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Article (No. 7).—THE MASONIC TEMPLE, ST. HELIER. ← Page 4 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
(No. 7).—The Masonic Temple, St. Helier.
Bart ., when Governor , was one of the first to support this charity by investing in the capital of the company for it . The fund was also largely increased by the holding of a bazaar in December , 1865 , at which the ladies rendered their usual
¦ effective assistance . The Temple contains an organ , which , we are informed , is a very fine instrument , but unhappily it is seldom used . It is what some people would -call " a burning shame " to see this organ
standing unused at lodge meetings ; but we fear that some brethren in the island do not appreciate the advantages they possess in the beauty and conveniences of the Temple . It is characteristic of a certain class of minds to depreciate whatever they
obtain easily ; but if there are such brethren in Jersey , a few months' experience of the difficulties that many English lodges have to contend with would decidedly alter their ideas . The wall of the Temple are adorned with
portrait paintings of many distinguished brethren , of which we shall have something to say in another ^ article .
The Craft is very fortunate in having a most excellent Curator in charge of the Temple . We allude to Bro . W . H . Long , W . M . of St . Aubin's Lodge , and P . Prov . G . S . B ., who resides in the private apartments , and is always ready to accord
visiting brethren every courtesy . We were indebted to Bro . Albert Schmitt , Hon . Sec , for the present of an interesting memento of the Temple and of our Jersey brethren in the shape of a large lithographic sheet , which was issued at the time of the bazaar iu
December , 1865 . Here we find Father Christmas decked out iu Masonic costume , and wielding the traditional gridiron and poker , ready to brand and broil candidates for initiation to the Craft . Two persons with assinine characteristics are discussing
the secrets of the Order , which they fancy they have discovered in a book ; a daughter of Eve , worthy of her descent , is peeping through a keyhole in the hope of emulating the celebrated Miss St . Leger ; a Jack Tar and a Red Indian are
exchanging the sign recommended in one of Captain Marryatt's novels by placing the thumb at the end of the nose and extending the fingers ; a doleful widow and two sad-looking children are appropriately seeking relief ; a string of representatives
of various nations are either fraternally dancing or singing the "Entered Apprentice ' s Song , " while underneath are portraits of some thirty of
the Jersey brethren , with the Grand Master in the centre . To add to the grotesqueness of the whole one eminent brother is represented as almost overpowered by the weig ht of an immense trowel which he bears , while another musical brother is exercising his abilities on one of those
machineswhich Bro . Bass , M . P ., has been unable to suppress—a barrel organ . The position of Grand Master of Jersey , possessing as the province does so noble a Temple , is one of great importance , and whoever may be
appointed to the high office ought to be imbued with a becoming sense of the rauk he holds . If the Grand Master should prove to be a gentleman of wealth he would do well not only to maintain the Grand Lodge meetings with due splendour ,
but also to invite the whole of the brethren of the province to an occasional conversazione at the Temple so as to bind them closer together . Many brethren on joining the Order are most anxious for information respecting the history ,
antiquities , and character of Freemasonry ; and if some of the more talented brethren were to prepare popular lectures on those topics for delivery in the Temple , we cannot but believe great good would be done . In fact , there ought to be in
Jersey such a " Masonic Archaeological Institute " as Bro . Hyde Clarke is projecting for London .
The Masonic Temple Company issues one pound bank notes representing money deposited with the company . Under the laws of the States of Jersey there are none of the restrictions as to banking which exist in England , and consequently
any man or body of men may put notes in circulation provided they can get any one to take them . The notes of the Temple Company—of which a specimen was kindly presented to us—are very beautifully executed from designs of Bro . William
Adams . On tbe left hand corner there is an engraving of the Temple , which is the only one which has yet been published . In the Temple are engraved portraits of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , Lord Zetland ,
Bro . the late Lord Dalhouse , and others , as well as a statuette of Lord Zetland . There is also a caligraphic portrait of the late Duke of Sussex , and two engraved portraits of Mrs . Aldworth , previously Miss St . Leger , the " female Freemason . " One
of the portraits of Miss St . Leger is accompanied by a memoir , and they are both interesting , especially as the existence of this lady has been pro-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
(No. 7).—The Masonic Temple, St. Helier.
