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Article FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. ← Page 5 of 5
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In England.
than was at first supposed , it was left in an unfinished state . In the following reign , attempts were made to save it from general decay , and by the assiduity of Archbishop Laud , in the reign of Charles I ., sufficient money was collected , and Inigo Jones , his Majesty ' s surveyor-general , was ordered to begin the repairs at the south-east end , aud to carry them on by the south to the west end .
The Deputy Grand Master , Jones , prosecuted the work with such diligence that in nine years time the whole was finished within and without , except the steeple , which was intended to be entirely taken down . A magnificent portico of the Corinthian Order was also erected at the west end , at the sole expense of King Charles I ., ornamented with the statues of his royal father and himself . Everything being iu readiness for
erecting the steeple and spire , which were to be of stone , an estimate was made of the money contributed and that already expended in repairs , whereby it appeared that one hundred and one thousand three hundred
and thirty pounds four shillings and eightpence had been received into the chamber of London , on this account , and but thirty-five thousand five hundred and fifty one pounds two shillings and fourpence paid out ; so that there appeared to be sufficient funds in hand to erect it in the most magnificent mauier . The flames of civil war now broke out , and put an end to this great
design . The revenues were now seized , the famous pulpit cross in the church-yard was pulled down , the scaffolding of the steeple was assigned by parliament for the payment of arrears clue to the army , the body of the church was converted into saw-pits , part of the south cross was suffered to tumble down , the west part of the church was converted into a stable , aud the new and stately portico into shops for milliners and
others , with lodging-rooms over them , in the erecting of which the magnificent columns were piteously mangled by the ends of beams which penetrated nearl y to their centres .
At the Res ! oration , a new commission was procured for its immediate repair , and great sums of money were raised by voluntary contribution , but before anything worthy of notice could be carried into effect , the dreadful fire of London reduced it to little better than a heap of ruins . After two years o ! fruitless labour in endeavouring to fit up some part of it for the purpose of divine worship , it was finally determined to raze the
whole foundation , and to erect a new building , which should equal if not excel the old in the display of wisdom , strength , and beauty . Contributions came in so exceedingly fast , that in the first ten years above one hundred and twenty-six thousand pounds were paid into the chamber of London ; a new duty was laid upon coals for defraying the expenses of the work , which averaged a produce of five thousand pounds
per annum , and the King annually contributed one thousand to the fund . ( To le continued . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In England.
than was at first supposed , it was left in an unfinished state . In the following reign , attempts were made to save it from general decay , and by the assiduity of Archbishop Laud , in the reign of Charles I ., sufficient money was collected , and Inigo Jones , his Majesty ' s surveyor-general , was ordered to begin the repairs at the south-east end , aud to carry them on by the south to the west end .
The Deputy Grand Master , Jones , prosecuted the work with such diligence that in nine years time the whole was finished within and without , except the steeple , which was intended to be entirely taken down . A magnificent portico of the Corinthian Order was also erected at the west end , at the sole expense of King Charles I ., ornamented with the statues of his royal father and himself . Everything being iu readiness for
erecting the steeple and spire , which were to be of stone , an estimate was made of the money contributed and that already expended in repairs , whereby it appeared that one hundred and one thousand three hundred
and thirty pounds four shillings and eightpence had been received into the chamber of London , on this account , and but thirty-five thousand five hundred and fifty one pounds two shillings and fourpence paid out ; so that there appeared to be sufficient funds in hand to erect it in the most magnificent mauier . The flames of civil war now broke out , and put an end to this great
design . The revenues were now seized , the famous pulpit cross in the church-yard was pulled down , the scaffolding of the steeple was assigned by parliament for the payment of arrears clue to the army , the body of the church was converted into saw-pits , part of the south cross was suffered to tumble down , the west part of the church was converted into a stable , aud the new and stately portico into shops for milliners and
others , with lodging-rooms over them , in the erecting of which the magnificent columns were piteously mangled by the ends of beams which penetrated nearl y to their centres .
At the Res ! oration , a new commission was procured for its immediate repair , and great sums of money were raised by voluntary contribution , but before anything worthy of notice could be carried into effect , the dreadful fire of London reduced it to little better than a heap of ruins . After two years o ! fruitless labour in endeavouring to fit up some part of it for the purpose of divine worship , it was finally determined to raze the
whole foundation , and to erect a new building , which should equal if not excel the old in the display of wisdom , strength , and beauty . Contributions came in so exceedingly fast , that in the first ten years above one hundred and twenty-six thousand pounds were paid into the chamber of London ; a new duty was laid upon coals for defraying the expenses of the work , which averaged a produce of five thousand pounds
per annum , and the King annually contributed one thousand to the fund . ( To le continued . )