THE BUILDER AUGUST 1916

DISCUSSING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION

BY BRO. R.I. CLEGG, OHIO

"HE WAS NOT A MASON, RUT A ROMAN CATHOLIC."

So says The Builder, on the authority of the National Cyclopedia of Biography,
and in reference to William J. Florence, erstwhile the Bernard Conlin of
Albany, N. Y., and the able associate of such actors as Booth and of
Jefferson.

He was indeed buried at St. Agnes Church in New York city and the interment
may have been conducted with all the rites customary to the Roman Catholic
Church, but that does not make Florence out to be a believer in that form of
Christian faith any more than it proves him to be other than a Mason.

Why, it seems but the other day that on the sudden death of a member of my
lodge I called that evening to express my sympathy directly to his daughters
and widow. Somehow they had the impression that when a Mason died, his
brethren insisted upon taking charge of the funeral and performing a Masonic
ceremonial at the interment. I was told how distasteful that would be to them
because they were Roman Catholics. Of course I assured them that we performed
no Masonic ceremony wherever it would not have been acceptable. The subject
was dropped forthwith and I tendered the assistance of the lodge in
straightening out the brother's affairs as owing to his unexpected death it
was only to be anticipated that business matters would need quick attention
and careful adjustment. My offer was gratefully accepted. On leaving I was
surprised somewhat but much gratified to receive from the family a frank
acknowledgment that to them Masonry had been given a new meaning. They had
expected a very unpleasant interview because they feared that I would have
suggested a course of action at the funeral that would have been
objectionable. They went further and asked me if I would not like to have the
lodge represented at the funeral! To this well meant courtesy I promptly
assented and we took part as pallbearers in the solemn services desired by
that family in their sorrow. But that Roman Catholic interment no more made a
Roman Catholic of him who was dead than it so made of any one of those who, as
his unaproned brethren, bore his body to that place appointed for the final
rest of the departed.

In default of other facts I think the passing of Florence was under somewhat
similar circumstances if indeed there was any indication at all of Roman
Catholic connections.

Enough of that angle of the case. Let us go on to another one of far greater
interest to me. Was "Billy" Florence a Mason?

Well, listen to this: "On Sunday, the 21st of April, 1867, the Lodge of
Perfection held a special meeting at the Metropolitan Hotel at two o'clock in
the afternoon for the purpose of conferring the Ineffable degrees by
communication upon Bro. William J. Florence who was 'about to depart for
Europe,' as the minutes say. There were present Ill. Bro. McClenachan and one
other member of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, two
from the Southern, and a number of members of Aurora Grata. The degrees of the
Council, Chapter, and Consistory were conferred upon brother Florence before
his departure." This citation is from page 47 of Brother Brockaway's "One
Hundred Years of Aurora Grata," a book that to my mind has more really
instructive historical material about the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
than volumes of far greater pretensions.

It will be taken for granted that if Florence was made a member of the
Scottish Rite he was some Mason. I trust this will be the case because I have
not yet heard from all my inquiries and at the moment therefore I cannot say
where Florence received the first three degrees.

However, I can make up for the want of evidence about his Blue Lodge
affiliations by adding an item or two concerning his connection with another
body that is exclusively made up of Masons. The trip mentioned above was the
one that preceded the establishment of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles
of the Mystic Shrine in the United states. Brother Florence, as I think I can
now fairly call him, came back from Europe with what my good friend Brother
Brockaway says "were monitorial, historical and explanatory manuscripts" and
he communicated the secrets of the Order to Dr. Walter M. Fleming of Aurora
Grata Consistory. It was determined to confer the rite only upon Freemasons,
and a number of brethren received the "work," as far as it had then been
perfected, on June 16, 1871. An organization was effected and officers elected
on September 26, 1872.

Passing on to October 21, 1876, we find Brother Florence as the Illustrious
Deputy conferring the secrets of the Mystic Shrine for the first time in the
city of Cleveland, mine own town. The fortunate two to receive this honor at
the Euclid Avenue Opera House where Brother Florence was to be found on that
occasion were Samuel Briggs and Brenton D. Babcock. On the following day
Brother Florence at the Kennard House conferred the attributes of the Order
upon three other Clevelanders. This led to the speedy formation of Al Koran
Temple, the which name being according to our records of the local Shrine
selected in deference to the wish of the Illustrious Deputy who had requested
it as an honor to him personally.

