Observations On The Antiquity Of Masons And Masonry In England.

piece remaining . * By this destruction of churches Ave lost not only the finest specimens of Gothic architecture AA'hich had 2 on" been the ornaments of the nation and monuments of ancient piety ; but Ave lost at the same time that most A'aluable branch

of Masonry , the theory of vaulting . The Societies of ancient Masons Avere o-overned AA'ith great regularity , and their meetings Avere regularly and orderly held in the places appointed for their lodging during the time they Avere carrying on any

< rreat Avork . The business of their meetings Avas to instruct those AA'ho Avere admitted into their fraternity and to make improvements in the art and mystery of Masonry . As they were principally imp loyed in building churches , they Avere divided into companies and dispersed into different countries Avherever there Avere churches to build , each company having

a master and inferior workmen under him ; but in large Avorks , beside the master , there AA'ere several wardens , according to the number of masons employed , every Avarden had the care of nine men ; they likeAA'ise assisted the master in forming the moles f in tracing the stones and

, seeing them properly executed by the stone cutters , AA'ho prepared them for the layers Avho set them in their proper places , under the direction of the Avardens , AA'ho likeAA'ise saAV them properly backed by the tylers . John Dodington AA'as master of the Avorks

at King ' s Hall , anno 1435 , the thirteenth of Henry the Fourth . J In the year 1475 , the IGth of Echvard the Fourth , John Wulrich Avas Master Mason , and John Bell Mason Warden at Kings College Chapel , Cambridge , and in the year 1513 , the fourth of Henry the Eighth , John Wastell Avas Master Mason ,

* The confuse ! and unsettled state of religion after the Reformation , and the variety of opinions and sects which sprang from it , occasioned a total neglect of all sacred edifices . AVicliffe had formerly maintained « iat all beautifiill building of churches is blameworthy , and savours of hypocrisie , and those who wished to avoid the expence of repairing them declared it was neither necessary or profitable to have any church or chapel to pray in or doe any divine service in . And all costly ornaments were a high displeasure to God , rather than pleasing to him .

and Henry Semerk one of the Wardens of the same work . * The stonecutters Avero called latomi , and the Master Stonecutter principalis latomus . Those AA'ho filled the space betAveen the outer facings of tho Avails AA'ith rough stones and mortar Avere

called cementarii ; but Avhere wall tiles Avere used they Avere called tylers , and aftei'Avards bricklayers , by Avhich names they AA'ere incorporated , the year 1568 , by Queen Elizabeth .

Though every lodge Avas governed by its own master , it seems the Avhole community Avere under the direction of one Grand Master , or Surveyor-General , Avho presided at their yearly chapters and assemblies , AA'hich AA'ere held for makingrules , orders , and constitutions , necessary for the Avell-Koverning and benefit of the

fraternity in general . The Surveyor-General having the direction of the king ' s AA'orks could by virtue of a commission under his OAVII hand , delivered to . the Master Mason , call any number of Freemasons together ! and employ them in the king ' s Avorksand if any Mason or other

, labourer Avas negligent of his Avork , or behaved in such a manner as to hinder or disorder the company , he had a poAA'er of discharging if not punishing him . By an agreement made June the 4 th , 1513 , the fourth of Henry the Eighthfor finishing

, r the buttresses and toAvers of King ' s Chapel , in Cambridge , John Wastell , Master Mason , agreed to employ 60 Freemasons continually Avorking on those Avorks as soon as it AA'as possible for him to call them in by virtue of such commission as the surveyor of the

king ' s Avorks there ( Mr . Thos . Larke ) should deliver unto the said John Wastell . When a commission AA'as delivered to the Master Mason for calling in a number of masons to the Avork , officers Avere despatched to different places AA'here other

AA'orks were carrying on , to collect the number of Freemasons they Avanted . But as those officers Avere not proof against bribery they sometimes took money to excuse those AA'ho Avere unwilling to go , or Avere useful hands and could not be spared from the work they Avere engaged in , and