Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The W. Brother John Savage, P. M. No. 19 & 805.
It is the custom and pigmy pride of the THOMPSONS , the M UGGEHIDGES , et hoc genus omne , to imagine perfection to be found in the parrot-like duty of teaching others verbally all that has been taught to themselves . Your sticklers for verbiage will split hairs with you , and doggedly discuss tbe vast importance of relative pronouns , insisting upon those parts of speech which embrace the words " which " and '' that , " and " also "
and "likewise , " to be of the gravest importance . They will tell ye no man can be a Mason of any note unless their dogmas be adopted ; and that the very fate of the Craft depends on "this and that and they cannot tell what , " much less can they give you reasons for the grammatical accuracy on which their conceits are founded . Now Brother Savage , although attaching due weight to the correctness of words , despises the
pedantry of presumption and the opinions of ignorance , holding that the performance of the duties in spirit as well as in language , —by which the genius of Masonry may he adumbrated , —is the alpha and omega in all things appertaining to the effective performance of the ceremonies .
In some of the degrees of Masonry a dramatic interest , to a certain extent , is necessary as forming a portion of the ceremony . In the efficient performance of these parts it requires not the mere gabble of some dogmatic , ignorant , obtuse , self-willed , parrot-like man-mason , but the nice and discriminating efforts of a mind that has studied the lights and shades of Masonry ; in fact , to achieve excellence and stamp
impressiveness , it demands the intellectual discrimination of a great actor , a metaphysician ; that actor—that metaphysician is — Brother John Savage .
The object of our portrait is , we should suppose , about forty years of age , well made , rather stout , above the average height , and of much physical power . His countenance is not indicative of quickness of perception nor of intelligence of a high order , but there is a steadiness of moral purpose and resolution , which cannot fail to strike the beholder as a prominent trait of character .
In debate , our brother is demonstrative and argumentative . There is an earnestness and plausibility of manner about him , which whilst it pleases , fixes the interest of his hearers . He is not a showy speaker , nor does he aim at captivating the senses or exciting the passions at the expense of the judgment . His warfare is not aggressive : he parries the thrusts of his opponents with address and dexterity , fixing on them
the tu quoque , and returning the compliment in self-defence with threefold vigour . In manner , Brother Savage is affable—in intercommunication courteous and yielding ; but there is a loftiness of principle about him—a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The W. Brother John Savage, P. M. No. 19 & 805.
It is the custom and pigmy pride of the THOMPSONS , the M UGGEHIDGES , et hoc genus omne , to imagine perfection to be found in the parrot-like duty of teaching others verbally all that has been taught to themselves . Your sticklers for verbiage will split hairs with you , and doggedly discuss tbe vast importance of relative pronouns , insisting upon those parts of speech which embrace the words " which " and '' that , " and " also "
and "likewise , " to be of the gravest importance . They will tell ye no man can be a Mason of any note unless their dogmas be adopted ; and that the very fate of the Craft depends on "this and that and they cannot tell what , " much less can they give you reasons for the grammatical accuracy on which their conceits are founded . Now Brother Savage , although attaching due weight to the correctness of words , despises the
pedantry of presumption and the opinions of ignorance , holding that the performance of the duties in spirit as well as in language , —by which the genius of Masonry may he adumbrated , —is the alpha and omega in all things appertaining to the effective performance of the ceremonies .
In some of the degrees of Masonry a dramatic interest , to a certain extent , is necessary as forming a portion of the ceremony . In the efficient performance of these parts it requires not the mere gabble of some dogmatic , ignorant , obtuse , self-willed , parrot-like man-mason , but the nice and discriminating efforts of a mind that has studied the lights and shades of Masonry ; in fact , to achieve excellence and stamp
impressiveness , it demands the intellectual discrimination of a great actor , a metaphysician ; that actor—that metaphysician is — Brother John Savage .
The object of our portrait is , we should suppose , about forty years of age , well made , rather stout , above the average height , and of much physical power . His countenance is not indicative of quickness of perception nor of intelligence of a high order , but there is a steadiness of moral purpose and resolution , which cannot fail to strike the beholder as a prominent trait of character .
In debate , our brother is demonstrative and argumentative . There is an earnestness and plausibility of manner about him , which whilst it pleases , fixes the interest of his hearers . He is not a showy speaker , nor does he aim at captivating the senses or exciting the passions at the expense of the judgment . His warfare is not aggressive : he parries the thrusts of his opponents with address and dexterity , fixing on them
the tu quoque , and returning the compliment in self-defence with threefold vigour . In manner , Brother Savage is affable—in intercommunication courteous and yielding ; but there is a loftiness of principle about him—a