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  • The Masonic Illustrated
  • Jan. 1, 1901
  • Page 6
  • The late Bro. SirArthur Sullivan, Past Grand Organist.
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The Masonic Illustrated, Jan. 1, 1901: Page 6

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    Article The late Bro. SirArthur Sullivan, Past Grand Organist. ← Page 2 of 2
Page 6

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Late Bro. Sirarthur Sullivan, Past Grand Organist.

to be a not unhandsome eulogy , with hardly more than a reference to that " classical " bogey with which certain of our critics used to try to frighten Sir Arthur occasionally . The other allusion was made—and the fact is in the nature of a pathetic coincidence from my own point of

viewon the last time , three weeks before his death , that I met him . That was on October 29 th . I knew that he had caught a severe cold during his visit to Switzerland , and understood that he was rapidly mending from the resulting bronchitis , when he telegraphed me that he would like me to

run in and see him . It was the Monday on which the C . I . Y . procession passed through the metropolis , and when I found that he had only partly recovered the use of his voice , I was surprised to lincl that he had been to see it . He was then—no one dreaming that he was but within three weeks of his death—hard at work on the opera ( " Tlie Emerald Isle " ) which , in the ordinary course , would , by this

time , have seen the light of production . He was as energetic and as sympathetic as ever , and in order to go on with the other work—which I think he enjoyed—of recounting his reminiscences , he suggested that I should take advantage of his afternoon " interval " and take tea with him each day that

week . It was the lirst time I had called on him since the death of Sims Reeves . He immediately asked me for any particulars I could give , and it was not until afterwards that I fully realised the intent way in which he listened to my brief recital of the fact that Reeves had fallen into

a sleep which proved to be without any awakening , and the earnest way in which Sullivan told me how glad and relieved he was to know that his old friend had passed away painlessly . It was the only time that death had formed any part of our little discussions , nor did we dream that it was to

be the last conversation between us . It has been said that Sullivan was superstitious . He did not care to begin anything on a Friday , and avoided the

Mu . WII / DIKI ) lilv . N'JULI ,. . Mi ; . K . W . ] - 'l . \ DON . Mi ,. IIKIMIKKT SI' 1 , 1 , 1 VA X . linn . I . 1 UNHI . MONCKTON . The Late Bro . Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN .

( MY I'I . IMIISSIUN <» : •• M \ -. . IUIIS imv . ; u : \ , i > i i [ i . isiu : i : in- MI .-. i , uvin ;\ n ;'> " i . ni ; or si i : AIMHII : SI I . I , IV \ N . ")

number thirteen . It is a little weakness , more particularly of the dramatic profession , but , with Sir Arthur , these notions were quite superficial . He had , however , a delight in coincidences , and it is not the least of coincidences that his death took place on the dav devoted in our calendar to

St . Cecilia , the patroness saint of the great art to which Sullivan had devoted his life . By way of adding to the history of mournful coincidence , 1 am permitted by Capt . Basil Hood , the latest and by no means the least of Sir Arthur ' s librettists , to disclose the

interesting fact that , in response to Sullivan ' s suggestion that his next work after " The Emerald Isle" should be Grand Opera , Capt . Hood had composed the words of a serious opera , which Sir Arthur had read and approved . The work was entitled "SI . Cecilia . " It was Sullivan ' s wish that his body should be embalmed ,

which , of course , has been carried out , and , as we know , his mortal remains have been laid to rest in the precincts of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . The funeral procession was the more impressive for being spontaneous . No direction was needed for the behaviour of the large and orderly crowds , and from

till sides , and from all classes , one heard expressions of that respectful sympath y which comes from the heart at the passing away of any man of proved worth , of great powers , and of sterling" integrity . It is for posterity , by the aid of the winnowings and sifting

of time , to judge of his work . Those who knew him and loved him have lost no mean exemplar , and for ourselves , in this place , it should be recorded that we thank his memory for the good music which he has given the Church , for the refining" work which he and his confrere did for the Stage ,

and for the happy hours which he hits given to many ; nor is it without emotion that we utter our vale to not the least distinguished brother of the Masonic Fraternity . ARTHUR LAWRF . XCK .

