Lodge Histories. St. Michael's Lodge, No. 211.

himself also subsequently a distinguished brother , was proposed and ( in November ) accepted as joining member of tho Lodge . Among donors to tho Lodge at this time must be mentioned Bro . Gouldittg , to whom a vote of thanks was accorded for having presented wands for theDeacons , and among sums voted , tho amount of ono guinea to the Aged Masons' Asylum . In December , Bro . Wilson was unanimously

elected Master , Bros . Edgar and Speight being re-elected Treasurer and Tyler respectively , aud after tho installation and appointment of Officers a Past Master ' s jewel was unanimously voted to Bro . Kincaid . In tho minutes of February 1838 occurs au entry on which some light would seem to bo desirable . A proposition is noted to the effect that " the sum of One Guinea bo given in aid of tho Masonic Tribute Fund . " Has this any reference to the testimonial which about this

timo was presented to tho Duke of Sussex ? If so , tho word " tribute" seems out of phico . A testimonial which is not freely given is worth but littlo . Or does it refer to something of less importance , tho word " tribute " being accidentally used in tho place of tho word " contribution . " Tho minutes , so far as we have had the opportunity of examining them , seem to have been so carefully compiled , thafc oven a slight error shonld , if possible- —and supposing , of course , it is an error—bo cleared up . ( To be continued . )

Soc. Rosicr. In Anglia. " Byland."

Soc . Rosicr . in Anglia . " BYLAND . "

A Paper read before THE YORK COLLEGE , at a Kegular Meeting held at the Masonic HaU , Thirsk , on the 2 nd of June 1880 , by W . FKA . T . J . WILKINSON , VP , Primus Ancient . R . W . Cn . ADEPT AND FRATRES , —In this , which is now a rich and verdant valley , sheltered from the north by the steep and densely

wooded declivities of Hambleton , the monks finally settled , after having wandered from Furness to Hode , and thence to Old Byland , over the summit of the hill , where we are told they were disturbed b y the bells of the too-near monastery at Rievaulx ; and also that " the territory could not bo made convenient for the construction of the Abbey . " Roger de Mowbray and Sir Thomas de Colvill , a snbinfendatory of

that baron , consequently gave them other lands under the hill of Black-how , and for thirty years they dwelt in the neighbourhood of Kilburn and Oldstead , about three miles from their subsequent resting place , at a place then called Stocking , but of which ifc is not known that any vestige remains , unless ifc be associated with an old farmstead which is now known by the name . During this period laro-e

tracts of land were added to their possessions , but they became involved in lawsuits with their neighbours •besides which , as a consequence of their prosperity , their old enemy , the Abbott of Furness , revived a claim for jurisdiction , which , on reference , was decided in their favour by Ailred , Abbott of Rievaulx ; and in A . D . 1155 , Roger of Bishopbridge , Archbishop of York , took this abbey under his

immediate protection . They determined therefore to migrate to the site on which they afterwards built tho abbey , and of which we now behold tho ruins . But as wo stand and admire the rich landscape which stretches around us , glorified by the picturesque relics of architectural grandeur , we must not forget the changes effected b y the labour of the monks , and thafc tho scene which wo now regard with so much

enjoyment , was originally but a wooded waste , pent up between the swamp of Whitaker on the south and the rugged hills on the north . The abbeys of the Cistercian Order , of which this was one , were usually situated in lonely mountain valleys , far away from the haunts of men , in accordance with the feeling expressed by St . Bernard , its great apostle , " Believe me , you will find more lessons in the woods

than in books . Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters . Havo you forgotten how it is written , - He made him to suck honey out of the rock , and oil out of the flint y rock ? Yon have need not so ranch of reading as of prayer ; and thus may God open your hearts to understand His law and His commandments . " Their rule was a very strict one : — " Silence was to prevail

throughout the monastery , and everything which might provoke laughter was to be avoided . No ono was allowed to speak unasked , and tho head and eyes were to be inclined downwards . The inmates of the monastery were to rise two hours after midnight for divine service , and every week the Psalter was to be sung throughout . All were to leave the church together at a sign from tho Abbot , lamps were kept

burning in then * dormitories , and they wero required to sleep clothed , with their girdles on . The habits and goods of the houso wore to bo in the hands of proper officers , and the Abbot was required to keep au account of thctn . No private property was allowed , and distribution was made according to ovary one ' s necessities . The monks were to serve weekly , and by tarns , iu the kitchen and at tho table . Upon

leaving their weekly service , both lie that left and ho that succeeded were to wash the feet of the others , and on Saturdays thoy were to clean all tho plates belonging to the houso , and resign them to the cellarer , who was to give , thorn to him whose turn it was to serve . Those who thus served had an extra allowance of victuals , in order that they might wait upon tho others checrt ' nllv . Tho silence whioh

reigned throughout the monastery waa unbroken during dinner , except by reading tho Scriptures . They wero read by a brother who was appointed for a week . There were to be two different dishes afc dinner together with frnit . One pound of bread was the dail y allowance and three-quarters of a-pint of wine . From Holy Rood Day ( 14 th

Sept . ) to Lent they dined afc nones ( throe o'clock ) •during Lent till Easter they dined at six ; from Easter till Whitsuntide , and during summer , they dined at sexfc , -i . e ., about , noon , except on Wednesday ; : and Fridays , on which days they dined afc nones . A collation or spiritual lecture waa to take place every nigh , before fjong , aud after

Soc. Rosicr. In Anglia. " Byland."

