-
Articles/Ads
Article CONTINENTAL FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Continental Freemasonry.
CONTINENTAL EBEEMASONRY .
BY BBO . THE KEY . J . G . WOOD , M . A ., F . L . S ., & c „ { Continued from p . 140 . )
I have had the pleasure of seeing performances of all three degrees in Paris , together with that of the Royal Arch , and have found much instruction in comparing them with the mode of working which is used at present in England . As Lobserved in my last paper on this subject , there is much that we may advantageously copy , while there is more that we should scrupulously avoid .
How can I tell the things which I saw there ?„ I cannot describe them , as so doing would violate every principle of honour , although the greater part of the ceremonies might be put on paper without the slightest fear of disclosing any Masonic secret . Perhaps Brethren may understand me when I say that everything which we symbolize is there enacted in reality . I have often felt most thankful that I was an Englishman , but I never felt more inclined to do so than
when witnessing the introduction of a Erench candidate into Ereemasonry . The ordeal through which that persecuted individual went was trying in the extreme , while every sense was in its turn subjected to proof . By the way , the candidate whom I first saw initiated was an American , and the difficulty of the matter was much increased by his imperfect acquaintance with the Erench language . But , before I commence my description of proceedings within the Lodge , I will first tell our Brethren how we got there .
On the evening appointed , we made our way there , and stumbled into the gateway of No . 35 , Hue Grenelle , St . Honore , with surprisingly few mistakes , and , being stopped by the concierge , now in all the glory of blue and silver collar , were conducted by him into his private apartment , where we were instructed to robe . Here the concierge and another T . C . E ., whom curiosity had led there , were overwhelmed with awe and amazement at our full dress Prov . Grand
clothing . How they held up their wondering hands , shrugged their eloquent shoulders , and evoked showers of guttural r r r r ' s , cannot be adequately described . Even their feminine relatives timidly peeped round the corner , and at last came boldly into the room , to have a good look at the wonderful freres Strangers , with their superb ornaments . Apron , collar , jewels , each elicited marks of approbation as
they were withdrawn from their box ; but the crowning hit of all was achieved by the resplendent gauntlets , with their glittering circle , acacia branch , ear of wheat , and emblem in the centre . The spectators evidently thought that the white gloves were the termination of our toilet , so that when the gauntlets were superinduced , their politeness
could restrain them no longer , and they broke out into an ebullition of rapid exclamations that amused us exceedingly . We could hear the burring of the r r ' s after we had mounted to the first floor , and had been ushered into a square room , in which we were instructed to wait until we could be admitted into the Lodge-room itself .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Continental Freemasonry.
CONTINENTAL EBEEMASONRY .
BY BBO . THE KEY . J . G . WOOD , M . A ., F . L . S ., & c „ { Continued from p . 140 . )
I have had the pleasure of seeing performances of all three degrees in Paris , together with that of the Royal Arch , and have found much instruction in comparing them with the mode of working which is used at present in England . As Lobserved in my last paper on this subject , there is much that we may advantageously copy , while there is more that we should scrupulously avoid .
How can I tell the things which I saw there ?„ I cannot describe them , as so doing would violate every principle of honour , although the greater part of the ceremonies might be put on paper without the slightest fear of disclosing any Masonic secret . Perhaps Brethren may understand me when I say that everything which we symbolize is there enacted in reality . I have often felt most thankful that I was an Englishman , but I never felt more inclined to do so than
when witnessing the introduction of a Erench candidate into Ereemasonry . The ordeal through which that persecuted individual went was trying in the extreme , while every sense was in its turn subjected to proof . By the way , the candidate whom I first saw initiated was an American , and the difficulty of the matter was much increased by his imperfect acquaintance with the Erench language . But , before I commence my description of proceedings within the Lodge , I will first tell our Brethren how we got there .
On the evening appointed , we made our way there , and stumbled into the gateway of No . 35 , Hue Grenelle , St . Honore , with surprisingly few mistakes , and , being stopped by the concierge , now in all the glory of blue and silver collar , were conducted by him into his private apartment , where we were instructed to robe . Here the concierge and another T . C . E ., whom curiosity had led there , were overwhelmed with awe and amazement at our full dress Prov . Grand
clothing . How they held up their wondering hands , shrugged their eloquent shoulders , and evoked showers of guttural r r r r ' s , cannot be adequately described . Even their feminine relatives timidly peeped round the corner , and at last came boldly into the room , to have a good look at the wonderful freres Strangers , with their superb ornaments . Apron , collar , jewels , each elicited marks of approbation as
they were withdrawn from their box ; but the crowning hit of all was achieved by the resplendent gauntlets , with their glittering circle , acacia branch , ear of wheat , and emblem in the centre . The spectators evidently thought that the white gloves were the termination of our toilet , so that when the gauntlets were superinduced , their politeness
could restrain them no longer , and they broke out into an ebullition of rapid exclamations that amused us exceedingly . We could hear the burring of the r r ' s after we had mounted to the first floor , and had been ushered into a square room , in which we were instructed to wait until we could be admitted into the Lodge-room itself .