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Masonic Portraits. (No. 60.)
MASONIC PORTRAITS . ( No . 60 . )
A BOON COMPANION .
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither , Tf this bo he yon oft havo wish'd to hear from . IN all our experience of works of fiction there is probably no character which has so deeply impressed us with the lifelike nature of its portraiture as that of the immortal Pickwick . He is the embodiment of all that is r / enial and
kind among men . A man of considerable wealth , amassed after long years of steady application , and having apparently no immediate relatives in whose career he could feel or take any interest , ho set himself , while yet in the full vigour of mature manhood , to know something of his
follow men . When starting on his memorable travels , to accomplish this magnanimous purpose , he associated Avith himself not men of his own age , and likely , therefore , to be pretty much of tho samo mode of thinking as himself , but three or four young fellows , to whom , as regards years , it
was possible for him , had he been so minded , to havo stood in loco parentis . With these , who aro as quaintly and humorously drawn as himself , and as true to life , he journeyed about from place to place , mixing in various societies , seeing , after his fashion , a good deal of both the
bright and tho dark sides of human nature , and creating for himself a host of staunch and firm friends , such as even he must have felt proud of . In his more immediate circle we find him not only respected , but beloved . It was no lip-service which was proffered him when occasion
suggested or demanded it . Wherever he went , in whatever he did , all who came in contact with him took as deep an interest in his welfare as in their own affairs , and Pickwick , whether with or without his spectacles and gaiters , at Christmas festivities or at a wedding , at a cricket match
or during an election , in the enjoyment of perfect freedom or in tho Fleet , was the point within the circle towards which all other points gravitated . He , as it were , fascinated the people among whom he moved and bad his being ; with
the hearty geniality and warmth of his kindness , so that old and young and middle-aged alike , the inferior as well as his equal , wero all irresistibly drawn towards him . One short speech of his devoted Sam Weller ' s will servo to show the nature and extent of this wonderful influence
which he exerted over all . It is towards the end of his history , and when he suggests that his faithful servant should marry and leave his service—a proposition which is indignantly repelled in the following words : — " If you vant a more polished sort o' feller , veil and good , havo
him ; but vages or no vages , notice or no notice , board or no board , lodgin' or no lodgin ' , Sam Veller , as you took from the old inn in the Borough , sticks by you , come what como may ; and lot ev ' rythin and ev e rybody do their wery fiercest , nothing shall ever perwent it ! " And then ,
when Mr . Pickwick , as a last resource , points out to Sam that he is bound to consider the young woman also , the reply was instant : " ' I do consider the young ' ooman , sir , ' said Sam , ' I have considered the young ' ooman . I ' ve spoke to her . I ' ve told her how I ' m sifcivated ; she ' s ready to vait
till 1 m ready , and I believe she vill . If she don't , she ' s not the young ' ooman I take her for , and I give her up vith readiness . You ' ve know'd me afore , sir . My mind ' s made up , and nothing can ever alter it . ' " Such a resolution Mr . Pickwick could not combat , and wc read that " he
derived at that moment more pride and luxury of feeling from the disinterested attachment of his humble friend , than ten thousand protestations from the greatest men living conldhave awakened in his breast . " This is only one out of innumerable illustrations to be found in the
Pickwick Papers of the fascination which its hero exercised on all around , and justifies the brief remark Ave made at the outset that in him is concentrated all that is genial and kind in human nature . We have also said that the chief characteristic about his portrait is that it is so entirely
true to the life . Indeed , we can hardly picture to ourselves a social circle which does nofc include among its members one , at least , who may justly be said to belong to the species Pickwick , with his admirable satellites the Winkles , the
Snodgrasses , and the Tnpmans . This is certainly the case in Masonry , where thero is always one who possesses the most eminent qualities of Mr . Pickwick . In fact , in an early number of this journal , one of our contributors sent us a short Masonic poem , entitled " My Brother , " and he
Masonic Portraits. (No. 60.)
portrayed his hero as having both an outward and inward resemblance to Dickens ' s character . " A pleasant man—a venerable fi loin gaiters , spectacles , and glossy tilo ; For whom he meets a kindly word or smile—My Brother !"