“The Masonic Illustrated: 1901-01-01, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mil/issues/mil_01011901/page/6/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Freemasonry in Cardiff. Article 2
The late Bro. SirArthur Sullivan, Past Grand Organist. Article 5
The Deputation to Berlin. Article 7
United Grand Lodge of England. Article 9
Grand Mark Lodge. Article 9
Untitled Article 9
Untitled Ad 9
Masonic Relics at Carrickfergus. Article 10
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 11
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Article 12
Untitled Ad 12
1900. Article 12
At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar. Article 13
The late Bro. Sir Alfred Bevan, P.G. Treasurer. Article 18
An Old Masters' Lodge. Article 18
Untitled Ad 19
Masonry in Northern Natal.—The Boer War. Article 20
Hnight Templary. Article 22
Untitled Article 22
Famous F.M. Songs. Article 23
Untitled Ad 23
Answers to Correspondents. Article 24
Untitled Ad 24
Untitled Ad 24
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Late Bro. Sirarthur Sullivan, Past Grand Organist.

to be a not unhandsome eulogy , with hardly more than a reference to that " classical " bogey with which certain of our critics used to try to frighten Sir Arthur occasionally . The other allusion was made—and the fact is in the nature of a pathetic coincidence from my own point of

viewon the last time , three weeks before his death , that I met him . That was on October 29 th . I knew that he had caught a severe cold during his visit to Switzerland , and understood that he was rapidly mending from the resulting bronchitis , when he telegraphed me that he would like me to

run in and see him . It was the Monday on which the C . I . Y . procession passed through the metropolis , and when I found that he had only partly recovered the use of his voice , I was surprised to lincl that he had been to see it . He was then—no one dreaming that he was but within three weeks of his death—hard at work on the opera ( " Tlie Emerald Isle " ) which , in the ordinary course , would , by this

time , have seen the light of production . He was as energetic and as sympathetic as ever , and in order to go on with the other work—which I think he enjoyed—of recounting his reminiscences , he suggested that I should take advantage of his afternoon " interval " and take tea with him each day that

week . It was the lirst time I had called on him since the death of Sims Reeves . He immediately asked me for any particulars I could give , and it was not until afterwards that I fully realised the intent way in which he listened to my brief recital of the fact that Reeves had fallen into

a sleep which proved to be without any awakening , and the earnest way in which Sullivan told me how glad and relieved he was to know that his old friend had passed away painlessly . It was the only time that death had formed any part of our little discussions , nor did we dream that it was to

be the last conversation between us . It has been said that Sullivan was superstitious . He did not care to begin anything on a Friday , and avoided the

Mu . WII / DIKI ) lilv . N'JULI ,. . Mi ; . K . W . ] - 'l . \ DON . Mi ,. IIKIMIKKT SI' 1 , 1 , 1 VA X . linn . I . 1 UNHI . MONCKTON . The Late Bro . Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN .

( MY I'I . IMIISSIUN <» : •• M \ -. . IUIIS imv . ; u : \ , i > i i [ i . isiu : i : in- MI .-. i , uvin ;\ n ;'> " i . ni ; or si i : AIMHII : SI I . I , IV \ N . ")

number thirteen . It is a little weakness , more particularly of the dramatic profession , but , with Sir Arthur , these notions were quite superficial . He had , however , a delight in coincidences , and it is not the least of coincidences that his death took place on the dav devoted in our calendar to

St . Cecilia , the patroness saint of the great art to which Sullivan had devoted his life . By way of adding to the history of mournful coincidence , 1 am permitted by Capt . Basil Hood , the latest and by no means the least of Sir Arthur ' s librettists , to disclose the

interesting fact that , in response to Sullivan ' s suggestion that his next work after " The Emerald Isle" should be Grand Opera , Capt . Hood had composed the words of a serious opera , which Sir Arthur had read and approved . The work was entitled "SI . Cecilia . " It was Sullivan ' s wish that his body should be embalmed ,

which , of course , has been carried out , and , as we know , his mortal remains have been laid to rest in the precincts of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . The funeral procession was the more impressive for being spontaneous . No direction was needed for the behaviour of the large and orderly crowds , and from

till sides , and from all classes , one heard expressions of that respectful sympath y which comes from the heart at the passing away of any man of proved worth , of great powers , and of sterling" integrity . It is for posterity , by the aid of the winnowings and sifting

of time , to judge of his work . Those who knew him and loved him have lost no mean exemplar , and for ourselves , in this place , it should be recorded that we thank his memory for the good music which he has given the Church , for the refining" work which he and his confrere did for the Stage ,

and for the happy hours which he hits given to many ; nor is it without emotion that we utter our vale to not the least distinguished brother of the Masonic Fraternity . ARTHUR LAWRF . XCK .

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