Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In South Wales. By Bro. J. C. Manning.
going to disclose " the secrets of the mystic organization to Avhich you and I feel proud to belong . I have too solemn a recollection of a dark chamber in which I tremblingly stood long ago in the far past ; and the solemnity deepens as I remember
how , from the black stillness , peals of mournful music fell upon my ear in sacred harmony , and how , as the last peal died away , an earnest , manly voice , tremulous in its deep-toned sonorousness , gave out the dread alternative that sealed my lips for ever save to brotherly converse , and left my heart to throb with its latest beat for the noble
system of religion I had that night solemnly espoused . No , my brother : do not fear for Masonry from me . I love it too dearly to depreciate it , and would not so much as breathe upon the fair sui'face of our Craft , to tarnish , but for an
instant , its brightness , or moderate by a degree its beauty ; or , its worth by words of indiscretion . It takes its stand upon the Book of books ; and , like a tree that puts forth its foliage in the fulness of joy , it clothes itself with the bright blossoms of
Truth , propounded by the Preacher of Galilee , and , looking upwards always , yearns toAvards the light as the sole and glorious attribute of the Great Architect of the Universe , whom all are taught to
revere . Then come along with me , and I will give you a peep into a Freemason ' s lodge . Yon find yourself in the principal entrance to the Mackworth Hotel , at Swansea ; and as you pass by the bar to
the right , you cannot help fancying that that same bar looks like an uncommonl y big glass case , the purpose of which is not made at all apparent in the daytime , except it be to display to advantage the pair of bright eyes and rosy cheeks that I see
bending over a ledger inside , and which , —the eyes , not the ledger—I suppose , are searching out the items that are to make up the bill of " number 14 , " or some other number between one and fifty , of the commercial travellers Avho daily make this
comfortable and hi gh-class hostelry their home . The life of a " commercial" must be a jolly life ; and oh ! for the special privilege of strollin g in and lounging about that uncommonl y big glass case , when a good fat order-sheet has just been
despatched to " the house , " when a bulky draft at sight is known to be on its way in the same direction , and Avhen all is made taut for the ni ght . Jolly prospect !
Straight along the tesselated corridor , up a flight of steps , and along a gallery that forms the end of a quadrangular space , with roof of glass , and then halt before the door of the ball-room . Entering the spacious room , you see a door near
you to the right . . That is the entrance to the Talbot Lodge , No . 1 , 323 . It is a new Masonic lodge , a centenarian seedling from the old , old plant that has flourished for a century , and still flourishes within a few
hundred yards of the spot on which you stand . Beyond that door is a suite of rooms that have been built by the proprietor of the Mackworth Hotel , who in this , as in other things , has evinced a liberal and enterprising spirit that deserves its
reward . Don ' t be afraid ; walk in . This is only the shell—the kernel has to come . This is only the anatomy of a Freemason ' s lodge— 'the breath of Masonic life has yet to be breathed into it . Just a week 01 two more , and then .
This is the robing-room . No ! We don't wear wigs ; nor do Ave clothe ourselves in useless fal-derals ( whatever these may be ); nor make guys of ourselves . Our robes are what they are , and this is the robing-room . It is 22 ft . by 15 ft ., and 16 ft .
high . Bound the walls are hat and cloak pegs , and on the south side is a large counter or sideboard , with drawers , for the convenience of members . No ! Not to stow themselves away in , my sacarstic friend . There is no treason in a
Freemason's Lodge ; and hiding away from the police is an occupation unknown there . The drawers have a purpose ; but no matter . Pass on . From this room you pass through folding doors covered with red baize , into a spacious corridor or
vestibule , out of which , to the right , opens the Tyler's room , or preparing room for candidates . This room is 19 ft . by 12 ft ., and 16 ft . high , suitable not only for the preparation of candidates , but for private meetings and committees . Yes , my
forthcoming brother , free from the banter of older heads in the Craft , you can go through your first ordeal in comparative comfort in this room , and nobody but yourself and the good-natured Tyler ( I have the late poor , old , honest-hearted Probetfc
in my mind ' s eye ) will be the witn esses of the humiliating pass in which you all at once find yourself . Red-hot poker , my suggestive friend ? Nothing of the kind ! The gridiron then ? Worse and worse ! No , sir ; dont let such nonsense enter your head for a moment . Masonry is far
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In South Wales. By Bro. J. C. Manning.
