-
Articles/Ads
Article THE MASONIC SEASON. Page 1 of 1 Article ARCHITECTURAL REVERIES. Page 1 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Season.
THE MASONIC SEASON .
LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 12 , 1864 .
The London Masonic season may be considered to have now fairly commenced , and we must again urge upon the brethren , as we have done before , to be careful Avhom they propose in their lodges for initiation ; always remembering , that no man should be introduced to a Masonic
lodge whom the brother proposing him would not Avelcomc in the inmost recesses of his domestic circle—a man against Avhose character there is a taint of immorality AA'hich should exclude him from the purest society being altogether unfitted to enter
into a Masonic lodp-e . We are fearful that this fact is too often overlooked , aud that brethren are too apt to regard their candidates only as " respectable men , " or "jolly good felloAVS , " Avhilst they Avould , at the same time , regard them as " a
little too fast" for introduction to their Avives or daughters . Such should not be , as no one who is considered " a , little" too free , either in his language or actions , is fitted for Masonry ; aud no brother having a due regard for the obligation he has taken , or the teachings of the Order , should introduce such a man Avithin its circle .
We are taught not to seek for candidates unduly ; and that should make us even more careful as regards the character of those Avhoni Ave do introduce for admission into the Craft , even on their own seeking .
But Avith our reassembling in our lodges there are other duties AA'e have to perform , viz ., the pro-Adding for those of the brethren or their widows Avho have fallen in the decline of life into distress , or of their children who are knocking at our doors
seeking for education ; and their numbers are at present far in excess of those we have the means of receiving . The annual Festivals for the increase of our Charitable Funds will be quick upon us , and ive trust that 1865 Avill be no less successful
iu the results of the collections than those Avhich have preceded it . We -will merely now remind the brethren that the first Festival on the list is that of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for A ged Masons and their Widows , Avhich takes place
en the 25 th January , with the Deputy Graud Master in the chair , and that the list of SteAvards « no ; v being completed . We trust that the list will be worthy of the occasion , and the collection Worth y of the list . I
Architectural Reveries.
ARCHITECTURAL REVERIES .
THE AVINDOAV . Many unexpected questions are continually presenting themselves for solution to the student of architecture , in its beginnings , its developments , aud its artistic principles ; and associations seemingly more akin to the course of history , the
domain of poetry , or the p hilosophy of the sentiments are constantly arising . Every architectural facade consists of certain distinct features , each AA'ith its special functions to perform ; and each being capable of almost as great a variety of expression as the features of the human face itself .
Architecture has also a language : not a spoken language , still less a written language ; yet one producing an infinite number of impressions , of the most diverse character , upon those to whom it is addressed . To the Avorshippers beneath the lofty vaults of the cathedral it g ives forth , as the
outbreathings of its statel y forms , soundless , yet solemn and beautiful words , full of majesty and dignity ; Avhile to those passing within the massive Avails of its prison-houses , and entering their froAvning doors , clothed with huge fastenings of bar and bolt and chain , ivords seem to be muttered of terror and discouragement such as might have , suggested the line of Dante , —
" Voi che euti'iitc , lasciate ogni spcra-nza . " On the other hand , to tho dwellers in " summer palaces , " the dreamers in the shades of garden pavilions , or the loungers in sparklin g theatres , architecture addresses itself in li g ht and playful phrases , bri ght with the graces of fanciful
ornament and the symbols of quaint and elegant device . Architecture has also its literature : not one of mere letters , yet one engraven like the chronicles of Assyrian kings , upon the Avails of its own . monuments . And it is a literature , not of art alone , but of poetry and history . Yet it is a
literature , whose pages are only intelli g ible to the true devotee . To those only who are endowed either b y nature or study with that refinement of artistic sentiment which Ave call taste , will those pages reveal their full meaning . And these are
comparativel y feAV ; for true tasto is a faculty that emanates from the hi g hest regions of the intellect . " 11 fctut avoir do I'drne pour avoir du govt , " has been truly and poetically said by a French author , and the aphorism is as true as it is poetical . It is , in fact , by "taste" —that delicate feeling which
seeks order , proportion , and fitness in thingsthat man is distinguished from every other livingcreature ; and a great authority , Cicero , has oxpressed this idea Avith his usual neatness and ac * curacy . When speaking of man ' s instinctive search for a law of order and measure for his Avords
and actions , he describes the quality of the thingsought as " quid sit quod deceat , " that which isfitting , an axiom AA'hich applies equally to Avords of art as the moral actions ; and Avhere the poAver to test the presence or absence of this abstract " fit-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Season.