I also find that on the records there is mention that on March 19, 1880, we in
Cleveland were again honored by a visit from the Illustrious William J.
Florence and that on this occasion an afternoon observance was held and that
"the festivities of the occasion will long be remembered by the participants."

But we may learn much of Brother Florence from William winter's "Wallet of
Time," a book by the way that happens to be omitted from the list of
references in The Builder. Winter had a lively regard for Brother Florence. He
devotes a chapter of eulogy to him. There seems to be no manly, jovial,
kindly, histrionic and literary virtue that in goodly measure was not
exhibited by Brother Florence according to the estimate of winter. So lavish
is the biographer in dealing with his subject that the readel cannot but
quickly concede that Brother Florence waS an exceptionally loveable personage,
exceedingly admirable as an actor and magnetically attractive as a man. Let us
read together the epitaph composed for him by winter and then you will I am
sure agree with me. It is copied from page 238.

Here rest the Ashes of
William James Florence 
Comedian

His Copious and Varied Dramatic Powers, together with the Abundant Graces of
his Person, combined with Ample Professional Equipment and a Temperament of
Peculiar Sensibility and Charm, made him one of the Best and Most Successful
Actors of his Time, alike in Comedy and in Serious Drama. He ranged easily
from Handy Andy to Bob Brierly, and from Cuttle to Obeureiser. In Authorship,
alike of Plays, stories, Music, and Song, he was Inventive, Versatile, Facile,
and Graceful. In Art Admirable; in Life Gentle; he was widely known, and he
was known only to be loved.

He was born in Albany, N. Y.
July 26, 1831
He died in Philadelphia, Penna., 
Nov. 19, 1891. 
By virtue cherished, by Affection mourned, 
By Honor hallowed and by Fame adorned, 
Here Florence sleeps, and o'er his sacred rest 
Each word is tender and each thought is blest. 
Long, for his loss, shall pensive Memory show, 
Through Humor's mask, the visage of her woe; 
Day breathe a darkness that no sun dispels, 
And Night be full of whispers and farewells; 
While patient Kindness--shadow-like and dim-- 
Droops in its loneliness, bereft of him, 
Feels its sad doom and sure decadence nigh-- 
For how should Kindness live, when he could die !

The eager heart, that felt for every grief;
The bounteous hand, that loved to give relief; 
The honest smile, that blest where'er it lit;
The dew of pathos and the sheen of wit;
The sweet, blue eyes, the voice of melting tone 
That made all hearts as gentle as his own;
The actor's charm, supreme in royal thrall,
That ranged through every field and shone in all-- 
For these must Sorrow make perpetual moan,
Bereaved, benighted. hopeless and alone?
Ah, no ! for Nature does not act amiss,
And Heaven were lonely but for souls like this.

It is to be noted that Mr. Winter gives Brother Florence's middle name as
"James," but elsewhere I find it "Jermyn." In many places I also note that
Brother Florence is mentioned as an honorary thirty third, as for example the
very interesting history of Irem Temple states that he and Brother Fleming
were "Honorary Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals, 33d, of the Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite." I see Brother Fleming's name so listed in Brother
Homan's pamphlet but I do not discover the name of Brother Florence there.

And while we are discussing the Shrine can any one tell us how much of the
early rite as exemplified in this country is not the work of Brother Florence
? How far is it a translation from the Arabic and how much is it of Billy
Florence? To answer this question does not mean a reference to any analogous
ceremony of European origin on the continent, for this is by no means
unlikely. In fact a well-known degree of such origin may have had a similar
far East start to what the Shrine is attributed. So much of Brother Florence
is to my view the Shrine at its best that it seems probable that, ingenious
playright that he was, the Order has profited by his ability. To what an
extent this has been the case is a matter upon which it is very desirable that
all possible light should be shed.

But let us not forget our main objective. Brother Florence at the time of his
death may or may not have been other than what The Builder's Cyclopedian
reference claims him religiously to be, but we won't admit, will we, that he
was anything but typical of the Shrine membel ship at its perihelion, a hearty
whole-souled Fleemason, sunny and serene?

'TILL IT BE MORNING

"Man has walked by the light of conflagrations and amidst the sound of falling
cities, and now there is darkness and long watching 'till it be morning. The
voice even of the faithful can but exclaim: 'As yet struggles the twelfth hour
of the Night; birds of darkness are on the wing, spectres uprear, the dead
walk, the living dream--Thou, Eternal Providence, wilt cause the day to dawn.'
"--Carlyle.

CHARTLESS

I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I nevel spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.
--Emily Dickinson.

