many years , and be a benefit not only to those who prompted it , but to the Order in general . He hoped the Craffc would support
the building , which had been undertaken by several members of the Craffc— ' ¦ most enthusiastic men and Masons . The " perfect stone" having been well and truly laid ,
well squared , level and perpendicular , Bro . James Stevens presented the Provincial Grand Master with a drawing of fche building , and expressed the hope thafc the proceedings of the day might make a very lively impression upon all who had attended them , and on other members of the
Craft , and lead them to do all they could to render the structure thus commenced a credit to the Craft , a useful building for the neighbourhood , and an honour to all
concerned in its construction . They adopted one of the principles of the Craft ' s teaching , namely , Faith , without which they could not be Masons at heart ; and they adopted it in the same spirit that actuated Sir Christopher Wren
in the erection of the great metropolitan cathedral of St . Paul ' s , who acted as a true Mason shonld , and never
"Desecration," Or Sacrilege?
rested till the building was completed . The Provincia Grand Master having received the picture at the hands of Bro . Stevens , with "lively satisfaction , " the proceedings were completed in form , and at the subsequent banquet the
latter occupied the seat of honour on the right hand of Col . Burdett , who proposed Prosperity to the Surrey Masonic Hall Company , coupling with the toast the name of Bro . James Stevens as its Chairman . The customary
amenities , of course , followed , and the name of Brother Stevens was throughout a theme of the utmost laudation and congratulation . In one of his speeches the Provincial
Grand Master observed that they all knew he ( the speaker ) had done a great deal in Freemasonry , but still if it had not been for the support he had received from such brethren as Bro . Stevens and other members of the
Province to which he belonged , he should never have held the office he now did . Having recounted , probably at as great length as
necessary , the proceedings which characterized the laying of a memorial-stone nnder such brilliant and stirring auspices , the grave and important question now presents itself , as alluded to by our correspondents , how and by what means
the " extraordinary phenomenon " occurs that the name of the Brother who tooked so prominent a part in the movement , should have been erased from the stone , and sup . planted by another ? The question is so startling in its
character , that at the first blush it might well cause men to pause , and answer it by another , " Can such really be the case ? " One writer , whose letter appeared in our
issue of the 29 th ult . —curiously enough the twelfth anniversary of the laying of the stone—observed that the stone has the name ol our much-esteemed Bro . Colonel Sir
Francis Burdett inscribed upon it , along with the names of other worthy brethren of lesser note . He adds , " now , one of these names always appeared to be haunted , if I may use the term , by another , on which it had apparently been
superimposed , and the ghastly name was always more or less indistinct , influenced , probably , by atmospheric changes , and having one in the depths of conjecture as to what the nomen in quo was . " Underneath this satire , the drift of
which is readily comprehended , by those who have read what looks like a Masonic romance , we have a clue to the problem which is just now puzzling so many of the brethren and ourselves . He adds , " On looking at the stone on fche
last occasion I visited the Hall , I was surprised to find the prominent name ( Bro . James Stevens's ) had disappeared in toto , while the underlying one had , doubtless by some molicular disturbance (!) of the stone , come boldly up to
the surface ! " It scarcely needs the aid of a microscope to see the hidden meaning of sentences so pithily put , but in plain language it means , that the name of the then Chairman of the Company , the prime mover in the scheme , the
Worshipful Master to whom the special dispensation alluded to was granted , and the hononred guest at the ceremony , has been expunged from the stone , and another substituted for ifc . No Vandalism surely could go much further than that !
But another correspondent writes to say that the letter above quoted induced him to make a personal examination of the Memorial Stone , and we can scarcely be surprised to hear that " I was literally astonished by what I saw . The
stone has been tampered with , and I may almost say desecrated , by the treatment it has received . " After giving an outline of tbe ceremony of laying the stone , the gist of which appears afc fche commencement of this article , the
writer observes , " the worthy Brother who then bore the heat and burthen of the day , " as Chairman of the Company , was the hero of the hour , and received the warmest acknowledgments of all concerned . Sis name was then
engraven on the temple face of the stone ( the italics are our own ) , in its proper place amongst the names of other Directors . It has been ruthlessly removed , and the name of some unknown brother substituted . Why ? Can any
reason whatever justify interference with a truthful record ? I think not ; and ifc grieves me to see so startling an evidence of Anti-Masonic feeling exhibited in a place which had been solemnly dedicated to Brotherly love and Truth . "
Here , but for the principle involved , one might leave the matter in the hands of impartial judgment and fche moral responsibility of those " whom it may concern " to clear
themselves from a stigma of the most dishonourable and scandalous character . The charge is laid in plain language , and is made with no uncertain sound . On a memorial stone dedicated to sacred and solemn purposes ( for we hold
that Masonic purposes are as sacred and solemn as those