going to disclose " the secrets of the mystic organization to Avhich you and I feel proud to belong . I have too solemn a recollection of a dark chamber in which I tremblingly stood long ago in the far past ; and the solemnity deepens as I remember
how , from the black stillness , peals of mournful music fell upon my ear in sacred harmony , and how , as the last peal died away , an earnest , manly voice , tremulous in its deep-toned sonorousness , gave out the dread alternative that sealed my lips for ever save to brotherly converse , and left my heart to throb with its latest beat for the noble
system of religion I had that night solemnly espoused . No , my brother : do not fear for Masonry from me . I love it too dearly to depreciate it , and would not so much as breathe upon the fair sui'face of our Craft , to tarnish , but for an
instant , its brightness , or moderate by a degree its beauty ; or , its worth by words of indiscretion . It takes its stand upon the Book of books ; and , like a tree that puts forth its foliage in the fulness of joy , it clothes itself with the bright blossoms of
Truth , propounded by the Preacher of Galilee , and , looking upwards always , yearns toAvards the light as the sole and glorious attribute of the Great Architect of the Universe , whom all are taught to
revere . Then come along with me , and I will give you a peep into a Freemason ' s lodge . Yon find yourself in the principal entrance to the Mackworth Hotel , at Swansea ; and as you pass by the bar to
the right , you cannot help fancying that that same bar looks like an uncommonl y big glass case , the purpose of which is not made at all apparent in the daytime , except it be to display to advantage the pair of bright eyes and rosy cheeks that I see
bending over a ledger inside , and which , —the eyes , not the ledger—I suppose , are searching out the items that are to make up the bill of " number 14 , " or some other number between one and fifty , of the commercial travellers Avho daily make this
comfortable and hi gh-class hostelry their home . The life of a " commercial" must be a jolly life ; and oh ! for the special privilege of strollin g in and lounging about that uncommonl y big glass case , when a good fat order-sheet has just been
despatched to " the house , " when a bulky draft at sight is known to be on its way in the same direction , and Avhen all is made taut for the ni ght . Jolly prospect !
Straight along the tesselated corridor , up a flight of steps , and along a gallery that forms the end of a quadrangular space , with roof of glass , and then halt before the door of the ball-room . Entering the spacious room , you see a door near
you to the right . . That is the entrance to the Talbot Lodge , No . 1 , 323 . It is a new Masonic lodge , a centenarian seedling from the old , old plant that has flourished for a century , and still flourishes within a few
hundred yards of the spot on which you stand . Beyond that door is a suite of rooms that have been built by the proprietor of the Mackworth Hotel , who in this , as in other things , has evinced a liberal and enterprising spirit that deserves its
reward . Don ' t be afraid ; walk in . This is only the shell—the kernel has to come . This is only the anatomy of a Freemason ' s lodge— 'the breath of Masonic life has yet to be breathed into it . Just a week 01 two more , and then .
This is the robing-room . No ! We don't wear wigs ; nor do Ave clothe ourselves in useless fal-derals ( whatever these may be ); nor make guys of ourselves . Our robes are what they are , and this is the robing-room . It is 22 ft . by 15 ft ., and 16 ft .
high . Bound the walls are hat and cloak pegs , and on the south side is a large counter or sideboard , with drawers , for the convenience of members . No ! Not to stow themselves away in , my sacarstic friend . There is no treason in a
Freemason's Lodge ; and hiding away from the police is an occupation unknown there . The drawers have a purpose ; but no matter . Pass on . From this room you pass through folding doors covered with red baize , into a spacious corridor or
vestibule , out of which , to the right , opens the Tyler's room , or preparing room for candidates . This room is 19 ft . by 12 ft ., and 16 ft . high , suitable not only for the preparation of candidates , but for private meetings and committees . Yes , my
forthcoming brother , free from the banter of older heads in the Craft , you can go through your first ordeal in comparative comfort in this room , and nobody but yourself and the good-natured Tyler ( I have the late poor , old , honest-hearted Probetfc
in my mind ' s eye ) will be the witn esses of the humiliating pass in which you all at once find yourself . Red-hot poker , my suggestive friend ? Nothing of the kind ! The gridiron then ? Worse and worse ! No , sir ; dont let such nonsense enter your head for a moment . Masonry is far