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Post by Tamrin on Jun 29, 2009 9:04:03 GMT 10
My brother Ian graciously hosted me in Melbourne and accompanied me to the open meeting. We were warmly greeted by the W.M., W. Bro. Jean-Michel David, whom I met in person for the first time, V.W. Bro. Graham Love of the ANZMRC and other distinguished members and guests. Ian and I were shown their new home, the Ivanhoe Masonic Centre, with its impressive Lodge Room having an magnificent domed ceiling. The formalities of showing my clearance certificate and providing satisfactory proof of my being a mason were brief, with a comment being made that they had already sighted my Grand Lodge records (may have been interesting reading). The facilities were excellent, with laptop, data projector and screen being provided. My talk, "The Masonic Marianne" was very well received, with a number of questions indicating a good degree of interest (it is to be published in their Transactions). In response to a question, I explained that, just as the object of my 2007 talk in Edinburgh at the 2007 ICHF, entitled "Craftswomen in the Old Charges, in building trades and as Stonemasons" was to debunk the notion that there were no women in the Operative Craft (and the argument that being ostensibly bound by their customs, women could not be Freemasons), the talk that night was to debunk the notion that there was nothing feminine in Freemasonry. I think I detected a prevailing sense of political will that we now move on from such mistaken notions. Much undue formality was creatively dispensed with, to accommodate the non-masonic guests. The brethren and guests kindly made allowances for my poor hearing and for my occasionally tripping over my own tongue. Despite some last minute logistical concerns, an excellent supper was served and the scholarship, fellowship and dedication of the lodge left me with a great sense of having experienced Masonry at its best. Thank you.
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Post by neilwynesmorse on Jun 30, 2009 23:29:59 GMT 10
Your paper references [footnote 17] the 'Pambula Daylight' engraving.
That engraving is NOT a Cross production.
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 1, 2009 0:07:32 GMT 10
Your paper references [footnote 17] the 'Pambula Daylight' engraving.
That engraving is NOT a Cross production. I didn't say it was. However, please accept my apologies if I had inadvertently misled. What I had said in the body of the text was: "Bro. Jeremy Cross claims to have created it [the monument] in 1819 and featured it on his True Masonic Chart, engraved by Amos Doolittle." The footnote is simply a web address which links to on-line illustrations and text, part of which reads: "The illustrations are taken straight out of Jeremy Cross' True Masonic Chart (which I'm sure you can find on the Internet...)."
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 1, 2009 7:16:27 GMT 10
BTW, below is a reduced version of the main illustration linked in the footnote. "The Monument" is depicted between the tops of the pillars. The text I felt warranted the footnoted link, read as follows: Finally, there is the Beautiful Virgin, the Broken Column, Time, the Book, the Urn. Pages have been written about it; learned pundits have discussed it; controversies have raged over it. Did Jeremy Cross invent it? Did Amos Doolittle suggest it? There is evidence both ways, preponderantly in favor of the fact that neither introduced the idea of the monument into Freemasonry, although some credit one or the other, or both, with the broken column. But of the merits of this matter this Bulletin is not concerned. Regardless of who originally conceived the idea that a monument to the historic dead should necessarily be a part of the Master's degree, there is no question that the monument, Time with his scythe, counting the virgin's hairs, the urn, the open book, the broken column, were all combined by Doolittle into a drawing the very grotesqueness of which apparently gave it the vitality of the life of the Wandering Jew! It has wandered to every State in the Union; anywhere, everywhere, when this emblem is reached in the ceremony, the candidates is shown a picture of a mannikin with a beard, muscular legs, a venerable head, playing with the hair of a lady whose virginity none would doubt, while managing also a scythe of truly awe inspiring dimensions. The drawing is vigorous, flat, formal, awkward. None may miss its meaning, as tire artist inscribed on the open pages ''amiable, distinguished, exemplary" to point his moral and adorn his tale! The next footnote, #18, linked to an apron, depicted below and actually shown as part of the presentation (Slide #13), the design of this apron was directly attributed to Cross: Jeremy Ladd Cross designed this Master Mason’s apron from the 1820s. “Jeremy Ladd Cross and the Symbols of Freemasonry,” The Scottish Rite Journal of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. www.srmason-sj.org/web/journal-files/Issues/may-jun05/callowaycross.html
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 1, 2009 9:17:22 GMT 10
Your paper references [footnote 17] the 'Pambula Daylight' engraving.
That engraving is NOT a Cross production. Presumably, what little is known of its provenance is given below: Masonic Lithograph[Excerpt - Home page of Lodge Pambula Daylight (#1000, NSW & ACT) - Linked Above]
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Post by neilwynesmorse on Jul 4, 2009 0:03:28 GMT 10
I'm glad that you enjoyed your time at 218 - unfortunately I can't attend all its meetings. I believe that it is the premier Lodge of Research in Australia - and therefore the premier opportunity to present original material to the ever-diminishing Australian masonic research community. '1% of masons are interested in masonic education in the broad, and 1% of them do something about it'!
I would suggest that the provenence you quoted is that which is the 'Pambula copy', and therefore WBro Kevin's personal views.
What I have quoted in other areas of this board is from my personal copy, and may be different from the copies at Yass , Braidwood, Queanbeyan, and other places.
There are both UK and US versions. It is believed that the UK [Maldon] version is the original, and that, as is often the case, the US version is a 'pirate' version.
In any case, whilst there may be similarities with Cross images, the chart 'Light and Truth' is NOT a Cross product.
NWM KL The Canberra Curmudgeon Fellow of the Victorian Lodge of Research 218 VC
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 4, 2009 7:55:37 GMT 10
Thank you Bro. Neil,
I see on the site that you contributed to the interpretation of the image there. It is indeed a fascinating composition. I was mainly interested in it featuring "The Monument," which I understand is uncommon outside the U.S.
I am surprised to read that this image probably has U.K. provenance and that the U.S. version may be pirated. I would be interested to know of the earliest complete instance of "The Monument" (not just its separate parts).
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