Architectural Development.

no sooner than a civilised nation has generalised the peculiarities of previous styles , and adapted them as her own , the styled arrived at becomes fixed , rarely improving beyond a certain limit , necessitated by the mechanical and other conditions of the age . It is only the discovery of a new principle , or constructive system , or the change of national idiocracy , that can give birth to

a new style . National and mental tranquility is another essential to qualify a style , or one truly a reflex of an age , and has invariably accompanied the greatest epochs of architectural growth . As before observed , it is unity of purpose that is necessary in developing art . At the Reformation this was broken , and the habits and thoughts of the

nation were forced into new and various channels which revolutionised existing nationalities , and with them , architectural principles . Theological , intellectual , and political unity , were all more or less sacrificed , and as certainly progressive indigenous art-development . We have been considering chiefly the mental expression of architecture—the higher impression of nationality

on it . But beside these influences , which are manifested hy the aesthetic and phonetic utterances of art , there are others more direct and which properly precede these , namely , mechanical principles and constructive systems . The beam system being the simplest , it naturally comes first , and necessarily becomes sooner perfected . Its very nature necessitated a purelconventional

y manner—intuitive ideas of proportion and mathematical repetition and exactness being its laws . Exactness , and symmetry of parts , seem early associated with our first impressions of beauty , no less than with the simplicity of the beam system of construction . The arcuated system involved other principles which had to be considered and applied . Timidly used at first ,

it gradually became engrafted on the former system , till it was fully developed aud perfected in the Romanesque and Gothic . Though the Oriental origin of the pointed arch has heen refuted by many , it still claims precedence ; the fact of the pointed form being almost simultaneously used hy many European countries strengthening this view . Whatever may be the probability of the theory

of intersection of circular arches , given as its origin , resting on the fact that most buildings in Germany , Italy , and elsewhere , concurrently used the round and pointed forms , before the former was entirely supplanted , certain it is that it was used in the East long before its adoption in Europe . In Periclean Greece and Mediseval Englandboth

-, sys tems of construction had their full utterance—one as essentially opposed to the other as the one was human , the other spiritual and aspiring . Though Grecian and Gothic architectui-e respectively possessed the two great opposite systems , yet the intermediate stages architecture took , as the Roman , Romanesque , Byzantine , & c , were not merely transitional , but distinctive

developments , in ivhich the two opposed principles of trabeation and arcuation were equally blended . When a new system of construction or some new material is introduced , we may reasonably think of a 19 th century style ; ive may hazard the opinion that metallic construction * may yet be productive of results . In the meanwhile , as we before said , judicious combination , or

even discriminate imitation , is justifiable . As we noticed , the system of elaborating existing forms so prevalent in the pointed styles , was greatly conducive to their beautiful results . Thus the early pierced window became the rich floiving one , the simple groin was developed into the fan and pendant groining , and the simple tower covering became ^ at last the . tapering and elaborated spire .

It is the task of analysing and generalising existing forms of art , or those common to all , as Garbett says , but combining these with the spirit and peculiarities of the age , that we must impose upon ourselves . The wayward impulses of misdirected genius will never do this ;

Architectural Development.

it must be to the storehouses of past results that we must look for instruction . Thus , architecture may he said to embrace three great expressions—national , intellectual , and mechanical ; to the first tAvo being referred the inner and moral life of a nation , its religion and artistic appreciation , as Avell as its physical capabilities , Avhich make up its peculiarities ;

to the latter , the system of construction and appliances which a nation imposes—the vehicle by which art expresses the higher qualities . Some of the legitimate processes by which these expressions are arrived at we have attempted to elucidate . It may be asked , Avhy does not the 19 th century , with its improved mechanical apliances and the results of past stylesjproduce a new stle ?

p y The answer , as we have suggested , will be found to consist in the simple fact that we lack that spirit ^ and study of the past—that free and generalised vieAV of national wants and peculiarities Avhich the breathings of our own Gothic style so pourtray . —Building News .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TIIE PELICAN . From whence is the phrase , "The Pelican in her piety , " taken f—R . C . KNIGHTS OE TIIE MOON . [ The querist will find this answered by Bro . Hyde Clarke in THE MAGAZINE of September 8 , 1858 . ]

THOMAS SMITH AVEBB . What was the particular kind of working which is known in America as the Webb working ?—A . R . —[ A jumble of Preston ' s . ] UNION OP GERMAN MASONS . The general meeting of the Union of German Masons ,

of which Bro . Woodford is a corresponding member , took place in August of this year , at Wiesbaden . The next annual meeting will take place at Glauchan , Saxony . —J . G . FINDEL .

FREDERICK THE GREAT AND TIIE SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL . What was the date ivhen Ifredei-ick the Great , of Prussia , ratified the Constitution of SS . GG . II . GG . — 33 ° ultimique gradus ?—ORDO AB CHAD . —[ May 1 st , 1786 . ] B . ED CROSS 0 ? CONSTANTINE . What is the degree called the Red Cross of Constantino , and how can I obtain it ?—A KNT . OP MALTA . —[ It

is the same known in America as Knights of the Red Cross . Not a regular degree , acknowledged all over the world , but one of that numerous body ivhich are nobody's children . Several brethren in England say they can give it , but it is questionable . We English are in everything great lovers of regularly organised authority , and we know of no competent jurisdiction from whom you might receive it . ]

MASONIC BOOK HAWKING . A man called on me a few days since , and , as I was from home , left the following in an envelope , stating he " would come for orders " in the course of a week or two By what authority are such things sold ?—MASONICUS . — THE MASONIC TEXT-BOOK , 32 mo , cloth , plain . „ ,, cloth , full gilt .

„ „ Tucks , gilt edge . The above is intended as a Pocket Manual , and embraces all the Degrees , from Entered Apprentice to Knights of Malta . Beautifully illustrated , with useful guides and instruction for the Craft . [ By none . There are several travelling pedlars , who are supplied from a London house with reprints of American books , and we have no doubt this is one of that series . The book , if it has any value in America , is worthless here . ]