and in a footnote appended , he suggests that though Mr . Pickwick was not known to have been a Mason , he was essentially Masonic in feeling and action . There is , in short , no manner of doubt about it . It was impossible for him to stoop to speak ill of his neighbour ; he would as
soon have thought of marrying Mrs . Bardell to save himself from the unjust penalty inflicted in the memorable trial . Then , even in the most lugubrious circumstances he conld be found retaining his natural placidity of demeanour . But chiefly remarkable was ho for the unselfish
desire that others should be happy , and in any way that he thought he could promote their happiness he was ever ready and willing to render service . His care for those in distress was not limited to a few conventional expressions of regret , while even those who had grievously wronged
or offended found him their staunchest friend in adversity . He had his faults , of course . His temperament was sufficiently explosive in its character to have earned for him the cognomen of " Old Fireworks , " and he could sharply rebuke any attempt to ridicule his peculiarities . For
everything that partook of meanness ho had a just and most profound contempt , while he worshipped religiously whatever in human nature was worthy of his praise and admiration . Are there not in tho ranks of Freemasonry many who may bo worthily designated as , in all these particulars ,
the Pickwicks of our Fraternity ?—the men who are in tbe fullest and widest sense of the word charitable ; that is , all kindness and consideration for others ; ever thoughtful
for their good name , while honourably silent as to their failings ; ever readv to avenge themselves on those who have wronged them , by some return of kindness , especially if the wrone'doer has fallen into adverse circumstances ;
and determinedly hostile to whatever is mean and contemptible . One such , at all events , we have the good fortune to number among our friends , and him we present to our readers on this occasion . The details of his career will be brief , for the reason that we have
spoken at greater length than is our wont as to the leading features by which our ideal of him is characterised . Moreover , he is known so well in the Provinces with which he is associated—we have met in Kent , in Middlesex , and in Surrey—as well as in the Metropolitan Lodges which ho
belongs to or visits , that it would appear as though . we were anxious to flatter him unduly if we dwelt too long or circumstantially on his qualities of mind and heart . Turn Ave , therefore , to a sketch of his Masonic history , Avhich , if brief , is , in every respect , creditable to him . He Avas
initiated in the Royal Union Lodge , No . 382 , TJxbridge , in 186 S , and has held in it the important offices of Master and Treasurer . In 1872 he joined the Gooch Lodge , No , 1238 , Avhich meets at Twickenham , and at this moment most Avorthily fills the S . W . ' s chair . In 1874 he became a joining
member of the Royal Alfred Lodge , No . 780 , at KCAV , and in 1875 , Avhen the City of Westminster Lodge , No . 15 G 3 , was consecrated , he joined immediately afterwards , and at the present time holds the minor , but congenial , office of Wine Steward . He is likewise a member of the Earl of
Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 . He is Founder andAvas elected to fill the high position of first Worshipful Master of the Unity Lodge , No . 1687 , Avhich Avas consecrated in October 1876 , and at the conclusion , last autumn , of his year of office , he was presented " Avith a very chaste and elegant
Past Master ' s jeAvol , " Bro . Adams—Avho handed it to him at the request of his successor—remarking , thafc it Avas offered by the members as a token of friendship , and as a slight recognition of the esteem in Avhich he Avas held by the members of the Lodge . At the present time he
combines in his OAvn person the offices of I . P . M . and Treasurer , and Avhen , later in the evening , his health Avas proposed , the W . Master laid especial stress on the services our Avorthy brother had rendered to the Masonic Institutions , and to the heartiness he invariably displayed in
Avhatever related to the Craft . He Avas exalted to the Royal Arch degree in the year 1874 , in the Hermes Chapter , No . 77 , meeting at Gravcsend , and UOAV occupies the chair of
Second Principal ; and in the year fol ' . OAving he joined the Boyal Union Chapter , No . 382 , TJxbridge , of which he has the honour to be J . Thus Ave find that , in the ten years which have elapsed since his initiation into our mysteries
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Portraits. (No. 60.)
