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Article EXPRESSION IS ART. ← Page 3 of 3 Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Page 1 of 3 →
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Expression Is Art.
line , softness of shadow , and a general breaking up of the masses and shadows . Expression in architecture was intention , thought , language ; and without these , any man ' s work was worthless . Mr . Godwin said Mr . Ponton had advised , as a means of expression , different coloured materials for smoky towns . He wished to guard them against this , and pointed out the new churches of St . Alban ' s , London , as an instance of the
uselessness of coloured materials , unless they were polished or glazed . With regard to preserving uniformity in Gothic windows when the tracery differed , he thought this was altogether a question of position , and if the windows were over one another he saw no advantage in uniformity , but on the contrary be found in the best towers the windows in proportion , and detail varied according to position . He agreed that a regular series of windows in a facade should be treated with uniformitequal to the
y variety . Mr . Godwin objected to a fret being called Doric or anything else ; it was a common form with all nations , but a form of the most elementary kind , and liable to great abuse ; and he thought the ancient Celt had as much right to it as the Athenian ; and Irish antiquities show that the Celt played with it as charmingly as such an ugly thing deserved . He thought it by no means enhanced tbe expression of a building
for the eye readily to " discover the dimensions of the whole ;" he was sorry King's College Chapel , Cambridge , had been quoted as an example worth following ; for himself , he must confess that he had hitherto failed to discover its glories ; on the other hand , the dignity , size , ancl general expression of Westminster Abbey were all considerably enhanced by the parish church of St . Margaret , which serves , as a scale , to
render appreciable the importance of the greater building . He thought , with reference to the Doric column , that a pillar without a base was not to be admired on account of the omission , seeing that not only the Greeks , but every nation since had given special attention to this feature , and as the Doric and Corinthian had been compared to Hercules and Venus , he might observe that the god as well as the goddess was provided with feet . Mr . Godwin referred the hick of art-workmen to architects
and their clients : there was no demand for figure sculpture , save for a few exceptional cases , and these were not sufficient to create a supply ; besides , architects as a rule knew so little about the arts that they discouraged the sculptors who have ever had chances . As an instance , be would quote a new hospital at Bath , situated in a narrow street , and where the architect has cruelly confined the scultor to the tympanium of
p a ^ high-lifted pediment , for an alto-relievo of the Good Samaritan , in which all that can be seen is the belly of the ass . Mr . Fripp desired to break a lance with his friend , Mr . Godwin , and spoke in defence of the Doric and its absence of base . He enlarged upon the expression which may be thrown into common objects , especially shop fronts , which he thought offered a vaster field for study than anything which came under
the cognizance of the architect . By expression and by casting aside copyism , we could render , he said , the simplest doorway a work of art , and suggested the Norman architecture as a fine study for the architect .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .
GRAND MARSHAL . In the Grand Lodge of New York they have an officer called a Grand Marshal , who ranks immediately after he Grand Chaplains , will some one conversant with American Masonry define bis duties for—W . G . THE WORTHINESS OF CANDIDATES . A well known and popular Mason of some years
standing , stated that in the course of his membership , some fifteen years or more , he had never proposed more than four gentlemen for initiation ; but he knew of a lod ge where the boast was , not how many good men they made , but what number each given Master had made during his year of office , one reckoning no less than fifty-three as coming to his share . Such wholesale Masonry surel
y must treat as very unimportant that most important of all duties—the worthiness of candidates . Has anything been written or said on this subject worthy of it ?—" VIGIIANS . —[ It has often been deplored both at home and
abroad , that the examination of candidates is seldom enquired into . The subjoined extract from Le Begulateur du Maqon , will show how our brethren abroad look at thc matter . " Freemasonry is an association of honourable men , whose aim it is to live together upon terms of perfect equality under the name of brothers , to be closely united by the bands of mutual
esteem , confidence , and friendship , and to instigate each other to the practice of every moral ancl social virtue . " It consequently behoves all lodges to be careful not to admit to a participation in the mysteries , any but those who are unquestionably worthy of such distinction , who are qualified to accomplish the ends proposed , and who will never give the brethren reason to blush for them as associates . Therefore , when the admission of any one to the privileges of the Order is under
consideration , the members of the lodge to which he is presented ought seriously to bear in mind that they are not only about to make an addition to the Masonic body collectively , but are also about to give a brother to each member individually , and that when the candidate shall have been admitted , all Masons throughout the universe , of whatever degree , quality , or condition , are bound to recognise him as such . Hence it is desirable , both for the credit of that particular lodge , and for the honour of the
Order at large , that the candidate be worthy of being welcomed by all Masons , as an upright man and a brother , invested with a claim upon their warmest friendship—the lodge which initiates him , offering by that act a moral guarantee that he is endowed with the qualities desirable in a member of their ancient and honourable society . " To this you may add the protest inserted in Nbrthouck ' s edition of the Booh of Gonstitutioiis ( 1784 ) , p . 392 which is too long to insert here . f
