Masonic Facts.

stand , so that they frightened even the wisest out of their wits . " Erench and English artificers were therefore summoned , but even these differed in opinion . On the one hand , some undertook to repair the aforesaid columns without mischief to the walls above . On the

other hand , there were some who asserted that the whole church must be pulled down if the monks wished to exist in safety . This opinion , true as it was , excruciated the monks with grief , and no wonder , for how could they hope that so great a work should be completed in their days by any human ingenuity .

However , amongst the other workmen there had come a certain William of Sens , a man active and ready , and as a workman , most skilful both in wood and stone . Him , therefore , they retained , on account

FIG . 9 . —Gates of Somnauth , Oth century .

wishing to have the work as good as he promised , and above all things , to live in security . " And now he addressed himself to the procuring of stone from beyond the sea . He constructed ingenious machines for loading and unloading ships , and for drawing cement and stones . He delivered molds for shaping the stones to the sculptors who were assembled

, and diligently prepared other things of the same kind . The choir , thus condemned to destruction , was pulled down , and nothing else was doue in this year . " * * * # * # # $ After giving particulars of work clone every year , and writing of 1178 he says : — " In the summer of

of his lively genius and good reputation , and dismissed the others . " And he , residing many days with the monks and carefully surveying the burnt walls in their upper and lower parts , within and without , did yet for some time conceal what he found necessary to be donelest

, the truth should kill them in their present state of pusillanimity . " But he went on preparing all things that were needful for the work , either of himself or by the agency of others . And when he found that the monks began to be somewhat comfortedhe ventured to

, confess that the pillars rent with the fire , and all that they supported , must be destroyed , if the monks wished to have a safe and excellent building . At length they agreed , being convinced by reason , and

which , commencing from the cross , he erected ten pillars , that is , on each side five , of which the two first were ornamented with marble columns to correspond with the other two principal ones . Upon these ten he placed arches and vaults . And having , in the next place , completed both sides , the triforia and upper windowshe wasat the beginning of the fifth yearin the

, , , act of preparing with machines for the turning of the great vault , when suddenly the beams broke under his feet , and he fell to the ground , stones and timber accompanying his fall , from the height of the capitals of the uppervault , that is to say , of 50 ft . Thus sorelybruised by the blows from the beams and stones , he