Observations On The Antiquity Of Masons And Masonry In England.

middle of the tAA'elfth century and became the foundation of the different styles of architecture since called Gothic : and by the great encouragement Avhich AA as after-AA ards given to those Societies by several Popes AAdxo granted them particular privilegesthey continued making great

improve-, ments in the art , Avhich AA'as brought to its greatest perfection in the fifteenth century , the architects of that age having surpassed those of ancient Rome in the art of Masonry , and to them the moderns are obliged for the little knoAvledge they retain of it . But

the most refined principles of the art Avere alAA'ays kept secret from all but the most ingenious members of the Fraternity , in imitation of a kiA \ ' AA'hich the ancient architects had established among themselves * not to instruct any but their

, children , their parents or those Avho Avere capable of the knoAA'ledge required in an architect , and Avhose fidelity they could depend on . " They t styled themselves " Freemasons , and ranged from one nation " to another , as they found churches to be

" built , ( for many in those ages Avere in "building through piety or emulation . ) " Their government Avas regular and Avhere " they fixed near the building in hand they " made a camp of butts . A surveyor " govern'd in chief , every tenth man AA'as " called a Warden , and overlooked each " nine . "

Constantino by Avhose munificence these societies began to exist , had more occasion than any of his successors for artists of every sort relating to building . The churches that AA'ere built by him and his mother Helena in Italy , Palestine and GreeceAA'ith the city of Byzantium Avhich

, he rebuilt , allbrded sufficient employment for great numbers of Architects and Masons and notAvithstanding the arts Avere greatly degenerated in that age , there is no doubt but there Avere many artists at that time who had formerly been employed in

building Pagan Temples , Avho Avere induced by the privileges and salaries ailoAved by the Emperor to engage in building Christian Churches , and to teach others the principles of their art Avho were capable of learning * Yitruv Lib . vi pre—non erodietant nisi suos liberos aut cognastos , and eos viros bonos instituebant quibus tiinlaruin remm ficlei pecuniae sine dubitatione periiiittercntur .

them , by this means not only Italy but Palestine and Greece Avere furnished Avith architects and Masons , and in the fourth century Constantinople became the seat of polite arts from AA'hich other countries received them . But notAA'ithstanding tho encouragement given by Constantino for

the improvement of arts , Masonry made but little progress at that time , the buildings erected by that Prince Avere ill designed and Averse executed , many of them were too hastily run up , others Avanted solidity ; and most of them Avanted repairing in less

than tAventy years after they Avere finished . But Masonry degenerated as it was at that time , fell much loAver under the succeeding Emperors , for AA'hen Justinian in the sixth century undertook to rebuild the Church of Sophia AA'hich had been destroyed by

fire in a sedition AA'hich happened in his reign , he determined to build a church AA'hich should surpass all others in magnificence , and be proof against future accidents from fire . The designe AA'as made by Anthemius an ingenious architectand

, wanted neither beauty nor grandeur , but he dying soon after the foundations Avere laid , they found it difficult to procure Masons who were capable of executing it , and AA'bat they did AA'as so very defective , that one side either fell doAvn or cracked

before the other AA'as finished , liOAvever it AA'as at last secured and finished by Isidorus the younger , and other artists in the manner it IIOAV stands . * This building AA'hich is a mixture of Grecian and Gothic though very rich in marbles and ornaments of sculpture and MosaicsheAA'S IIOAV little the

, art of Masonry AA'as understood in tlie middle of the sixth century : But Justinian desirous of transmitting his name to posterity by Avorks of this kind , erected many churches in different parts of the empire , by AA'hich the same style of

architecture and Masonry Ai'ere established in many parts of Europe , Asia and Afrieit , and the art of Masonry improved aud spread into all countries Avhere the Christian religion AA'as propagated . In the beginning of the seventh century

about the year 627 Mahomed the grand impostor setting up himself for a prophet among the Saracens , that people soon after overrun the Eastern Empire and possessed themselves of Syria and Palestine , Jerusalem