THE MASONIC CONGRESS . What is known of the proceedings of the Masonic Congress?—COSMOPOLITAN . —[ We extract the following from the Eev . Salem Town ' s address to the Grand Chapter of New York , in February , 1857 , as giving a very fair account of a much-to-be-desired reality which bore no fruit . 1
"But the most conclusive evidence which the nature of the case admits , in full proof of Masonic tendencies to fraternise mankind , is found in what was appropriately denominated ' The Universal Masonic Congress , ' assembled in Paris , June 7 th
1855 . " While the great powers of Europe were involved in the most sanguinary warfare , and their hostile armies struggling in . deadly combat , here were the sons of peace and friendship , gathered from different nations on the continent , mingling their fraternal congratulations in each other's welfare , somewhat like brothers of one common family . Actuated by the true spirit of enlarged Masonic intercoursePrince Lucien MuratGrand
, , Master of Masons in France , in February preceding issued a fraternal invitation to the several Masonic grand bodies on both continents , to meet in general convention in Paris , under the name of a ' Universal Masonic Congress , ' then and there , as men of different countries , nations , and languages , to consult on the interests of the institution at large , and give a living demonstration that Freemasons , the ivorld over , hold
themselves , in point of fact , as well as by profession , to be brothers in common . To this invitation , eighteen Grand Lodges in Europe and America responded , nine were represented , and delegates from several failed to reach Paris in due season . " It would seem , by the transactions of that illustrious body , that one important measure contemplated was , to form an unbroken chain of Masonic intercourse round the entire lobe
g , thereby giving to the world an open exemplification of the universality of those bonds of fellowship , which in all lands characterise the Craft alike . It is believed that no human institution ever combined influences of such universality in their direct tendencies to a general association of all nationalities , in common brotherhood , as that of the Masonic in the present case . This is now seen and recorded of the Convention at Pariswhere
, the highest possible point of fraternity to which our philanthropic principles lead , has been triumphantly gained . The transactions of that congress of nations has brou ght out the true spirit of Masonry on this point more prominently before the world than it ever has been , or ever could have been by the several grand bodies in each country , acting individually and solely within their own jurisdictions . Herein is again presented
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Expression Is Art.
line , softness of shadow , and a general breaking up of the masses and shadows . Expression in architecture was intention , thought , language ; and without these , any man ' s work was worthless . Mr . Godwin said Mr . Ponton had advised , as a means of expression , different coloured materials for smoky towns . He wished to guard them against this , and pointed out the new churches of St . Alban ' s , London , as an instance of the
uselessness of coloured materials , unless they were polished or glazed . With regard to preserving uniformity in Gothic windows when the tracery differed , he thought this was altogether a question of position , and if the windows were over one another he saw no advantage in uniformity , but on the contrary be found in the best towers the windows in proportion , and detail varied according to position . He agreed that a regular series of windows in a facade should be treated with uniformitequal to the
y variety . Mr . Godwin objected to a fret being called Doric or anything else ; it was a common form with all nations , but a form of the most elementary kind , and liable to great abuse ; and he thought the ancient Celt had as much right to it as the Athenian ; and Irish antiquities show that the Celt played with it as charmingly as such an ugly thing deserved . He thought it by no means enhanced tbe expression of a building
for the eye readily to " discover the dimensions of the whole ;" he was sorry King's College Chapel , Cambridge , had been quoted as an example worth following ; for himself , he must confess that he had hitherto failed to discover its glories ; on the other hand , the dignity , size , ancl general expression of Westminster Abbey were all considerably enhanced by the parish church of St . Margaret , which serves , as a scale , to
render appreciable the importance of the greater building . He thought , with reference to the Doric column , that a pillar without a base was not to be admired on account of the omission , seeing that not only the Greeks , but every nation since had given special attention to this feature , and as the Doric and Corinthian had been compared to Hercules and Venus , he might observe that the god as well as the goddess was provided with feet . Mr . Godwin referred the hick of art-workmen to architects
and their clients : there was no demand for figure sculpture , save for a few exceptional cases , and these were not sufficient to create a supply ; besides , architects as a rule knew so little about the arts that they discouraged the sculptors who have ever had chances . As an instance , be would quote a new hospital at Bath , situated in a narrow street , and where the architect has cruelly confined the scultor to the tympanium of
p a ^ high-lifted pediment , for an alto-relievo of the Good Samaritan , in which all that can be seen is the belly of the ass . Mr . Fripp desired to break a lance with his friend , Mr . Godwin , and spoke in defence of the Doric and its absence of base . He enlarged upon the expression which may be thrown into common objects , especially shop fronts , which he thought offered a vaster field for study than anything which came under
the cognizance of the architect . By expression and by casting aside copyism , we could render , he said , the simplest doorway a work of art , and suggested the Norman architecture as a fine study for the architect .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .
GRAND MARSHAL . In the Grand Lodge of New York they have an officer called a Grand Marshal , who ranks immediately after he Grand Chaplains , will some one conversant with American Masonry define bis duties for—W . G . THE WORTHINESS OF CANDIDATES . A well known and popular Mason of some years
standing , stated that in the course of his membership , some fifteen years or more , he had never proposed more than four gentlemen for initiation ; but he knew of a lod ge where the boast was , not how many good men they made , but what number each given Master had made during his year of office , one reckoning no less than fifty-three as coming to his share . Such wholesale Masonry surel
y must treat as very unimportant that most important of all duties—the worthiness of candidates . Has anything been written or said on this subject worthy of it ?—" VIGIIANS . —[ It has often been deplored both at home and
abroad , that the examination of candidates is seldom enquired into . The subjoined extract from Le Begulateur du Maqon , will show how our brethren abroad look at thc matter . " Freemasonry is an association of honourable men , whose aim it is to live together upon terms of perfect equality under the name of brothers , to be closely united by the bands of mutual
esteem , confidence , and friendship , and to instigate each other to the practice of every moral ancl social virtue . " It consequently behoves all lodges to be careful not to admit to a participation in the mysteries , any but those who are unquestionably worthy of such distinction , who are qualified to accomplish the ends proposed , and who will never give the brethren reason to blush for them as associates . Therefore , when the admission of any one to the privileges of the Order is under
consideration , the members of the lodge to which he is presented ought seriously to bear in mind that they are not only about to make an addition to the Masonic body collectively , but are also about to give a brother to each member individually , and that when the candidate shall have been admitted , all Masons throughout the universe , of whatever degree , quality , or condition , are bound to recognise him as such . Hence it is desirable , both for the credit of that particular lodge , and for the honour of the
Order at large , that the candidate be worthy of being welcomed by all Masons , as an upright man and a brother , invested with a claim upon their warmest friendship—the lodge which initiates him , offering by that act a moral guarantee that he is endowed with the qualities desirable in a member of their ancient and honourable society . " To this you may add the protest inserted in Nbrthouck ' s edition of the Booh of Gonstitutioiis ( 1784 ) , p . 392 which is too long to insert here . f
THE MASONIC CONGRESS . What is known of the proceedings of the Masonic Congress?—COSMOPOLITAN . —[ We extract the following from the Eev . Salem Town ' s address to the Grand Chapter of New York , in February , 1857 , as giving a very fair account of a much-to-be-desired reality which bore no fruit . 1
"But the most conclusive evidence which the nature of the case admits , in full proof of Masonic tendencies to fraternise mankind , is found in what was appropriately denominated ' The Universal Masonic Congress , ' assembled in Paris , June 7 th
1855 . " While the great powers of Europe were involved in the most sanguinary warfare , and their hostile armies struggling in . deadly combat , here were the sons of peace and friendship , gathered from different nations on the continent , mingling their fraternal congratulations in each other's welfare , somewhat like brothers of one common family . Actuated by the true spirit of enlarged Masonic intercoursePrince Lucien MuratGrand
, , Master of Masons in France , in February preceding issued a fraternal invitation to the several Masonic grand bodies on both continents , to meet in general convention in Paris , under the name of a ' Universal Masonic Congress , ' then and there , as men of different countries , nations , and languages , to consult on the interests of the institution at large , and give a living demonstration that Freemasons , the ivorld over , hold
themselves , in point of fact , as well as by profession , to be brothers in common . To this invitation , eighteen Grand Lodges in Europe and America responded , nine were represented , and delegates from several failed to reach Paris in due season . " It would seem , by the transactions of that illustrious body , that one important measure contemplated was , to form an unbroken chain of Masonic intercourse round the entire lobe
g , thereby giving to the world an open exemplification of the universality of those bonds of fellowship , which in all lands characterise the Craft alike . It is believed that no human institution ever combined influences of such universality in their direct tendencies to a general association of all nationalities , in common brotherhood , as that of the Masonic in the present case . This is now seen and recorded of the Convention at Pariswhere
, the highest possible point of fraternity to which our philanthropic principles lead , has been triumphantly gained . The transactions of that congress of nations has brou ght out the true spirit of Masonry on this point more prominently before the world than it ever has been , or ever could have been by the several grand bodies in each country , acting individually and solely within their own jurisdictions . Herein is again presented