Since writing the article above on this site regarding the mystery of Captain Cook's monument on Easby Moor, North Yorkshire, I have had various discussion via e mail with Cliff Thornton of the Captain Cook Society which have been very helpful and insightful and to whom I'm grateful for taking the time to look at these ideas. This page reflects that feedback as well as additional material regarding Cook's life in Wapping in relation to Emmanuel Swedenborg. This page also includes a comparison to Stoodley Pike in Todmorden. Although not related to Captain Cook, there are similarities there.
Feedback from The Captain Cook Society
The Reverend John Brewster - author of The History of Stockton.
Cliff Thornton of The Captain Cook's Society kindly sent a link to Geoff King who is mentioned in my article as
exploring the friendship link between Captain Cook and William Christopher. Geoff King has managed to confirm that The Reverend John Brewster (who under the name of 'Cleveland' first proposed the Cook monument in the form of a pyramid on Roseberry Topping etc.) was indeed a Freemason. However he does have reservations about drawing further conclusions from this. Here are his thoughts -
- " Rev John Brewster was initiated into the Stockton Lodge of Philanthropy 27th Dec, 1781.
- I think it borders on speculation to align the monument of Captain James Cook with freemasonry.There are many symbols within the craft and each has a particular relevence to a degree.
- Whilst the pyramid is sometimes seen, it is not a common symbol and I have yet to see it quoted in any degree ritual.
- I would have thought to place a cap stone on any obelisk is just good workmanship within a design to let the rain run off and also to maybe reflect light catching the sharp angles from the sun.
- Yes, a pyramid has a meaning, but a very general meaning.
- Yes, Brewster extended his 2nd edition of the “History of Stockton” to encompass many organisations in Stockton, freemasonry was but one of them.
- Unless we can have sight of more information regarding others who wrote about this pyramid design, I fail to see any connection with our valued Captain.
- So the only Masonic connection that there is at present is via John Brewster, the Stockton cleric.
So the conclusion here seems to be that although Brewster was initiated into the Stockton lodge of philanthropy and proposed the original idea for the monument in the forms of a pyramid, pagoda or obelisk, it doesn't mean that it was officially sanctioned by the Craft. Perhaps any proof of that would also be in the lodge's minutes or records. As to the to symbols that is a wider discussion elsewhere.
................................
ROBERT CAMPION
Cliff Thornton also made enquiries about Robert Campion, who commissioned the Cook obelisk on his land at Easby Moor.
In the article we wondered if there was a Masonic connection via Robert Campion -
Cliff's contact, who knows about Robert Campion, gave this feedback -
- Robert Campion was the son of Nathaniel Campion and Margaret nee Holt. He was the oldest, and eventually the only, son and became very rich - indeed at one time he was deemed to be the wealthiest man in Whitby (round about the time he put up the memorial).
- He had a thriving cotton business (Campionville), was a banker, a ship-owner and a ship-builder. I have no record of his going to sea, though his father and his uncles were all master mariners and his mother's family were all master mariners as well (He was in baking at first in partnership with his mum; there were also shipowners in the family.
- The Campion family came from Staithes. They would certainly have known James Cook and I argue that they were probably friends (Nathaniel Campion & James Cook were of an age).
- My understanding is that Robert Campion built the memorial because he would have been told about James Cook by his father and uncles from childhood and admired him. He built it where he did because it was on his land, as he was Lord of the Manor of Easby. He built it when he did presumably because no-one else seemed to be doing anything, and he could afford to.
Why was it built as an obelisk? I suggest:
1. Obelisks were in fashion
2. If you wish to build a memorial, you really only have a choice of:
a) A statue (far too expensive)
b) A rectangular altar-shaped thing. (not visible from afar)
c) A pillar (unlikely to stay up in a high wind unless very wide and of solid stone)
d) A pyramid
e) An obelisk
- if you dont believe me just look in any graveyard, or at any war memorials.
3. Of these an obelisk has the advantage of being taller for its width than a pyramid, of being able to be built quite cheaply from bricks as it can be hollow (all builders would know how to do it, not different from a chimney stack, so no need to import expertise from afar), and it has a flat surface for putting an inscription on.
None of these have any necessary connection with masons.
