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Article MONITA SECRETA SOCIETATIS JESU. ← Page 4 of 4 Article THE PANTOMIME: HARLEQUINFREEMASON. Page 1 of 2 →
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Monita Secreta Societatis Jesu.
penitent , he should immediately inform , the rector thereof , and cultivate his acquisition to the best of his ability . 6 . But this is a point of the most vital importance , that our associates should apparently ignore entirely the benevolence of penitents and others ivith whom they communicate , and not seem to captivate their good-vill ,
but accommodate themselves altogether to the particular propensities of each individual . The provincials should take care to send many to such places as are inhabited by wealthy persons and by noblemen ; and the rectors , to enable the provincials to act more efficiently and with more foresight , should never forget to keep them properly informed of the harvest that may be expected , ¦ ( To be continued . )
The Pantomime: Harlequinfreemason.
THE PANTOMIME : HARLEQUINFREEMASON .
In No . 351 , page 225 , of the EKEEMASONS' MAGA - ZINE , we published a general account of this pantomime , performed for the first time on the 29 th Dec , 1780 , at Covent Garden Theatre . In accordance with a promise we then made to our readers , we now reproduce an account and critique of this pantomime
, published in the Homing Chronicle , December 30 th , 1780 ; and having exhumed some further data on this highly interesting performance , as well as a selection of songs that were given upon the same occasion , we hope to be enabled to lay the same before our readers in one or more future numbers of our
journal . Prom the Morning Chronicle , Dec . 30 th , 1780 . " A new pantomine , obviously prepared with great pains and at great expense , was last night performed at Covent Garden Theatre , under the title of "Harlequin Ereemason . " To ive our readers
g any tolerably intelligible idea of a representation so mixed , so incongruous , and generally so unconnected as a modern pantomime , is at all times a difficult , and frequently an impracticable attempt ; but when a pantomime is founded on Masonry , it must strike every observer that as the essence of the
entertainment is avoivedly wrapped in mystery , the difficulty must be doubled ; and that none but a brother of the Art can unfold and explain the ceremonies of the night . Without attempting to display any knoivledge ancl skill in Masonry ( for we are determined not to betray any of the- s ' ecrets of the Art ) we shall
-, pro ceed in the plainest ancl most homely language to describe the work of yesterday ei'ening , pet-formed in the Grand Lodge of Covent Garden . " The opening scene of this entertainment is conformable to the opinions held by all Freemasons , ' that tbe original of Architecture is taken from that
great building , Man . ' Agreeable to this idea , three Masons are discovered at work ; one , a figure representing a man , composed of the different orders of architecture , as
The Head ot the ... Composite . Arms ... Coriuthiau . Body ... Ionic . Thighs ... Doric . Legs ... Tuscan . " On the Masonic signal for leaving work , they depart ; when the shade of Hiram Abift . Grand "Warden to King Solomon , and his assistant in
building his temple , rises , and from the stone figure produces a harlequin , instructs him in the use of tools , and endues a troivel with magic power , which , like the customary sivord , is to assist him in all his difficulties . Hiram Abiff , after this feeremony , leaves him . Harlequin's first sight of Columbine , who is
the daughter of a Jew , is with her father , while he is surveying a house , which he is about to have built , just rising from the foundation . Harlequin and Columbine , as usual , are reciprocally enamoured at sight , and the first proof he makes of the virtue of bis travel ( trowel ?) is by shoiviug the building completely at a
touch . In the general astonishment at this miracle , Harlequin finds means to steal Columbine from her father ; who recovers her , hoivever , soon after , and introduces her to a Dutch lover , whom he wishes her marry . Various amusing incidents arise among the common characters . The exertion of Harlequin ' s
trowel is amidst a group of peasants at the Alps , by raising the Temple of Bacchus , and the next by a representation of the wooden building in Covent Garden , where the aloe was shewn . Many more adventures are introduced and changes of the scenery , particularly a frost scene in Holland , with skaters , to
a tumultous sea ; a court of justice to the market at Billingsgate ; and the whole interspersed with occasional airs , catches , and choruses ; untill Hiram Abiff again appears and obtains the Jeiv ' s consent to the marriage of Harlequin and his daughter . This point settled , he signifies the necessity of his attendance at a Grand Lodgeit being the anniversary
, feast to install a UBAV Grand Master oftlie ancient and nolle Order of Free and Accepted Masons . This naturally introduces the procession , wherein , by a regular succession of the principal Grand Masters , from Enoch to the present time , the antiquity , advancement , and dignity of Masonry are illustrated in a
pleasing and instructive manner . " Besides the introduction of the capital characters , an explanation whereof , together with that of their respective pageants , is very properly subjoined to the printed songs , —the whole is embellished with some striking historical events in the rei of our own
gn kings , particularly Edward III . and his son the Black Prince , releasing John , king of Prance , and his son , who were made captives in the battle of Cressy . Queen Elizabeth taking the Masons under her protection . Guy Eaux ' s intended conspiracy discoi'ered . Sir Eobert Kner ' s whimsical address to Charles II .
at the Guildhall , and the humiliated Dutch imploring him to grant them peace . The pantomime part of this entertainment is light and rather thinner of business than usual . The story , it must be confessed , ( exclusive of the ultimate disposal of harlequin and columbine , which is left to the
audience by imagination to supply ) is more intelligible than in many preceding pantomimes , but its effect would be more pleasant if it afforded greater food for laughter . Columbine's father , as above mentioned , appears as a Jew , the clown as an aivkward Launcelotand the lover as a Dutchmanivho
, , are wonderfully turned into laughter by the force of pantomimic skill , by which alone , perhaps , humour and merriment could be extracted from characters naturally so very grave aud gloomy . The scenery is admirable , and does infinite credit to Messrs . Eichards , Carver , H J dgins , and Trench . The
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Monita Secreta Societatis Jesu.
penitent , he should immediately inform , the rector thereof , and cultivate his acquisition to the best of his ability . 6 . But this is a point of the most vital importance , that our associates should apparently ignore entirely the benevolence of penitents and others ivith whom they communicate , and not seem to captivate their good-vill ,
but accommodate themselves altogether to the particular propensities of each individual . The provincials should take care to send many to such places as are inhabited by wealthy persons and by noblemen ; and the rectors , to enable the provincials to act more efficiently and with more foresight , should never forget to keep them properly informed of the harvest that may be expected , ¦ ( To be continued . )
The Pantomime: Harlequinfreemason.