THE MASONIC SEASON .
LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 12 , 1864 .
The London Masonic season may be considered to have now fairly commenced , and we must again urge upon the brethren , as we have done before , to be careful Avhom they propose in their lodges for initiation ; always remembering , that no man should be introduced to a Masonic
lodge whom the brother proposing him would not Avelcomc in the inmost recesses of his domestic circle—a man against Avhose character there is a taint of immorality AA'hich should exclude him from the purest society being altogether unfitted to enter
into a Masonic lodp-e . We are fearful that this fact is too often overlooked , aud that brethren are too apt to regard their candidates only as " respectable men , " or "jolly good felloAVS , " Avhilst they Avould , at the same time , regard them as " a
little too fast" for introduction to their Avives or daughters . Such should not be , as no one who is considered " a , little" too free , either in his language or actions , is fitted for Masonry ; aud no brother having a due regard for the obligation he has taken , or the teachings of the Order , should introduce such a man Avithin its circle .
We are taught not to seek for candidates unduly ; and that should make us even more careful as regards the character of those Avhoni Ave do introduce for admission into the Craft , even on their own seeking .
But Avith our reassembling in our lodges there are other duties AA'e have to perform , viz ., the pro-Adding for those of the brethren or their widows Avho have fallen in the decline of life into distress , or of their children who are knocking at our doors
seeking for education ; and their numbers are at present far in excess of those we have the means of receiving . The annual Festivals for the increase of our Charitable Funds will be quick upon us , and ive trust that 1865 Avill be no less successful
iu the results of the collections than those Avhich have preceded it . We -will merely now remind the brethren that the first Festival on the list is that of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for A ged Masons and their Widows , Avhich takes place
en the 25 th January , with the Deputy Graud Master in the chair , and that the list of SteAvards « no ; v being completed . We trust that the list will be worthy of the occasion , and the collection Worth y of the list . I
Architectural Reveries.
ARCHITECTURAL REVERIES .
THE AVINDOAV . Many unexpected questions are continually presenting themselves for solution to the student of architecture , in its beginnings , its developments , aud its artistic principles ; and associations seemingly more akin to the course of history , the
domain of poetry , or the p hilosophy of the sentiments are constantly arising . Every architectural facade consists of certain distinct features , each AA'ith its special functions to perform ; and each being capable of almost as great a variety of expression as the features of the human face itself .
Architecture has also a language : not a spoken language , still less a written language ; yet one producing an infinite number of impressions , of the most diverse character , upon those to whom it is addressed . To the Avorshippers beneath the lofty vaults of the cathedral it g ives forth , as the
outbreathings of its statel y forms , soundless , yet solemn and beautiful words , full of majesty and dignity ; Avhile to those passing within the massive Avails of its prison-houses , and entering their froAvning doors , clothed with huge fastenings of bar and bolt and chain , ivords seem to be muttered of terror and discouragement such as might have , suggested the line of Dante , —
" Voi che euti'iitc , lasciate ogni spcra-nza . " On the other hand , to tho dwellers in " summer palaces , " the dreamers in the shades of garden pavilions , or the loungers in sparklin g theatres , architecture addresses itself in li g ht and playful phrases , bri ght with the graces of fanciful
ornament and the symbols of quaint and elegant device . Architecture has also its literature : not one of mere letters , yet one engraven like the chronicles of Assyrian kings , upon the Avails of its own . monuments . And it is a literature , not of art alone , but of poetry and history . Yet it is a
literature , whose pages are only intelli g ible to the true devotee . To those only who are endowed either b y nature or study with that refinement of artistic sentiment which Ave call taste , will those pages reveal their full meaning . And these are
comparativel y feAV ; for true tasto is a faculty that emanates from the hi g hest regions of the intellect . " 11 fctut avoir do I'drne pour avoir du govt , " has been truly and poetically said by a French author , and the aphorism is as true as it is poetical . It is , in fact , by "taste" —that delicate feeling which
seeks order , proportion , and fitness in thingsthat man is distinguished from every other livingcreature ; and a great authority , Cicero , has oxpressed this idea Avith his usual neatness and ac * curacy . When speaking of man ' s instinctive search for a law of order and measure for his Avords
and actions , he describes the quality of the thingsought as " quid sit quod deceat , " that which isfitting , an axiom AA'hich applies equally to Avords of art as the moral actions ; and Avhere the poAver to test the presence or absence of this abstract " fit-