Architecture And Archæology.

scats of the congregation . The exact position of each , and even the design , are generally not settled until the church is nearly completed ; perhaps , indeed , it is fortunate sometimes in the case of the pulpit , as instances might be found AA'here through inattention to acoustic requirements in tho first instance , a change in its position is absolutely necessary . But supposing that the pulpit is of stone and thc

readingdesk on a stone plinth , this is not all that is required to meet the principles Ave started with , unless they form part of the building . You may have stone furniture as independent of it as wooden furniture ; and , with regard to the readingdesk , architects unfortunatel y find a great difference of opinion among the clergy ; one wants a largo desk looking north and AA'est , another Avishes the Avhole desk to face

Avest ; and a _ third Avishes , perhaps , to read prayers from a small desk in the chancel seats , and the lessons from a moveable lectern . Without venturing to express an opinion as to what is absolutely the light form of reading desk in a ritualistic point of vieAV , I feel a strong conviction , that architecturally speaking , wherever prayers are habitualiy read by the minister , the building should give some indication of the fact . We have before us the Avell-knoAvn examples of the arrangement of the early Christian basilica , Avhere

we find this principle carried out in every point as completely as could bo done in adapting a building originally designed for secular purposes to the requirements of public Avors ' hip ; such parts of the building ascouid be still used in Christian Avorship Avere adapted , and Avhat Avas wanting Avas added architecturally and incorporated in the building as far as possible . Thus the bishop , ' and presbyters , as you knoAv , took the laces of the

p prffitor and his assessors , the Roman altar became the Christian holy-table , and a quire Avas tbroAvn out into the nave , enclosed on three sides oy IOAV walls . The ambos , from Avhich the Gospel and Epistle were read , were actually built into these enclosing Avails , and thus made part of the church . The church of San Clemente , at Rome , as you all knoAv , shows in the most perfect manner the

arrangement of the early basilica . Although rebuilt in 790 , it Avas exactly on the original plan , and it is owing to the fact of all the ritualistic arrangements being absolutely solid and architectural , and not merely moveable furniture , that _ we are able at this time to understand fully the allusions and descriptions of early Avriters . Those AVIIO have not seen the church itself , to judge of the eloquent manner iu Avhich the building speaks its purposes , Avill find it illustrated and described in Gaily Knight , and in Ferguson ' t Handbooh .

Now , although the ambos do not , exactly ansAver to our reading-desk , yet their uses Avere sufficiently similar to justify the analogy , and I think we may well take a hint from them . There is a good reason for the lectern to be moveable in the fact that a layman sometimes reads the lessons , as is the custom in college chapels , and not unfrequcntly in village churches , but I think Ave ought certainly to make the prayer-desk an architectural feature . ( To be Continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

AVAGES AT THE TEAZLE . In Mackey ' s Lexicon it states that there Avas an old tradition among tho English , that the Masons at Avork at the Temple wore paid in their lodges by shekels ( value 2 s . 3 d ) , and that the amounts AA'ere as folloAvs : — £ s . d . Entered Apprentices 2 3 FelloAV Craft 9 0 Mark

Man 10 3 MarkMaster . ' 1 16 0 Master Mason 2 16 3 Architect 4 10 Grand Architect 5 10 3 Excellent Mason 7 4 0 Super-excellent Mason 9 2 3 Now , supposing this to be anything like the truth , we have here reached to thc ninth degree only ; and taking the rite ot iviizraim as composed of 99 ° , or the Ancient and Accepted

rite of 33 ° , how much did the superior officers of the 99 th or 33 rd degrees take per diem ?—STATIST . THE OLD COXCOKD ( jfO . 201 . ) Has the Old Concord ( No . 201 ) , any distinctive medal for its members ? Your ansAver in the next will oblige . —X . I ?—• [ Wo do notknoAV ; AVO were never present . It has no right to a Centenary jewel before 1868 . Perhaps some member of