MASONIC PORTRAITS . ( No . 60 . )
A BOON COMPANION .
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither , Tf this bo he yon oft havo wish'd to hear from . IN all our experience of works of fiction there is probably no character which has so deeply impressed us with the lifelike nature of its portraiture as that of the immortal Pickwick . He is the embodiment of all that is r / enial and
kind among men . A man of considerable wealth , amassed after long years of steady application , and having apparently no immediate relatives in whose career he could feel or take any interest , ho set himself , while yet in the full vigour of mature manhood , to know something of his
follow men . When starting on his memorable travels , to accomplish this magnanimous purpose , he associated Avith himself not men of his own age , and likely , therefore , to be pretty much of tho samo mode of thinking as himself , but three or four young fellows , to whom , as regards years , it
was possible for him , had he been so minded , to havo stood in loco parentis . With these , who aro as quaintly and humorously drawn as himself , and as true to life , he journeyed about from place to place , mixing in various societies , seeing , after his fashion , a good deal of both the
bright and tho dark sides of human nature , and creating for himself a host of staunch and firm friends , such as even he must have felt proud of . In his more immediate circle we find him not only respected , but beloved . It was no lip-service which was proffered him when occasion
suggested or demanded it . Wherever he went , in whatever he did , all who came in contact with him took as deep an interest in his welfare as in their own affairs , and Pickwick , whether with or without his spectacles and gaiters , at Christmas festivities or at a wedding , at a cricket match
or during an election , in the enjoyment of perfect freedom or in tho Fleet , was the point within the circle towards which all other points gravitated . He , as it were , fascinated the people among whom he moved and bad his being ; with
the hearty geniality and warmth of his kindness , so that old and young and middle-aged alike , the inferior as well as his equal , wero all irresistibly drawn towards him . One short speech of his devoted Sam Weller ' s will servo to show the nature and extent of this wonderful influence
which he exerted over all . It is towards the end of his history , and when he suggests that his faithful servant should marry and leave his service—a proposition which is indignantly repelled in the following words : — " If you vant a more polished sort o' feller , veil and good , havo
him ; but vages or no vages , notice or no notice , board or no board , lodgin' or no lodgin ' , Sam Veller , as you took from the old inn in the Borough , sticks by you , come what como may ; and lot ev ' rythin and ev e rybody do their wery fiercest , nothing shall ever perwent it ! " And then ,
when Mr . Pickwick , as a last resource , points out to Sam that he is bound to consider the young woman also , the reply was instant : " ' I do consider the young ' ooman , sir , ' said Sam , ' I have considered the young ' ooman . I ' ve spoke to her . I ' ve told her how I ' m sifcivated ; she ' s ready to vait
till 1 m ready , and I believe she vill . If she don't , she ' s not the young ' ooman I take her for , and I give her up vith readiness . You ' ve know'd me afore , sir . My mind ' s made up , and nothing can ever alter it . ' " Such a resolution Mr . Pickwick could not combat , and wc read that " he
derived at that moment more pride and luxury of feeling from the disinterested attachment of his humble friend , than ten thousand protestations from the greatest men living conldhave awakened in his breast . " This is only one out of innumerable illustrations to be found in the
Pickwick Papers of the fascination which its hero exercised on all around , and justifies the brief remark Ave made at the outset that in him is concentrated all that is genial and kind in human nature . We have also said that the chief characteristic about his portrait is that it is so entirely
true to the life . Indeed , we can hardly picture to ourselves a social circle which does nofc include among its members one , at least , who may justly be said to belong to the species Pickwick , with his admirable satellites the Winkles , the
Snodgrasses , and the Tnpmans . This is certainly the case in Masonry , where thero is always one who possesses the most eminent qualities of Mr . Pickwick . In fact , in an early number of this journal , one of our contributors sent us a short Masonic poem , entitled " My Brother , " and he
Masonic Portraits. (No. 60.)
portrayed his hero as having both an outward and inward resemblance to Dickens ' s character . " A pleasant man—a venerable fi loin gaiters , spectacles , and glossy tilo ; For whom he meets a kindly word or smile—My Brother !"
