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Article THE GRAND PORTER. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Porter.
Few that frequented tbe Masonic portal during tbe past twenty years need be reminded how , after skipping or hobbling up ( as the case permitted ) the steps , the door opened—not because you knocked thereatbut because your own countenance conveyed the magic " sesame . " You entered , and had you not turned back , would not have known the door to have opened by other hand than that of gnome or fairy . Thousands haveprobablnever ventured to explore the wonderful mechanism by
, y , which this philosophical apparatus was worked . He that did turn , however , saw not the Cerberus of Acheron , but the " Grand Porter" on his throne , in full state , his left arm resting on a mahogany slab , and around his right member wound a ribbon , attached to tbe door . The practised eye of this potentate worked this wonder ; it was not needed to move his corpus ; the organ of vision , by an instinct peculiarl y his own , conveyed by vibration the necessary movement to the armand—the door
, opened ! Still , occasionally the eye became weary ; but what then ? another sense quickly assumed its office , and the ear acted for the eyestart not , we bave often passed tbe dignitary as be slept , yet paused not in his duty—the ear heard , although the eye saw not—the door opened ! Wonderful man ! Wonderful Grand Porter ! what a moral didst thou not convey ! This officer usually wore his crown , or cap-peculiar ; his robe , or surtoutwas of bluebuttons of the royal colour ; his cheeks
, , plump and ruddy ; stature tall ; be was portly , and waddled somewhat in his gait when he did walk , which was but seldom . Could you pass him unobserved ? No , indeed ! If he knew you , he ivould sonorously say , " C-r-o-w-n , C-o-m-m-i-t-t-e R-o-o-m , or D-i-n-i-n-g R-o-o-m ;" and the same would happen were he even asleep , for his mental vision
enabled him to do what even other Masonic potentates could not—the Grand Porter could work and sleep . When first the late Grand Porter ascended his throne , it was of humbler material—a mere stool , placed behind tbe door ; but in time , as he fattened thereon , through want of exercise , unless indeed by the gentle exertion of the ribbon , a niche was excavated in the wall , at length , however , it was necessary to excavate further , and something like a throne
dawned upon the gratified Grand Porter . As the executive duties of his office became more numerous , be could not even spare time to eat bis dinner elsewhere than on his throne . Lo ! at length , on the slab on which his left arm would rest , there appeared , as mystically as regularly , something of tbe best , and always of the season , to regale his palate . Small drawers were neatly made to contain every needful article . The reader may smilebut the Grand Porterin the entire observance of the
, , gastronomic art , performed his operative duty with decorum—there was no vulgarity—nothing common about the repast ; the Grand Master might have envied tbe clotb , tbe creature comforts , tbe tankard , tbe glass , but above all the appetite and digestion of the Grand Porter . The Grand Porter also might be envied for another power—he , unlike some other dignitaries , could always change a sovereign—a duty he was often called upon to perform .
Recently , however , on entering , as usual , we saw , or thought some change was observable in the person of the Grand Porter ; there was the crown , or cap-peculiar—the regal coat and buttons—but we fancied the portliness of our old friend bad somewhat lessened ; we took a second look—it was not he—what had happened ? The Grand Porter had succeeded to a small annuity , sufficient to meet his moderate wants , and which annuity at his death lapses into some charity . Before , however ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Porter.
Few that frequented tbe Masonic portal during tbe past twenty years need be reminded how , after skipping or hobbling up ( as the case permitted ) the steps , the door opened—not because you knocked thereatbut because your own countenance conveyed the magic " sesame . " You entered , and had you not turned back , would not have known the door to have opened by other hand than that of gnome or fairy . Thousands haveprobablnever ventured to explore the wonderful mechanism by
, y , which this philosophical apparatus was worked . He that did turn , however , saw not the Cerberus of Acheron , but the " Grand Porter" on his throne , in full state , his left arm resting on a mahogany slab , and around his right member wound a ribbon , attached to tbe door . The practised eye of this potentate worked this wonder ; it was not needed to move his corpus ; the organ of vision , by an instinct peculiarl y his own , conveyed by vibration the necessary movement to the armand—the door
, opened ! Still , occasionally the eye became weary ; but what then ? another sense quickly assumed its office , and the ear acted for the eyestart not , we bave often passed tbe dignitary as be slept , yet paused not in his duty—the ear heard , although the eye saw not—the door opened ! Wonderful man ! Wonderful Grand Porter ! what a moral didst thou not convey ! This officer usually wore his crown , or cap-peculiar ; his robe , or surtoutwas of bluebuttons of the royal colour ; his cheeks
, , plump and ruddy ; stature tall ; be was portly , and waddled somewhat in his gait when he did walk , which was but seldom . Could you pass him unobserved ? No , indeed ! If he knew you , he ivould sonorously say , " C-r-o-w-n , C-o-m-m-i-t-t-e R-o-o-m , or D-i-n-i-n-g R-o-o-m ;" and the same would happen were he even asleep , for his mental vision
enabled him to do what even other Masonic potentates could not—the Grand Porter could work and sleep . When first the late Grand Porter ascended his throne , it was of humbler material—a mere stool , placed behind tbe door ; but in time , as he fattened thereon , through want of exercise , unless indeed by the gentle exertion of the ribbon , a niche was excavated in the wall , at length , however , it was necessary to excavate further , and something like a throne
dawned upon the gratified Grand Porter . As the executive duties of his office became more numerous , be could not even spare time to eat bis dinner elsewhere than on his throne . Lo ! at length , on the slab on which his left arm would rest , there appeared , as mystically as regularly , something of tbe best , and always of the season , to regale his palate . Small drawers were neatly made to contain every needful article . The reader may smilebut the Grand Porterin the entire observance of the
, , gastronomic art , performed his operative duty with decorum—there was no vulgarity—nothing common about the repast ; the Grand Master might have envied tbe clotb , tbe creature comforts , tbe tankard , tbe glass , but above all the appetite and digestion of the Grand Porter . The Grand Porter also might be envied for another power—he , unlike some other dignitaries , could always change a sovereign—a duty he was often called upon to perform .
Recently , however , on entering , as usual , we saw , or thought some change was observable in the person of the Grand Porter ; there was the crown , or cap-peculiar—the regal coat and buttons—but we fancied the portliness of our old friend bad somewhat lessened ; we took a second look—it was not he—what had happened ? The Grand Porter had succeeded to a small annuity , sufficient to meet his moderate wants , and which annuity at his death lapses into some charity . Before , however ,