Having said this, although there is no evidence that Robert Campion (or Capt Cook) were masons it would still be tangential even if that was the case. Campion was a Whitby man born into a maritime family commemorating another Whitby maritime man who was not only a family friend but an example to others. 'End of' - as they say.
.................................
Cliff Thornton also offered some general thoughts of aspects of the essay -
- I believe that the monument was built in that location and in that size so that it could be used as a landmark by vessels sailing past the mouth of the Tees.
- I think that Robert Campion had been a shipowner, so his construction of the monument was both historic and practical.
- Easby Moor does not get such a passing trade to warrant a statue, and to become a landmark it would have had to be much larger than life, and therefore be far more expensive than constructing a simple monument.
- But the monument is significant as it was the first public one erected to Cook.
- (There was an earlier one, erected by Palliser, Cook’s patron, but it was in the private grounds of his estate).
- So despite Cook’s fame it is disappointing that there was no national movement to commemorate him in some way. Hence Brewster’s attempts.
- The first statue was erected to him in London as late as 1913 (?) and then only after the Premier of New South Wales had written a letter to the Times and shamed the country into commissioning it!
..............................................................
Captain Cook and Emmanuel Swedenborg
We mentioned in the article the work of Geoff King, Derek Morris and Ken Cozens in establishing a Masonic friendship link between Captain Cook and William Christopher via Francis Holman in Wapping. Julie Rae, belows reveals more about Cook's Wapping days including some interesting material on Emmanual Swedenborg and Cook's associates. While it doesn't prove that Cook was a Mason, it reinforces the idea that those kind of associations were around him at least.
The following comes from
“Captain James Cook Endeavours” by Julie Rae published by Stepney Historical Trust 1997" who explores Captain Cook's time in Wapping.
Julia Rae, in her book Captain James Cook Endeavours published by Stepney Historical Trust 1997, describes Cook’s links with Emmanuel Swedenborg whose ideas later became a strand of Freemasonry. I’m not claiming this to prove that Cook was a Freemasonry, just that its interesting background and shows the deeper elements behind Cook’s work. Here are extracts from Rae’s book -
“Cook would have been familiar with the many nationalities who were residents in the areas. They often had their own
churches or meeting places. The Swedish Church was a meeting place for the Swedish Community in Princes Square off the highway now known as Swedenborg Gardens) which was named after Emmanuel Swedenborg who was the son of a Swedish Bishop, a brilliant scientist, mathematician, astronomer, anatomist and linguist.
He produced nearly 100 great works and while here, claimed he was commanded by God in a vision to write about spiritual things. He saw into the spiritual world and described his experience in his book “Heaven and Hell”. His religious teaching were both scriptural and rational and he harmonised religion and science. He loved London and came to publish his writing, which translated into English by William Cookworthy from Plymouth who was one of Cook’s Quaker friends (From Cook’s own scientific curiosity he may have visited Emmanuel Swedenborg along with Dr Solander (the botanist) who was a member of his church. (Dr Solander was buried there in 1782). P81
p97 “ HM Bark Endeavour was a ship with a mission with a galaxy of scientific talent on board, notably the botanist, young Joseph Banks FRS, Daniel Solander, a favourite pupil of Linnaueus, and artist Sydney Parkinson, a Quaker friend of Dr Fothergill…..
No doubt these eminent gentlemen discussed the voyage which lay before them, with particular reference to its principal purpose the observation from the most favourable vantage point in Tahiti, of the passage of the planet Venus across the sun’s disc. Cookworthy was particularly interested in the astronomical observations which were to be undertaken by Cook and his companions.
He and Dr Solander had a common friend, Dr Emmanuel Swedenborg, whose cousin was married to Carl Von
Linnaeus, the teacher of Dr Solander. Emmanuel Swedenborg was also an amateur botanist but his main interest was astronomy and mathematics, but because of his religious beliefs he was regarded as a mystic. Solander and Cookworthy were both members of his church in Princess Square, off Ratcliff Highway. It was Cookworthy who translated Swedenborg’s writings into English and for a time became a Swedenborgian, until, as quoted in the Quaker Meeting House minutes, “He came to his senses and returned to Quakerism”.