n ight song silence was again observed . If any wero tardy in attending church or table they wero punished by degradation , or by being deprived of part of their food . Thoy were to work . from prime till ten o'clock from Easter till Holy Rood Day ; and from ten to twelve thoy were ordered to read . After dinner the noon sleep was allowed for thoso who chose ; and after nones they woro to labour until the oven . "

These rules slackened in time ; but in the 12 th century St . Bernard recalled the monasteries to their severer practice . This Order was introduced into England about tho year 1128 ; its foundations very rapidly spread over tho country ; its houses in Yorkshire were very numerous ; and they woro invariably dedicated to tho Blessed Virgin . It has been described as a middle-class Order , not much learned in

book-lore , but consisting of tillers of tho ground—tho groat farmers of tho age . It is necessary wo shonld bear in mind that tho monks wero not merely " devout , " but were builders , blacksmiths , carpenters , and of all trades . A charming view of this abbey is obtained from the Oldstead road , a few yards from the ancient gateway , tho arch of which still spans

tho road . Tho adjoining postern has been destroyed . The hoary old porter with shaven scalp and keys of " trewest stele " has disappeared , and wo pass through without challenge .- bnfc we feel that we are on the track of regal pomp and lordly retinue to precincts whore the friendly traveller over found a welcome , for we are assured that the tables of the refectory—one of which is now the

communiontable in Thirsk Church—and the oortTiowwme of the monks never failed to sustain the hospitable character of the abbey . But it is now beautiful in desolation , and the west end of the west end of the church presents a striking picture with its solitary turret pointing like a finger heavenwards , hard by tho broken sweep of its magnificent circular window . Fragments of wall , column and arch , laden with dense

masses of ivy and bryony , stand hero and there indicating the area the edifice covered , and the height to which ifc towered . As in examining the structure we find indications of different periods in tho erection , it is probable that only so much of the church as was necessary for the daily offices was completed in the year 1177 , and that ifc was extended and the domestic portion added by degrees

afterwards . Its ground plan is like thafc of most other churches of the Order—a long nave with narrow aisles , two short transepts , and a short choir , but ifc possesses special features of its own . Ifc is remarkable as having a treforinm traversing its nave , transept , and choir , and it possesses three other peculiarities not to be found in any other Cistercian house in the kingdom : —the nave of extreme

length , the transept with a western as well as an eastern aisle , and the choir with a transverse aisle at its extremity . The western extremities of the south and north aisles show a difference of treatment both externally and internally , the former and probably the older , having a round-headed door-way , and over it a round headed window , aud the latter a pointed arch . Nine arches over the central doorway ,

beautifully finished , aro lancet-shaped , three of them pierced , and these aro surmounted by the magnificent circular window , already referred to , 26 feet in diameter , most picturesquely graceful in the broken outline of its ruined condition . It appears to have had no mullions or spokes , the glass having possibly been enclosed in a wooden rim or frame , like those of the lights of the choir . Corbels

indicate thafc there was formerly a Galilee porch attached to the west front of tho nave , a fact corroborated by the desire expressed by ono William Tiplady , in his will in 1426 , to be buried in the Galilee of St . Mary's Abbey , at Byland . The nave has been 200 feefc in length , and 70 feet in width , leaving a space of nearly 39 feefc for the central part . The transept is 135

feofc long , and 74 feefc wide , including side aisles . A portion of the north transept has been excavated , and many interesting discoveries would doubtless be made were the work of clearing carried forward : much might be done towards preserving the ruins and arresting the progress " of dilapidation . The bases of all the pillars in the nave are concealed beneath the sward . It is uncertain whether the slab of tho

high altar has been removed , or with its platform remains undisturbed The chief offices and domestic buildings of the convent were on tho south side of the church : the cloister quadrangle was larger than thab of any other Cistercian house in Yorkshire , being 145 feet square . Tho domestic buildings appear to have been of the very plainest character , and after the completion of the chnrch to have superseded

erections of wood and plaster . It has been a matter of question whether or not Roger de Mowbray , tho founder , was buried at Byland . In a genealogical history of his family , written in the time of Henry VIIL , and inserted in the register of Newburgh Priory , it is stated in monkish Latin thafc " this Roger having been signed with the cross , went into the Holy Land ,

and was captured there in a great battle by the Saracens . He was redeemed by tho Knights of the Temple , and worn out with military service ho returned to England . On his journey he found a dragon fighting with a lion in a valley called Samnel , when ho slow tho dragon , and the lion followed him into England , and to his castlo at llotlc . " It is difficult in this statement to separate fact from fiction ,

bnfc ifc proceeds to relate that he lived 15 years afterwards , died iu a good old age , and was buried at Byland under au arch iu the south wall of the chapter-house . Another history formerly among the monastic papers in St . Mary's Tower , York , said that ho was buried apud S _ rcs—in Syria . However , what were supposed to be his remains wero exhumed here from tho north-west part of tho chapter-house in

1818 by Mr . Martin Stapylton , " jjnided to the place by ancient MSS . " and conveyed in a fearful storm to tho church at Myton-upon-Swale . Hero Wymnud , tho warrior Bishop of Man and tho Isles , having been taken prisoner in ono of his marauding expeditions by a brother bishop , found an asy lum in his closing years after his eyes had been ptit out . Here , too , many of the " Colvillcs of the Dale , " a family

mentioned by Shakspoare in connection with fen- John Falstan , woro buried ; and hero , also , whilst at dinner , ou the 1 . 4 th October 1322 , Edward II . was surprised by the Scots , and his forces in the subsequent battle defeated , Alan , Earl of Richmond , being taken prisoner , and " the sun changing in the morning to a bloody colour , aud so continuing till eleven o ' clock . "