Masonic Triples.

imperishable basis , the edifice may , indeed , rear its stately form , and present in its grand proportions , like Solomon ' s Temnlo , an appearance of being more

the handiwork of the Great Architect of the Universe than of human hands . With our threefold key wo shall next inquire : What is tho voice of Masonic Triples concerning the Building—the edifice itself ?—Voice of Masonry .

The Masons Of The Middle Ages.

THE MASONS OF THE MIDDLE AGES .

THE men who p lanned tho Cathedrals of meduoval times were surely of devout imagination , but the workmen , if devout , were sometimes possessed by a mocking demon of unbelief regarding tbe sanctity of the

priesthood . What makes the marvel seom greater is , that the monks were , in the beginning of the gothic rabbles , the architects and builders of their own churches , ancl it is quite incredible that thev should have exposed an obvious

apologue ancl caricature the Jeering infidelity ancl wantonness of their order . This nxust have taken place at the later period of the art , when it hacl passed from the monastic fraternities into the exclusive keening of the lay

guilds , and when fche decay of faith and morals among the clergy was visited with daring sarcasm ancl contempt by the people . That the Masons wero unpunished for their audacious indiscretions may havo been because the

doctrines of the holy faith were not impugned , whilst the hypocrisy and vice exposed in tlie all expressive language of art the priesthood could neither defend or deny . It is

not in ihe least probable that these things would have been tolerated by tho dignitaries of the church unless the lay founders had lent their connivance . Mr . Findel , a German

writer on Freemasonry , whose works have been translated into English , supposes that the Masons wero haters of Popery at heart and believers in Evangelical truth , and that they were protected from persecution by the Guilds . In

the opinion that they held a creed of apostolic simplicity , I think that the historian shows that large faith of love , and that he is willing to accept on behalf of its object whatever is of good report . It is more likely that they were just a

trifle irreverent , and relished a joke more heartily than they enjoyed a mass . For instance , in the largo Church of Strasburg , wo aro told that in one of the transepts opposite the pulpit , a hog ancl a goat may be seen carrying a sleeping

fox as a sacred relic ; a bitch is following the hog , in advance of this procession is a bear with a cross , and before the bear a wolf holding a burning wax taper . Then follows an ass , which is reading mass at the altar . A

beautiful preserved altar piece in tho church of Doberan , Mecklenburg , exhibits priests grinding dogmas in a mill . In the Cathedral of Brandenburg a fox in priestly robes is preaching to a flock of geese . Iu the minster afc " Berne , in

a picture ( in that age architecture included painting ) of the last judgment , the Pope is amongst the damned . We arc all familiar with the uncouth faces of man and beast on our roedifoval buildings thafc clo duty for gargoyle and

corbel . Probabl y some of my readers have been in Temple Church , London , and must , have noticed the heads in miniature which form the finial of the pew-ends . There is

not , according to our modern notions of such things , a becoming expression of countenance iu any of them ; they a-e all grotesque with grimace , and each seems to strive to ou ' trriu the other .

Me . Findel , in hfs work on Freemasonry says , that the Masonic Guilds took their rise in the church-building middle ages , and that their places of birth were the frontiers of France and Germany . Many of the great churches

we're a long time in tho building , and the workmen thus embodied acquired the inevitable esprit de corps from community of interest , aud vocation . They were , in fact , a regiment of industry ; they were separated by their craft

anfi ils symbolism from the civilians amongst whom thoy had pitched their tents ; they wero commanded by a master , and very nine men were under ( ho vvardenship of fchy tenth . When tho Cathedral was completed ; when ifc

r d-c in tower and spire like a creation of wondrous frost work , the tents were struck and a new encampment found . But the men who wore in forne . cases sea ! tr-ml thromdiout the country still belong-d to the army of operative masons

, and could by . ( ho uso of sign or pass-word be at onco received info tin * ranks of a , new regiment . So thai , apart fro ; n 'Hiy r . i-erct rules of art , the iiH' -u-p-. ' -iv :. * . ; ,.. ** hid its ma-iiftiii , advantaged . . Indeed it had been ,:. - .. - . erro that thn

The Masons Of The Middle Ages.

architects of the finest churches , those which best exom . plified unity and grandeur of conception , wero either laymen or ecclesiastics who were members of the Guilds . If this were so , tho secrets of the Crafts must have been

those of mere construction and manual skill ; things which could bo best taught and acquired experimentally . They have left their marks , however , on the stones of those magnificent edifices . — Canadian Crajtsmav .

Ifc will be very gratifying for the Subscribers to hear that " our Girls " have again been particularly successful in tho Cambridge Local Examination . Out of 20 entered 18 have been successful , viz , 2 in the Senior Examination

and 16 in the Junior ; the 2 former and 5 of tho latter passing with honours , «•? follows : Senior Class—3 honours , Julia Harvey , ancl pass ; distinguished in religions knowledge , Edith Hicks . Junior Class— -2 honours , Jane

Taylor ; Class 3 honours , distinguished in religious knowledge , Mary Wyatfc ; Class 3 honours , Cecily Jardine , Agnes Donley , and Ellon Senior . Pass , Gertrude Ashworth , Clara Coales , Edith Oorney , Ada , Crow , Grace Barham ,

Catherine Hide , Mabel Lewis , Mabel Osmonde , Juliet Priestley , Mary Spalding , Ethel Stone . This result could only have beon achieved by good steady work throughout ,

and we must offer our hearty congratulations , not only to Miss Davis and her able staff of assistants , but also to tho pupils themselves .

Another Lodge will be added to the roll of the Province of Surrey on Tuesday next , when the Abbey Lodge , No . 2120 , will be consecrated afc the Masonic Hall , Cherfc . sey . The Prov . Grand Master , General J . Studholmo

Brownrigg , C . B ., will officiate , and he will bo supported by Bro . Charles Greenwood P . G . S . B . Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . James Terry Prov . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , and

other distinguished Masons . Bro . Henry Currie Leigh Bennett is the W . M . designate , while Bros . Col . Lorenzo George Dan das and William Henry Gardiner aro the Wardens designate .

Tho Chiswick Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 357 , held its regular meeting at Bro . Brill ' s , the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , on Saturday , 26 th ultimo .

Amongst other business , Bro . George Gardner was unanimously elected W . M . for the next twelve months . This brother was also nominated for Provincial Grand honours .

The Annual Dinner of the Chiswick Lodge of Instruction will be held at Bro . E . Gilbert ' s , Windsor Castle Hotel , King-strcct , Hammersmith , on Monday , fcho 15 th instant , at 7 * 30 sharp . Brethren arc kindly invited . Tickets 3 s Gd each .

We have been requested to state there will bo no meeting of the Langton Lodge of Instruction on Thursday evening , 10 th instant .

A convocation of the North London Chapter of Improvement was held on Thursday , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , N . Comps . Brasted M . E . Z ., Gregory IL , Stragnoll J ., Sheffield S . E ., Russell S . N .,

Rtidcliffb P . S . Tho work was well rehearsed by the Companions named , ancl a pleasant and instructive evening was spent . Companion Edmonds was in his place as Precentor .

The Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction , No . 1614 , will in future meet at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Thursdays , at 8 o ' clock in the evening . Brother W . C . Smith P . M . 1563 , Preceptor , will rehearse fche ceremony of installation on Thursday evening next .

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