This connection is very interesting as it shows how the 18thC scientific world worked together. Banks would also have been curious about the contents of Swedenborg writings who, before he turned religious, was one of the brilliant astronomical minds of that century, which may have proved helpful to Banks on the forthcoming voyage.
Naturally Cook would have listened intently to these discussions but at the time was he was principally concerned with provisioning his ships”.
P101 “..for William Cookworthy would have been one of the most avid readers of accounts of Cook’s voyage, (and) therefore would have mentioned the accounts of the voyage to Swedenborg who also would have shown great interest, considering he was a cousin in law to Linnaeus and a friend of Dr Solander, apart from being one of the best scientific minds at the time.
Therefore was it possible that William Cookworthy advised the scientific team on astronomy before they sailed in the Endeavour, and after the voyage reported back to Swedenborg of their success?
The question cannot be dismissed, for Swedenborg had many friends and supporters in high society and it would not be unreasonable to presume he gave advice to Cookworthy on astronomy. Swedenborg, as a young man visiting London, had attended lectures by the great scientists of his day. He visited Greewich observatory and was allowed to watch the Astronomer Royal,the Rev.John Flemsteed, doing his observations…It was thus he learnt how to calculate the eclipses of the sun and moon. Of greater importance was the fact that Swedenborg went to Oxford to meet Edmond Halley, with whom he discussed his own method of finding the Longitude at sea by observations of the moon."
While there is no evidence that Emmanuel Swedenborg was a Freemason, the Swedenborg Rite became an associated part of Freemasonry after his death. There is a good account of the influence of the Swedenborg's ideas on the Mason's with advanced degrees on this Masonic page from - The Grand Lodge of Columbia and Yukon -
" But non-membership of the Craft does not imply the absence of a relationship of some kind: the episode of the Illumines d'Avignon is clear evidence that Swedenborg had an influence upon Freemasonry, albeit unknown to himself; or, in Mackey’s words: 'it was the Freemasons of the advanced degrees who borrowed from Swedenborg, and not Swedenborg from them9.
Interestingly at the foot of the Grand Lodge article is a list of names relating to the Swedenborg Rite which includes poets like William Blake etc but also George Markham Tweddell of Stokesley lodge via whom I began this enquiry.
.......................................
STOODLEY PIKE - Todmorden - A Comparison.
On a recent visit to Todmorden in the Calder Valley, I was taken by Stoodley Pike which looked very similar to Captain Cook's obelisk on Easby Moor North Yorkshire. I picked up a couple of local history books in the information centre and looked on the internet. Although Stoodley Pike bears no relationship to Captain Cook, the similarities were striking and there was, in the local history account, an acknowledged Masonic involvement which there isn't for the North Yorkshire counterpart.
The first book was authored by Mrs E.M. Savage and called Stoodley Pike and published by the Todmorden Antiquarian Society.
Mrs Savage tells us that various legends and traditions suggest there had been 'a Cairn of some description' on the spot where the Pike now stands. Whatever the nature and origin, the facts are that there was a structure of some description long before 1814 when the first Pike was erected.
The first Pike was erected in 1814 by public subscription to 'commemorate the surrender of Paris to the Allies in
March 1814. The subscription was opened and to this the freeholders in the neighbourhood mainly contributed.
Savage tells us that "In order that the monument could be seen from a distance, a prominent part on Langfield Out-pastures was chosen." Savage lists the five trustees and the freeholders and their occupations.
The first Pike, which wasn't at all the same as the one on Easby moor (see picture)
However the first Pike was erected according to the following terms -
"...to perpetuate and commemorate the achievements which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland have so gloriously made for the nations of Europe by the Peace concluded in the year of our Lord 1814"
Savage tells us that the foundation stone was laid with full Masonic honours. According to accounts - " A youngster perched on his father's shoulder, leant forward to see all that was going on, and was touched accidentally by the Tyler's sword, and blood flowed freely."
However the incident didn't detract from the enjoyment of the occasion when among other rejoicings and feasting, a whole sheep was roasted.
