The Craft
B dd not realize at the time, but the money for the Royal College of Surgeons of England fellowship that funded a large part of his research actually originated from the Freemasons!
So when the College requested that B go and talk about his research to ‘the brethren of the craft’ he felt that it would only be polite …. Well actually, that is not the real reason he accepted: he was actually asked to address a grand chapter meeting in the grand temple meeting place in the grand united lodge, and this seemed like too interesting an experience to pass up.
So how do they justify all those ‘grands’. Well B found out on arrival: the ‘grand united lodge’ is quite a spectacular art deco building in the centre of the West End of London covering 7 acres of floor space.
The entrance to the grand temple meeting place is guarded by two 16 feet high, 1 ½ tonne solid bronze doors; apparently, they are counter-weighted so that they can be pushed open with a finger-tip. Despite the ease with which they can be opened B, and the other speakers, went through a side door (only free-masons get to go through the main door) - in to the centre of a grandiose, pseudo-religious scene.
Organ music accompanied us as B passed between row upon row of more than a thousand senior freemasons, whose white begloved hands offered muted applause. As B progressed through the room it became apparent that the masons which arranged in a strict hierarchy with more senior masons, their rank signified by the size of their gold chains and other adnorments, nearer the centre of the room.
Just off centre of the room was a giant gold throne with a canopy, on a raised platform. Seated on the throne was Marquess of Northampton the Pro Grand Master in a golden apron and holding some sort of ceremonial bejeweled masonary tool.
All of this would have been quite intimidating under normal circumstances. However, they all seemed very welcoming, and ultimately couldn’t help thinking that this was just a lot of men dressing up and play acting as children.
Anyway, B stood to the left of the Pro Grnad Master and delivered his talk on plastic sugery and face transplantation. Obviously, as this wasn't a scientific audience he spent more time explaining what plastic surgery was (i.e. not just about face-lifts), and just some basics about the research (e.g. 'it involved lasers'). Most of them managed to stay awake, which is no mean feat when the average age of the audience must have been over 60!
Following this performance, B had a few interesting converasations with some of the masons after, including a discussion with the Marquis of Northampton about the nature of immortality!?! After avoiding more than one attempt to sign him up as a member, B escaped back to normality.
So when the College requested that B go and talk about his research to ‘the brethren of the craft’ he felt that it would only be polite …. Well actually, that is not the real reason he accepted: he was actually asked to address a grand chapter meeting in the grand temple meeting place in the grand united lodge, and this seemed like too interesting an experience to pass up.
So how do they justify all those ‘grands’. Well B found out on arrival: the ‘grand united lodge’ is quite a spectacular art deco building in the centre of the West End of London covering 7 acres of floor space.
The entrance to the grand temple meeting place is guarded by two 16 feet high, 1 ½ tonne solid bronze doors; apparently, they are counter-weighted so that they can be pushed open with a finger-tip. Despite the ease with which they can be opened B, and the other speakers, went through a side door (only free-masons get to go through the main door) - in to the centre of a grandiose, pseudo-religious scene.
Organ music accompanied us as B passed between row upon row of more than a thousand senior freemasons, whose white begloved hands offered muted applause. As B progressed through the room it became apparent that the masons which arranged in a strict hierarchy with more senior masons, their rank signified by the size of their gold chains and other adnorments, nearer the centre of the room.
Just off centre of the room was a giant gold throne with a canopy, on a raised platform. Seated on the throne was Marquess of Northampton the Pro Grand Master in a golden apron and holding some sort of ceremonial bejeweled masonary tool.
All of this would have been quite intimidating under normal circumstances. However, they all seemed very welcoming, and ultimately couldn’t help thinking that this was just a lot of men dressing up and play acting as children.
Anyway, B stood to the left of the Pro Grnad Master and delivered his talk on plastic sugery and face transplantation. Obviously, as this wasn't a scientific audience he spent more time explaining what plastic surgery was (i.e. not just about face-lifts), and just some basics about the research (e.g. 'it involved lasers'). Most of them managed to stay awake, which is no mean feat when the average age of the audience must have been over 60!
Following this performance, B had a few interesting converasations with some of the masons after, including a discussion with the Marquis of Northampton about the nature of immortality!?! After avoiding more than one attempt to sign him up as a member, B escaped back to normality.
posted by BS&A at 1:03 PM
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