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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Feb. 1, 1855
  • Page 11
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 1, 1855: Page 11

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Untitled Article

as Christians , desire , and which is only administered to those who have been found to be worthy recipients of its minor virtues . But it is rather the consideration of the structural and decorative symbolism of these temples which is our present object ; and first , with reference to structural symbolism . The main walls which have to sustain the thrust of the roof , we find are composed only of such

stones as have had their knobs and excrescences rudely removed : they were compactly laid , and cemented together by a composition of hot lime and gravel , and therefore not unworthily represent that Brotherhood , who are bound to each other by the warmest ties of friendship and esteem . At the angles of the walls , and in other convenient positions , hewn stones were placed ; these were wrought bv the chisel with the greatest care , and finished with level beds ,

upright joints , and square angles , and had occasionally designs of rare beauty wrought upon their face . The roofs were constructed and tiled in the most skilful manner ; their parts were composed of a number of carefully hewn stones , swung together in mid-air , each having a common centre ; while at the groin , formed by two or more of these roofs intersecting , beautifully moulded , and occasionally carved , ribs were inserted , the whole forming a network of much beauty .

In some examples , too , a carved boss , or sculptured figure of a saint , and sometimes even of an animal , enriched the interior of these roofs . At the lower point , where the arches were gathered together by the groining , the force was concentrated , and consequently this was the point where the greatest resistance was required ; here , then , they placed a strong buttress , which , like a sturdy Brother , kept the whole in equilibrium , while , to mark its importance and value , it was frequently honoured by some amount of decoration .

Light was admitted into these temples by openings left in the walls , which openings were like the lights of Preemasonry , cast into such symbolic forms as should best explain the truths they were intended to illustrate . Symbolic illustration was also employed in the glass which was placed in these openings , which , being stained into representations of the forms of the earliest expounders of our faith , beautifully typify , by their resplendent hues , the glorious career of those devout men .

To protect the tracery of these openings from the continual dripping of such water as should run down the walls , moulded labels were placed round their arches , at the terminations of which quaint monsters were occasionally placed , watching , as it were , to prevent the intrusion of any but the purest rays of heaven .

Hound the principal doorways , also , these labels and their quaint terminations were placed , while , in some instances , round the entire arch of the door was sculptured figures illustrative of the lives and virtues of those men who had devoted their best energies to the service of their Order . In the balance of powers , or order , which usually pervades the

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1855-02-01, Page 11” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_01021855/page/11/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Obituary Article 60
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION. Article 59
ERRATA. Article 64
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 22
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . Article 24
THE PRINCIPLES OP MASONRY. Article 9
KNIGHT TEMPLARISM. Article 48
MASONIC CURIOSITIES. Article 13
LAYS OF THE WAR. BY BBO. G. K. GILLESPIE, A.M. Article 18
CORRESPONDENCE Article 20
REVELATIONS OF A SQUAREE.* Article 1
PATRIOTIC FUND. Article 24
METROPOLITAN. Article 25
LANCASHIRE. Article 34
PROVINCIAL. Article 29
IRELAND. Article 53
INDIA. Article 55
METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. Article 57
CHAPTERS OF INSTRUCTION. Article 60
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 61
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Untitled Article

as Christians , desire , and which is only administered to those who have been found to be worthy recipients of its minor virtues . But it is rather the consideration of the structural and decorative symbolism of these temples which is our present object ; and first , with reference to structural symbolism . The main walls which have to sustain the thrust of the roof , we find are composed only of such

stones as have had their knobs and excrescences rudely removed : they were compactly laid , and cemented together by a composition of hot lime and gravel , and therefore not unworthily represent that Brotherhood , who are bound to each other by the warmest ties of friendship and esteem . At the angles of the walls , and in other convenient positions , hewn stones were placed ; these were wrought bv the chisel with the greatest care , and finished with level beds ,

upright joints , and square angles , and had occasionally designs of rare beauty wrought upon their face . The roofs were constructed and tiled in the most skilful manner ; their parts were composed of a number of carefully hewn stones , swung together in mid-air , each having a common centre ; while at the groin , formed by two or more of these roofs intersecting , beautifully moulded , and occasionally carved , ribs were inserted , the whole forming a network of much beauty .

In some examples , too , a carved boss , or sculptured figure of a saint , and sometimes even of an animal , enriched the interior of these roofs . At the lower point , where the arches were gathered together by the groining , the force was concentrated , and consequently this was the point where the greatest resistance was required ; here , then , they placed a strong buttress , which , like a sturdy Brother , kept the whole in equilibrium , while , to mark its importance and value , it was frequently honoured by some amount of decoration .

Light was admitted into these temples by openings left in the walls , which openings were like the lights of Preemasonry , cast into such symbolic forms as should best explain the truths they were intended to illustrate . Symbolic illustration was also employed in the glass which was placed in these openings , which , being stained into representations of the forms of the earliest expounders of our faith , beautifully typify , by their resplendent hues , the glorious career of those devout men .

To protect the tracery of these openings from the continual dripping of such water as should run down the walls , moulded labels were placed round their arches , at the terminations of which quaint monsters were occasionally placed , watching , as it were , to prevent the intrusion of any but the purest rays of heaven .

Hound the principal doorways , also , these labels and their quaint terminations were placed , while , in some instances , round the entire arch of the door was sculptured figures illustrative of the lives and virtues of those men who had devoted their best energies to the service of their Order . In the balance of powers , or order , which usually pervades the

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