-
Articles/Ads
Article BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EMINENT (DECEAS... ← Page 10 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Biographical Sketches Of Eminent (Deceas...
were men of singular simplicity ; and here , perhaps , an anecdote of Charles may not ibe out of place . He especially prided himself upon making a bow , and would practise before a glass , while giving lessons to a favourite pupil , suddenly exclaiming , " I say ! don't you
think that will do for his Majesty ? " Now , George IV ., when Prince Regent , sent for Charles to play to him , and when he arrived at Carlton House , Sir Benjamin Bloomfield , no friend to the worthy musician , knowing he was short-sighted / had him shown through a suite of rooms , in one of which there were 3 , number of life-size figures of Chinese mandarins , whose heads , put in motion , were constantly
nodding in a dignified manner . When Charles came to this apartment the wicked equerry had set them all nodding ; and our simpleminded , precise musician , made his best bows , right and left , and was a long time before he reached the prince , who was waiting for him . When he heard ofthe impudent trick put upon his visitor , and that visitor a man of undoubted talent , he so severely rebuked the author of the hoax that he is said never to have forgotten it .
Our late Brother Wesley is , besides his being a genius , a person of some importance in the annals of the Order . He was initiated into Masonry in the Lodge of Antiquity , ( then reckoned No . 1 ) , on the 17 th of December , 1788 , and in his declaration stated himself twenty-three years of age . He was , of course , a welcome visitor , if not a member , of other Lodges , and we know that he composed many glees , & c ,
particularly for the Somerset House Lodge , which , at one time , possessed the most valuable library of music of any Lodge in the Craft—but which music , we hear , has been lent , lost , and strayed , until there is but a shadow of its original possessions left . The first appearance of our Bro . Wesley ' s name is , on the occasion of the annual
Grand Feast , held on the 13 th of May , 1812 , when the M . W . G . M . His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex created the office of Grand-Organist , and appointed as the first of that series of officers , the first organist in talent that this country ever produced . And we have been fortunate enough to discover the annexed correspondence , which we add , to show in what estimation he was held at the time ofthe most
solemn occasion known to Fremasonry in the beginning of the presen t century . [ 21 Deer . 1813 . ] " My Dear N . " Tuesday Morning . " I know your readiness to adopt the gospel advice of lifting " an Ass out ofthe Pit , " whether on a Sabbath or on an Xmas day . I am in considerable Distress at this moment for want of time to compleat a
new MS . Avhich must appear from the mouths of sundry musicianers next Monday , Avhich is the Day of the Solemn Meeting of Reconciliation between the antient & modern Free Masons , & for which , I have , by Command of the R . W . M . the Duke of Sussex , half composed an Anthem : but it will be impossible for me to finish the Chorus Parts without the Charitable assistance of some kind Christian or Jew ( for 1 am not particular as to Preference , excepting where the Transcript is concerned ) . Can you help me V I could
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Biographical Sketches Of Eminent (Deceas...
were men of singular simplicity ; and here , perhaps , an anecdote of Charles may not ibe out of place . He especially prided himself upon making a bow , and would practise before a glass , while giving lessons to a favourite pupil , suddenly exclaiming , " I say ! don't you
think that will do for his Majesty ? " Now , George IV ., when Prince Regent , sent for Charles to play to him , and when he arrived at Carlton House , Sir Benjamin Bloomfield , no friend to the worthy musician , knowing he was short-sighted / had him shown through a suite of rooms , in one of which there were 3 , number of life-size figures of Chinese mandarins , whose heads , put in motion , were constantly
nodding in a dignified manner . When Charles came to this apartment the wicked equerry had set them all nodding ; and our simpleminded , precise musician , made his best bows , right and left , and was a long time before he reached the prince , who was waiting for him . When he heard ofthe impudent trick put upon his visitor , and that visitor a man of undoubted talent , he so severely rebuked the author of the hoax that he is said never to have forgotten it .
Our late Brother Wesley is , besides his being a genius , a person of some importance in the annals of the Order . He was initiated into Masonry in the Lodge of Antiquity , ( then reckoned No . 1 ) , on the 17 th of December , 1788 , and in his declaration stated himself twenty-three years of age . He was , of course , a welcome visitor , if not a member , of other Lodges , and we know that he composed many glees , & c ,
particularly for the Somerset House Lodge , which , at one time , possessed the most valuable library of music of any Lodge in the Craft—but which music , we hear , has been lent , lost , and strayed , until there is but a shadow of its original possessions left . The first appearance of our Bro . Wesley ' s name is , on the occasion of the annual
Grand Feast , held on the 13 th of May , 1812 , when the M . W . G . M . His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex created the office of Grand-Organist , and appointed as the first of that series of officers , the first organist in talent that this country ever produced . And we have been fortunate enough to discover the annexed correspondence , which we add , to show in what estimation he was held at the time ofthe most
solemn occasion known to Fremasonry in the beginning of the presen t century . [ 21 Deer . 1813 . ] " My Dear N . " Tuesday Morning . " I know your readiness to adopt the gospel advice of lifting " an Ass out ofthe Pit , " whether on a Sabbath or on an Xmas day . I am in considerable Distress at this moment for want of time to compleat a
new MS . Avhich must appear from the mouths of sundry musicianers next Monday , Avhich is the Day of the Solemn Meeting of Reconciliation between the antient & modern Free Masons , & for which , I have , by Command of the R . W . M . the Duke of Sussex , half composed an Anthem : but it will be impossible for me to finish the Chorus Parts without the Charitable assistance of some kind Christian or Jew ( for 1 am not particular as to Preference , excepting where the Transcript is concerned ) . Can you help me V I could