The morning call., 1893-05-21
HEADS OF MASONS
Striking characteristics
of a Group.
THE TEMPLES GALLERY.
Portraits as Viewed From a Pilreuo.
logical and PhysiognomicaI
Standpoint.

The Masonic Temple at the corner of
Post and Montgomery streets contains
many mysteries closely tyIed from the un-
lawful gaze of cowans and intruders.
Within It's walls, however. are many
things of Interest, which are open TO the
contemplation OF the technically called
profane. Among them are four picture
galleries. containing the portraits of
worShipful brethren eminent in the order,
aud these same pictures possess many
points of interest to student of peculiari-
ties in men and condolences in nature.
AS W nrks of art they are variously good
and indifferen, = probably none can be
fairly described as bad-in fact they are
very ereditabie collection and the faces gaze
from their canvas in very lifelIke man
ner, giving certain evidence that they
are correct likenesses of those whom they
profess to represent.
In the reception-room, without the ante
chamber of King Solomon's Hail, is one
group of thirty-one oil paintings of the va
rious exalted brethren who have, flgura-
lively, represented the Sc Hebrew mon
arch as ruler of a lodge of speculative
8eSons, or Free and Accepted Masous.
a the ante-chamber connected with St
sion OF twenty-five portraits of brethren of
quail eminence in the Blue Lodges, which
n-het in that hall.
1t has been but the course of general
circumstances which caused these people
to be members of a lodge on one side of
the building, and eventually masters, in
stead of having been connected NTH lodges
on the other side, and vet as their pre-
sentiments hang upon the walls there i
Str. king difference between those groups
as "a whole. To mention no other dis
on, the ST. John group is com posed of
l.. dch younger men than the other.
In studying these fiftv-three pictures
many thoughts are aroused, but as the
subject # this article is to speak of certain
peculiarities prominently noticeable in a
group TO be mentioned last, we will pass
on to and through the gallery on the
second floor.
This collection comprises thirty life-size
and thirtysix tbree-quarter size oilpaint-
lngs OF past grand commanders of the
order of Knights Templar, and past
hIgh grand priests Of the Most Holy
ROYAL Arch.
On descending the stairs to the first
floor we viii find on the walls of b.
landing twentv-four lfe-siZe portraits
showing the figures from the knees up
ward, and one very large picture showing
the entire form Of Worshipful Brother
Alexander Gurdon, grand secretary from
1855 TO 1891.
The twenty-five pictures are portraits of
all of the grand masters of the Grand
Lodge OF California rom its foundation in
1850 up to 1890 A student of human
ma ure could enjoyably spend several
hours in studying this group. There is
pabuium for the phrenolOgist who could
collect much evidence to support his COM
bated theories. The physOgnomist could
probably demonstrate beyond contradlc-
ton that he is right. and even the tailor
could point to the evolution in his art and
ii of literary bent could quote learned
paragraphs full of adjectives and satire
from ''Sartor Resartus."
A visiting brother the other night spent
little time in examining these one hun
dred and torty-four pictures, and called
the attention Of some of the high officials
to the characteristics which pervadpd the
portraits of the grand masters and which
had not previously attracted notice.
n pole n B0naparie was a practical
physiogn0mist. He used, in selecting his
commanding officers, to look tor those
with large nasal organs. He frequently
said: Give me man with nose" The
British did so. They gave him Yelling
ton.
Although the Masonic constitution re-
qures that candidate shall be physically
correct. 1t does'not specify anything about
the facial organs. But whatever the cause
the collars of California grand masters
have fallen over heads which possessed
large noses without exception. Ex-G v
ernor Perkins is by no means deficient in
this respect. and yet his portrait as painted
bears the smallest nose in the group. There
are twenty-f0ur portraits. and oGt of that
large number, selected during a period
OF nearly half century, twenty-three have
two Christian or given names.
In a country (meanIng the United States)
where the razor is perhaps used more extern
siYely than anywhere else twenty-pue
are heavily bearded men. With the eX-
of tbr n wi n . fba HOY
twithstanding. very heavy flowing
boards r whiskers. or both.
The first ten grand masters and those
who held the fourth period are he only
ones clean shaved. Three shave the upper
lip ana have long boards and side " his
Eers. Two shave the chin, leavi
nus ache aud lengthy dundrearies -Four
a portion OF the cheeks, leaving
suun trofusi0n OF chin-whiskers and
mus1acne that at first glance at the pic
lures it might be supposed that the razor
was not used at all; and as before stated,
out of twenty-fonr the majority do not
Shave 81 all.
All but three are remarkably heavily
bearded and but three are whiskerless
In pointing out this popularity to the high
officials attention was drawn to the fact
they wiz: the grand secretary and the SER
rotary Of the board were also full-bearded
men.
The first Grand Master Worshipfu
Erotner jonathan Drake stevenson,
from the crown of his mead to his knees.
where the picture finishes. distinctly por-
trays man who was 4 leader OF men.
lis n0se is a model, his mouth is as
straight as though drawn with rule and
SUPPORTED by a chin which appears to close
1t with thesrengih of wise.
be is clean sfaYpd, sare also the faces
Of The grand inarshals of 1851 and 1853,
some Of lie lines in the face of the lat
ter VIZ: Charles Morton RadclifD show
ing similar force Of character to those of
Stevenson, but not so hard.
AIKEN all in all, any one Of those heads
could he taken as a basis upon which to
dthFer a lecture on phrenology and
physiognomy And hanging in group, as
they do, they are worthy of visit of in
speciion from any student of man as an
Intellectual animal and would repay MIN
for his attention.