Post by offramp on Nov 20, 2018 18:34:28 GMT
HG Wells was not a Freemason.
Whatever he was writing about he liked to make as believable as possible by doing loads of research.
It is worth reading the short story The Inexperienced Ghost which includes the following section:
Whatever he was writing about he liked to make as believable as possible by doing loads of research.
It is worth reading the short story The Inexperienced Ghost which includes the following section:
Now, Sanderson is a Freemason, a member of the lodge of the Four Kings [Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076], which devotes itself so ably to the study and elucidation of all the mysteries of Masonry past and present, and among the students of this lodge Sanderson is by no means the least. He followed Clayton's motions with a singular interest in his reddish eye. "That's not bad," he said, when it was done. "You really do, you know, put things together, Clayton, in a most amazing fashion. But there's one little detail out."
"I know," said Clayton. "I believe I could tell you which."
"Well?"
"This," said Clayton, and did a queer little twist and writhing and thrust of the hands.
"Yes."
"That, you know, was what he couldn't get right," said Clayton. "But how do you - ?"
"Most of this business, and particularly how you invented it, I don't understand at all," said Sanderson, "but just that phase - I do." He reflected. "These happen to be a series of gestures - connected with a certain branch of esoteric Masonry. Probably you know. Or else - how?" He reflected still further. "I do not see I can do any harm in telling you just the proper twist. After all, if you know, you know; if you don't, you don't."
"I know nothing," said Clayton, "except what the poor devil let out last night."
"Well, anyhow," said Sanderson, and placed his churchwarden very carefully upon the shelf over the fireplace. Then very rapidly he gesticulated with his hands.
"So?" said Clayton, repeating.
"So," said Sanderson, and took his pipe in hand again.
"Ah, now," said Clayton, "I can do the whole thing - right."
He stood up before the waning fire and smiled at us all. But I think there was just a little hesitation in his smile. "If I begin -" he said.
"I wouldn't begin," said Wish.
"It's all right!" said Evans. "Matter is indestructible. You don't think any jiggery-pokery of this sort is going to snatch Clayton into the world of shades. Not it! You may try, Clayton, so far as I'm concerned, until your arms drop off at the wrists."
"I don't believe that," said Wish, and stood up and put his arm on Clayton's shoulder. "You've made me half believe in that story somehow, and I don't want to see the thing done!"
"I know," said Clayton. "I believe I could tell you which."
"Well?"
"This," said Clayton, and did a queer little twist and writhing and thrust of the hands.
"Yes."
"That, you know, was what he couldn't get right," said Clayton. "But how do you - ?"
"Most of this business, and particularly how you invented it, I don't understand at all," said Sanderson, "but just that phase - I do." He reflected. "These happen to be a series of gestures - connected with a certain branch of esoteric Masonry. Probably you know. Or else - how?" He reflected still further. "I do not see I can do any harm in telling you just the proper twist. After all, if you know, you know; if you don't, you don't."
"I know nothing," said Clayton, "except what the poor devil let out last night."
"Well, anyhow," said Sanderson, and placed his churchwarden very carefully upon the shelf over the fireplace. Then very rapidly he gesticulated with his hands.
"So?" said Clayton, repeating.
"So," said Sanderson, and took his pipe in hand again.
"Ah, now," said Clayton, "I can do the whole thing - right."
He stood up before the waning fire and smiled at us all. But I think there was just a little hesitation in his smile. "If I begin -" he said.
"I wouldn't begin," said Wish.
"It's all right!" said Evans. "Matter is indestructible. You don't think any jiggery-pokery of this sort is going to snatch Clayton into the world of shades. Not it! You may try, Clayton, so far as I'm concerned, until your arms drop off at the wrists."
"I don't believe that," said Wish, and stood up and put his arm on Clayton's shoulder. "You've made me half believe in that story somehow, and I don't want to see the thing done!"