and in a footnote appended , he suggests that though Mr . Pickwick was not known to have been a Mason , he was essentially Masonic in feeling and action . There is , in short , no manner of doubt about it . It was impossible for him to stoop to speak ill of his neighbour ; he would as
soon have thought of marrying Mrs . Bardell to save himself from the unjust penalty inflicted in the memorable trial . Then , even in the most lugubrious circumstances he conld be found retaining his natural placidity of demeanour . But chiefly remarkable was ho for the unselfish
desire that others should be happy , and in any way that he thought he could promote their happiness he was ever ready and willing to render service . His care for those in distress was not limited to a few conventional expressions of regret , while even those who had grievously wronged
or offended found him their staunchest friend in adversity . He had his faults , of course . His temperament was sufficiently explosive in its character to have earned for him the cognomen of " Old Fireworks , " and he could sharply rebuke any attempt to ridicule his peculiarities . For
everything that partook of meanness ho had a just and most profound contempt , while he worshipped religiously whatever in human nature was worthy of his praise and admiration . Are there not in tho ranks of Freemasonry many who may bo worthily designated as , in all these particulars ,
the Pickwicks of our Fraternity ?—the men who are in tbe fullest and widest sense of the word charitable ; that is , all kindness and consideration for others ; ever thoughtful
for their good name , while honourably silent as to their failings ; ever readv to avenge themselves on those who have wronged them , by some return of kindness , especially if the wrone'doer has fallen into adverse circumstances ;
and determinedly hostile to whatever is mean and contemptible . One such , at all events , we have the good fortune to number among our friends , and him we present to our readers on this occasion . The details of his career will be brief , for the reason that we have
spoken at greater length than is our wont as to the leading features by which our ideal of him is characterised . Moreover , he is known so well in the Provinces with which he is associated—we have met in Kent , in Middlesex , and in Surrey—as well as in the Metropolitan Lodges which ho
belongs to or visits , that it would appear as though . we were anxious to flatter him unduly if we dwelt too long or circumstantially on his qualities of mind and heart . Turn Ave , therefore , to a sketch of his Masonic history , Avhich , if brief , is , in every respect , creditable to him . He Avas
initiated in the Royal Union Lodge , No . 382 , TJxbridge , in 186 S , and has held in it the important offices of Master and Treasurer . In 1872 he joined the Gooch Lodge , No , 1238 , Avhich meets at Twickenham , and at this moment most Avorthily fills the S . W . ' s chair . In 1874 he became a joining
member of the Royal Alfred Lodge , No . 780 , at KCAV , and in 1875 , Avhen the City of Westminster Lodge , No . 15 G 3 , was consecrated , he joined immediately afterwards , and at the present time holds the minor , but congenial , office of Wine Steward . He is likewise a member of the Earl of
Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 . He is Founder andAvas elected to fill the high position of first Worshipful Master of the Unity Lodge , No . 1687 , Avhich Avas consecrated in October 1876 , and at the conclusion , last autumn , of his year of office , he was presented " Avith a very chaste and elegant
Past Master ' s jeAvol , " Bro . Adams—Avho handed it to him at the request of his successor—remarking , thafc it Avas offered by the members as a token of friendship , and as a slight recognition of the esteem in Avhich he Avas held by the members of the Lodge . At the present time he
combines in his OAvn person the offices of I . P . M . and Treasurer , and Avhen , later in the evening , his health Avas proposed , the W . Master laid especial stress on the services our Avorthy brother had rendered to the Masonic Institutions , and to the heartiness he invariably displayed in
Avhatever related to the Craft . He Avas exalted to the Royal Arch degree in the year 1874 , in the Hermes Chapter , No . 77 , meeting at Gravcsend , and UOAV occupies the chair of
Second Principal ; and in the year fol ' . OAving he joined the Boyal Union Chapter , No . 382 , TJxbridge , of which he has the honour to be J . Thus Ave find that , in the ten years which have elapsed since his initiation into our mysteries