John Billingsley, in his book Folk Tales from Calderdale says "the belief that cement mixed with blood - especially human blood - is stronger than standard mortar is familiar in the folklore record and is usually taken as an echo of ancient foundation sacrifices and offerings"
The inscription on the door read " This Monument was erected by Public subscription, to commemorate the Peace. Anno Domini 1814" However she tells that although work began on the Pike in 1814, Napoleon escaped from Elba on February 20th 1815, hostilities broke out again and building was suspended. When Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18th, building was resumed and finished in the same year.
Again John Billingsley comments " the cynicism which some have felt over the financing of the peace monument - the major part of the cost was subscribed by local textile manufacturers whohad made considerable sums in supplying uniforms to both side in the long war - was not shared by Tony Hegginbottom who argued for the sincerity of the local desire to for peace and emphasised the active involvement of local Quakers who were relatively numerous in Langfield"
It would seem that the obsession with Egyptology and the Cult of Reason during the French Enlightenment and the America Revolution were having some effect in England regardless of whatever connections there were in relation to Captain Cook or the defeat of Napoleon. - Discuss!
Like the monument on Easby, Stoodley Pike was also struck by lightening and destroyed and then rebuilt along with a lightening conductor. However, unlike it's Easby moor counterpart (as far as I know), Stoodley Pike had a strange coincidence attached to it -
Mrs Savage tells us that the Halifax Guardian headline on February 11th 1854 ran "Fall of Monument - An Evil Omen" the reported continued " On Wednesday afternoon, February 8th, between 5 and 6 o'clock, the inhabitants of Langfield were greatly startled by a loud rumbling noise, resembling the falling of roacks or a large pile of buildings. It was found that the pillar or monument erected on the height of Stoodley Pike in commemoration of Peace had fallen nearly to the bottom. A few years since, it was struck by lightening which cracked the walls in several places and to that its fall is mainly to be attributed..."
The reference to the Evil Omen, she tells us was due to the coincidence of the Russian Ambassador leaving London on the same afternoon owing the start of the Crimea war.
In 1854 the monument was rebuilt - again by public subscription - but the design this time was similar to the one on Easby more only with more design features involved.
John Billingsley, in his book Folk Tales from Calderdale, tells us
" Freemasons were certainly actively involved in planning the second monument, and their symbols remain in the architecture. Over the doorway can be seen a crossed compass and square and the six-pointed 'Star of David', whose interlocking triangles represent 'As above, so below'.There was no foundation ceremony as in 1814 but doubtless a masonic rite was performed and Heginbottom suggested it may have been a rite of consecration."
Billingsley goes on to suggest " The chosen obelisk design surely conformed to Masonic predilections (hence its use for Washington Monument in America) originating in Egypt, it was a sacred architectural form associated with the Sun-god Ra and later Osiris. Heginbottom suggests that obelisk adds another layer of meaning to the peace movement -that of the 'symbol of the Masonic God the Architect' .We might add that the obelisk form represents the Axis Mundi or world axis, and note how the current monument does indeed seem to be a fixed point around which the upper Calder valley revolves. Steve Hanson has suggested that the design of the Pike, in particular the staircase to the balcony, which one accesses under masonic signs over the doorway, further encodes masonic symbolism into the architecture - "the ascent into total darkness appears to replicate the masonic blindfold ceremony, a trial by ordeal, a leap of faith, after which enlightenment is is received with the removal of the blindfold and acceptance into the order.. the Pike might be designed to replicate this ceremony for the layperson, accent by ordeal followed by a privileged view."
The Cook monument, as far as I know, has none of the design features mentioned above - the symbols of the staircase or the balcony but certainly something was going on around the time of the French and American Revolutions etc that affected the landscapes of this country and perhaps Cook and the defeat of Napoleon were only the outward reasons for their construction. As far as Stoodley Pike is concerned Savage tells us that
"the carving of the emblems and the inscription was cut by Mr Luke Fielden, whilst it was believed that John Fielding himself drew up the inscription."
Steve Hanson tells us " The obelisk design of the tower is a ‘…reflection of patron Samuel Fielden’s freemasonry’ and of the society of the time’s obsession with Egyptology."
It seems that the Fielden family were largely involved with this project. Savage tells us that Samuel and J. Fielden of Dobroyd were chief subscribers. This site gives some background to the family http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~todmordenandwalsden/johnfielden.htm
...............................
So - an interesting comparison of ideas there and food for thought!
Comments