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Article FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. Page 1 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In England.
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .
Continued from page 310 . In the rebuilding of the city of London , which was carried on with the utmost dilligence , the work of Masonry became more directed towards the convenience of commerce and manufacture than the beauty of design , and in descending from the sublime to matters of more general utility , it
appears to have lost a great deal of the poetry with which it had hitherto been invested . The style of classic architecture now in general use , molded by the master mind of Sir Christopher Wren , no doubt produced buildings better calculated for domestic and public convenience than any that had preceded them , but still they are copies from other masters , and want the charm of nationality and peculiarlEnglish design which so
y strikingly distinguish the works of our more early brethren . It also appears that the uninitiated of this period had greater influence than heretofore in altering the plans laid down by time and experience , and every gentleman who by travel . had the opportunity of viewing foreign works of art , had his peculiar taste , and considered that his notions of construction were worthy of consideration . Hence we find that the
Deputy Grand Master had' greater difficulties to contend with than ids predecessors , in preserving anything like order and regularity ; and it was only by the greatest exercise of patience aud perseverence that he was enabled to gain scope for the exercise of his great genius ; and we regret to find that although later ages have recorded their debt of gratitude towards himhis great works did not procure for him an exemption from
, the annoyances of little minds . And , with shame be it spoken , that in his latter days , he was suffered to sink into obscurity , to escape the malevolence of those who were envious of the superior blessings with which the Great Architect of the Universe had endowed him .
In the great mass of building in this period , the restoration of St . Paul ' s Cathedral claims our peculiar attention . Dr . Wren produced several designs in order to consult the public taste , and finding an universal desire for something magnificent and worthy of a great metropolis , and to be the principal Cathedral of the Reformed Church , he constructed a model of wood which was submitted for approbation ; but the bishops
deciding that it was not sufficientl y in the Cathedral style , he was ordered to amend it ; he then produced the scheme of the present structure , which was honoured with the King ' s approbation . The surveyor , however , appears to have preferred his first model , which was of the Corinthian order , like St . Peter ' s , at Rome , and would have executed it with more cheerfulness than the one now erected . This elegant model is
still kept in an upper apartment of the Cathedral , and is a real curiosity . The King , with Grand Master Rivers , his architects and craftsmen , nobility and gentry , lord mayor and aldermen , bishops and clergy , & c ., in due form levelled the footstone of the present Cathedral , 1673 . The Deputy Grand Master Wren conducted the building , as master of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In England.
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .
Continued from page 310 . In the rebuilding of the city of London , which was carried on with the utmost dilligence , the work of Masonry became more directed towards the convenience of commerce and manufacture than the beauty of design , and in descending from the sublime to matters of more general utility , it
appears to have lost a great deal of the poetry with which it had hitherto been invested . The style of classic architecture now in general use , molded by the master mind of Sir Christopher Wren , no doubt produced buildings better calculated for domestic and public convenience than any that had preceded them , but still they are copies from other masters , and want the charm of nationality and peculiarlEnglish design which so
y strikingly distinguish the works of our more early brethren . It also appears that the uninitiated of this period had greater influence than heretofore in altering the plans laid down by time and experience , and every gentleman who by travel . had the opportunity of viewing foreign works of art , had his peculiar taste , and considered that his notions of construction were worthy of consideration . Hence we find that the
Deputy Grand Master had' greater difficulties to contend with than ids predecessors , in preserving anything like order and regularity ; and it was only by the greatest exercise of patience aud perseverence that he was enabled to gain scope for the exercise of his great genius ; and we regret to find that although later ages have recorded their debt of gratitude towards himhis great works did not procure for him an exemption from
, the annoyances of little minds . And , with shame be it spoken , that in his latter days , he was suffered to sink into obscurity , to escape the malevolence of those who were envious of the superior blessings with which the Great Architect of the Universe had endowed him .
In the great mass of building in this period , the restoration of St . Paul ' s Cathedral claims our peculiar attention . Dr . Wren produced several designs in order to consult the public taste , and finding an universal desire for something magnificent and worthy of a great metropolis , and to be the principal Cathedral of the Reformed Church , he constructed a model of wood which was submitted for approbation ; but the bishops
deciding that it was not sufficientl y in the Cathedral style , he was ordered to amend it ; he then produced the scheme of the present structure , which was honoured with the King ' s approbation . The surveyor , however , appears to have preferred his first model , which was of the Corinthian order , like St . Peter ' s , at Rome , and would have executed it with more cheerfulness than the one now erected . This elegant model is
still kept in an upper apartment of the Cathedral , and is a real curiosity . The King , with Grand Master Rivers , his architects and craftsmen , nobility and gentry , lord mayor and aldermen , bishops and clergy , & c ., in due form levelled the footstone of the present Cathedral , 1673 . The Deputy Grand Master Wren conducted the building , as master of the