that lodge will ansAver the above . ] CLEANING ArEOXS . Caul get my Craft-apron cleaned by any one ? it has seen good service , and is sirch beautiful leather that it seems a pity to discard it?—A . JACKSOK . —[ You cmi ; any leatherdresser Avill have it made to look like neAv ; but you will then want neAV ribbons , tassels , and lining , and after paying for

the cleaning , Ave are inclined to think it Avill cost you some five , or six shillings , more than a neiv one . At any rate , consult Bro . Wm . Piatt , of Beaufort Buildings ; he Avill put you right on the matter . ] THE MOST , AXD LEAST , SVitEJlOTJS LODGES . Which are the most , and least , mimcrous lodges in the Craft ?—DENIS * * *—[ The EobertBurns ( 25 ) isAVO belieA'e

. , , the most numerous ; the least numerous we cannot specify , because it is not likely any lodge will admit it . ] BRO . THE LATE DUKE 01 ? EICIIAIOXD . The AtJiaonum of December Sth , speaking of our late E . W . Bro . thc late Duke of Richmond , terms him " a manly representative of a class of noblemen that is yearly becoming less numerous . " —BRO . PETER .

THE DEGKEE OP MAHK MASTEE . Several of the old Craft lodges in tho North of England have been in tho habit of giving the Mark degree " from time immemorial , " which I take to mean for so long , that the present members do not know AA'hen it was first begun amongst them , or else from thc commencement of their Craft lodge . Would it not be well for us to ascertain with hoAV many lodges this custom still prevails ? I knoAv it Avas

given until recently in the Bury lodges , and is still given in some of the nei g hbouring Lancashire lodges . I took it myself at Radclilf Bridge , at Avhat they term an " Ark , Mark , Link , and Wressle Lodge , " in connection with Faith Lodge ( No . 430 ) , held at the Bull's Head . My own opinion is , that it Avould be good policy , as Avell as justice , for the Grand Lod of English Mark Masons to admit all such

ge lodges on easy terms , and endeavour to secure uniformity of working . Thc degree of Wessle Mason I consider altogether an absurdity , and that of the Ark little better . I could manufacture an hundred quite as genuine in a feAV Aveeks . —GEOHGE MAEICHAAI TAVEDDELL .

IRISH RITE . In reply to ' ¦ ' Ex . Ex ., " Dr . Oliver gives the folloAving : —As composing this rite , divided into four orders , each under its respective representatives ( in addition to the Order of Mizram , consisting of 90 ° , Avhich is possessed by some members of tbeCollegc of'E . IL , but not practised ) . 1 st Class—1 , E . A . P . ; 2 , F . C ; 3 , M . M . ; 2 nd Glass—4 . R . A .: 5 , P . M . ; 6 , Excellent Master ; 7 Super-excellent Master ( the two latter

, appear to haA'e been formerly given Avith , or as , the " Yeils " in this country ) . 3 rd Glass—8 , Knight of the Sword ; 9 , Knight of tho East ; 10 , Knight of the East and West ; 11 , Knight Templar . 4 th Class ¦ —12 , Pose Croix , ov Prinoe Mason ; 13 , Kadosh or Philosophical Mason ; 14 , Knight of the Sun ; 15 , Grand Inspector General—the 33 ° of the Ancient and Accepted Eite ; the fourth class , in point of fact ,

conferring a degree more than is practised by the " Supremo Council" of England . Tho foregoing arrangement is a highly sensible one , and far before the divided system of this country , partly introduced since the surrender of tho fourth class by the Templars , Avhich has reduced that Order to a mere Masonic degree , and totally at A'ariance ivith tho system of the French " Order of the Temple , " which

confers nine Masonic degrees ( in its OAVU body ) , including the 30 ° . I trust thc neAV Grand Master Avill reconsider this surrender of its birthright , or admit non-Masons at a higher fee . —A . GEOBGE GAAl'THOEX ' . Was George Gawtkorn , who printed and published thc old FUEEMASONS' MAGAZIXE at tho " British Library , " No . 132 , Strand , a Mason , and , if so , to AA'hat lodge did ho belong ?—G . T . B . '