Freemasonry In England.

, followed his example , and even appropriated the wdiole revenue of his see towards its advancement ; but , like his predecessor ,- he also left it unfinished , and it is supposed to have been completed by some lay persons , but at what time or in what maimer , is nowhere mentioned . William Rufus , who succeeded the Conqueror , is said to have exempted all ships entering the river Fleet with stone or other materials for the

new Cathedral from toll and custom . But , notwithstanding the length of time and great expense bestowed on this church , it had not been long completed when it was thought not sufficiently magnificent . The steeple was therefore rebuilt , and " finished about the year 1231 ; and Roger Niger being promoted to the see of London in 1229 , proceeding with the choir leted it in 1240 and solemnlconsecrated it afresh the

, comp , y same year , in the presence of the King , the Pope ' s legate , and ' many lords , both spiritual and temporal . This spacious and magnificent edifice being thus finished , a survey was taken of it , by which its dimensions appear to have been as follows -. — The length of the bod y of the church was six hundred aud ninety feet ,

the breadth , one hundred and thirty , the height of the roof in the west part , within one hundred and two feet , that of the east , eighty feet , and that of the body , one hundred and fifty , the height of the tower from the ground was two hundred and sixty feet ; from whence arose a wooden spire , covered with lead , two hundred and seventy four feet in height ; on the top of which was a ball nine feet one inch in circumference . This was crowned with a cross that was fifteen feet high , and the traverse six feet in length .

The ornaments of this Cathedral exceeded those of any other church in the kingdom . The high altar , which stood between two columns , was adorned with precious stones , surrounded with images most beautifully wrought , and covered with a canopy of wood , curiously painted , with the yepreseiitation of saints and angels . The new shrine of St . Erkenwald stood on the east side of the wall , above the high

altar , and was adorned with gold , silver , and precious stones ; bat not being thought sufficiently rich , in 1339 , three goldsmiths of London were retained by the dean and chapter to work upon it for a whole year , at the end of which , its lustre was so great that princes , nobles , ambassadors , and other foreigners of rank , flocked from all parts to visit it , and to offer their oblations before it . Amongst these embellishments were

all the rings and jewels of Walter de Thorp , aud the best sapphire stone of Richard de Presten ; which last was appplied to the curing of infirmities of the eyes , and proclamation of its virtues were made by express will of the donor .

The picture of St . Paul , finely painted , was placed in a wooden tabernacle on the ri ght side of the high altar , and was esteemed a masterly performance . Against a pillar in the body of the church , stood a beautiful image of the Virgin Mary ; and John Burnet , Bishop of Bath and Wells , bequeathed a handsome estate , that a lamp might be kept continuall y burning before it , and an anthem sung every day . In the centre of the church stood a large cross , and towards the north door a crucifix , at