THE PANTOMIME : HARLEQUINFREEMASON .
In No . 351 , page 225 , of the EKEEMASONS' MAGA - ZINE , we published a general account of this pantomime , performed for the first time on the 29 th Dec , 1780 , at Covent Garden Theatre . In accordance with a promise we then made to our readers , we now reproduce an account and critique of this pantomime
, published in the Homing Chronicle , December 30 th , 1780 ; and having exhumed some further data on this highly interesting performance , as well as a selection of songs that were given upon the same occasion , we hope to be enabled to lay the same before our readers in one or more future numbers of our
journal . Prom the Morning Chronicle , Dec . 30 th , 1780 . " A new pantomine , obviously prepared with great pains and at great expense , was last night performed at Covent Garden Theatre , under the title of "Harlequin Ereemason . " To ive our readers
g any tolerably intelligible idea of a representation so mixed , so incongruous , and generally so unconnected as a modern pantomime , is at all times a difficult , and frequently an impracticable attempt ; but when a pantomime is founded on Masonry , it must strike every observer that as the essence of the
entertainment is avoivedly wrapped in mystery , the difficulty must be doubled ; and that none but a brother of the Art can unfold and explain the ceremonies of the night . Without attempting to display any knoivledge ancl skill in Masonry ( for we are determined not to betray any of the- s ' ecrets of the Art ) we shall
-, pro ceed in the plainest ancl most homely language to describe the work of yesterday ei'ening , pet-formed in the Grand Lodge of Covent Garden . " The opening scene of this entertainment is conformable to the opinions held by all Freemasons , ' that tbe original of Architecture is taken from that
great building , Man . ' Agreeable to this idea , three Masons are discovered at work ; one , a figure representing a man , composed of the different orders of architecture , as
The Head ot the ... Composite . Arms ... Coriuthiau . Body ... Ionic . Thighs ... Doric . Legs ... Tuscan . " On the Masonic signal for leaving work , they depart ; when the shade of Hiram Abift . Grand "Warden to King Solomon , and his assistant in
building his temple , rises , and from the stone figure produces a harlequin , instructs him in the use of tools , and endues a troivel with magic power , which , like the customary sivord , is to assist him in all his difficulties . Hiram Abiff , after this feeremony , leaves him . Harlequin's first sight of Columbine , who is
the daughter of a Jew , is with her father , while he is surveying a house , which he is about to have built , just rising from the foundation . Harlequin and Columbine , as usual , are reciprocally enamoured at sight , and the first proof he makes of the virtue of bis travel ( trowel ?) is by shoiviug the building completely at a
touch . In the general astonishment at this miracle , Harlequin finds means to steal Columbine from her father ; who recovers her , hoivever , soon after , and introduces her to a Dutch lover , whom he wishes her marry . Various amusing incidents arise among the common characters . The exertion of Harlequin ' s
trowel is amidst a group of peasants at the Alps , by raising the Temple of Bacchus , and the next by a representation of the wooden building in Covent Garden , where the aloe was shewn . Many more adventures are introduced and changes of the scenery , particularly a frost scene in Holland , with skaters , to
a tumultous sea ; a court of justice to the market at Billingsgate ; and the whole interspersed with occasional airs , catches , and choruses ; untill Hiram Abiff again appears and obtains the Jeiv ' s consent to the marriage of Harlequin and his daughter . This point settled , he signifies the necessity of his attendance at a Grand Lodgeit being the anniversary
, feast to install a UBAV Grand Master oftlie ancient and nolle Order of Free and Accepted Masons . This naturally introduces the procession , wherein , by a regular succession of the principal Grand Masters , from Enoch to the present time , the antiquity , advancement , and dignity of Masonry are illustrated in a
pleasing and instructive manner . " Besides the introduction of the capital characters , an explanation whereof , together with that of their respective pageants , is very properly subjoined to the printed songs , —the whole is embellished with some striking historical events in the rei of our own
gn kings , particularly Edward III . and his son the Black Prince , releasing John , king of Prance , and his son , who were made captives in the battle of Cressy . Queen Elizabeth taking the Masons under her protection . Guy Eaux ' s intended conspiracy discoi'ered . Sir Eobert Kner ' s whimsical address to Charles II .
at the Guildhall , and the humiliated Dutch imploring him to grant them peace . The pantomime part of this entertainment is light and rather thinner of business than usual . The story , it must be confessed , ( exclusive of the ultimate disposal of harlequin and columbine , which is left to the
audience by imagination to supply ) is more intelligible than in many preceding pantomimes , but its effect would be more pleasant if it afforded greater food for laughter . Columbine's father , as above mentioned , appears as a Jew , the clown as an aivkward Launcelotand the lover as a Dutchmanivho
, , are wonderfully turned into laughter by the force of pantomimic skill , by which alone , perhaps , humour and merriment could be extracted from characters naturally so very grave aud gloomy . The scenery is admirable , and does infinite credit to Messrs . Eichards , Carver , H J dgins , and Trench . The