Bart ., when Governor , was one of the first to support this charity by investing in the capital of the company for it . The fund was also largely increased by the holding of a bazaar in December , 1865 , at which the ladies rendered their usual
¦ effective assistance . The Temple contains an organ , which , we are informed , is a very fine instrument , but unhappily it is seldom used . It is what some people would -call " a burning shame " to see this organ
standing unused at lodge meetings ; but we fear that some brethren in the island do not appreciate the advantages they possess in the beauty and conveniences of the Temple . It is characteristic of a certain class of minds to depreciate whatever they
obtain easily ; but if there are such brethren in Jersey , a few months' experience of the difficulties that many English lodges have to contend with would decidedly alter their ideas . The wall of the Temple are adorned with
portrait paintings of many distinguished brethren , of which we shall have something to say in another ^ article .
The Craft is very fortunate in having a most excellent Curator in charge of the Temple . We allude to Bro . W . H . Long , W . M . of St . Aubin's Lodge , and P . Prov . G . S . B ., who resides in the private apartments , and is always ready to accord
visiting brethren every courtesy . We were indebted to Bro . Albert Schmitt , Hon . Sec , for the present of an interesting memento of the Temple and of our Jersey brethren in the shape of a large lithographic sheet , which was issued at the time of the bazaar iu
December , 1865 . Here we find Father Christmas decked out iu Masonic costume , and wielding the traditional gridiron and poker , ready to brand and broil candidates for initiation to the Craft . Two persons with assinine characteristics are discussing
the secrets of the Order , which they fancy they have discovered in a book ; a daughter of Eve , worthy of her descent , is peeping through a keyhole in the hope of emulating the celebrated Miss St . Leger ; a Jack Tar and a Red Indian are
exchanging the sign recommended in one of Captain Marryatt's novels by placing the thumb at the end of the nose and extending the fingers ; a doleful widow and two sad-looking children are appropriately seeking relief ; a string of representatives
of various nations are either fraternally dancing or singing the "Entered Apprentice ' s Song , " while underneath are portraits of some thirty of
the Jersey brethren , with the Grand Master in the centre . To add to the grotesqueness of the whole one eminent brother is represented as almost overpowered by the weig ht of an immense trowel which he bears , while another musical brother is exercising his abilities on one of those
machineswhich Bro . Bass , M . P ., has been unable to suppress—a barrel organ . The position of Grand Master of Jersey , possessing as the province does so noble a Temple , is one of great importance , and whoever may be
appointed to the high office ought to be imbued with a becoming sense of the rauk he holds . If the Grand Master should prove to be a gentleman of wealth he would do well not only to maintain the Grand Lodge meetings with due splendour ,
but also to invite the whole of the brethren of the province to an occasional conversazione at the Temple so as to bind them closer together . Many brethren on joining the Order are most anxious for information respecting the history ,
antiquities , and character of Freemasonry ; and if some of the more talented brethren were to prepare popular lectures on those topics for delivery in the Temple , we cannot but believe great good would be done . In fact , there ought to be in
Jersey such a " Masonic Archaeological Institute " as Bro . Hyde Clarke is projecting for London .
The Masonic Temple Company issues one pound bank notes representing money deposited with the company . Under the laws of the States of Jersey there are none of the restrictions as to banking which exist in England , and consequently
any man or body of men may put notes in circulation provided they can get any one to take them . The notes of the Temple Company—of which a specimen was kindly presented to us—are very beautifully executed from designs of Bro . William
Adams . On tbe left hand corner there is an engraving of the Temple , which is the only one which has yet been published . In the Temple are engraved portraits of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , Lord Zetland ,
Bro . the late Lord Dalhouse , and others , as well as a statuette of Lord Zetland . There is also a caligraphic portrait of the late Duke of Sussex , and two engraved portraits of Mrs . Aldworth , previously Miss St . Leger , the " female Freemason . " One
of the portraits of Miss St . Leger is accompanied by a memoir , and they are both interesting , especially as the existence of this lady has been pro-