The Spirit Of Gothic Art.

and the beauty of the art-spirit ; there is a magical power to enchain the mind in the web of enchantment , in beautiful forms and colours , the more especially when these are expressive of some great truths , for Beauty dwells on earth , the heaven-sent mistress of Truth and Good , and under its influence wo are attracted towards the Deity , as tho loftiest symbol of unchanging and

imperishable Beauty ; and art is only great and excellent when ifc glorifies the Almighty Architect of the Universe—of the innumerable systems of the infinite deep of heaven . A very unsavoury impression is prevalent in certain quarters—that Gothic art is something akin to Popery ! I do not think ifc is possible for anything to be more absurdseeing that it is contrary to authenticated

his-, tory . The papacy has always nourished with great preference Pagan art , which perpetuated human feelings z'athor than the divine , which last is the chief peculiarity of Gothic art . Although it may be perfectly right to say that there is a difference between the sky mirrored in the Cephissus and darkened in the Thames , and therefore to assert the great appropriateness of Gothic art in

northern climates , especially for ecclesiastical purposes , yet it is not right aesthetically to call Christian arfc superior to the Classic , or the Classic to the Christian , for in many respects each is superior to the other . Both are embodiments of chaste intellectual majesty , of beauty , sublimity , and grandeur ! The one is a grand epic poem , the other equally grand in its poetic imagery , rythmical

consonance , and a good deal besides . Expression is one ofthe grandest features in arfc ; for ecclesiastic purposes , nothing is so apt and expressive as the . Gothic . For festive purposes , what so expressive as Eoman Classic ? What can be more expressive for legal or municipal purposes than the chaste Grecian Classic ? For military or punitory purposes , what so apt and expressive as fche Tudor ?

Strictly speaking , there are bufc two classes of arfc , — Classic and Pagan , or Gothic and Christian . This brings to mind a circumstance which occurred in Scotland , as related by Dr . Payne . A church being about to be built in the Gothic style , occasioned one of the congregation to say to tbe minister , " Sir , I am sorry our new ehm * ch is to be built in the Papist style of art , " drawing at the

same time a tremendously long face . " Why , " replied the minister , " what are we to do ? We must either have the Papist or the Pagan style , for really there is no other in the realms of art . " The objector was thereupon readily reconciled . It is of no service using the arfc of rhetoric to destroy the singular and beautiful appropriateness of Gothic art

, for every word will become a weapon that must slay the wielder ; for the spirit of truth which breathed itself over the divine creations of pure Gothic art is of a nature calculated to kindle the loftiest emotions and to instil itself into every generous mind . It requires no vague tradition nor dreamy hypothesis to give ifc enchantment . Sufficient it isthat its tiara of proud towers

, , its lofty pinnacles , soaring spires , and gilded vanes , looking only grander and bolder amid the surrounding vapour of our cjlimate , seeming to wave simultaneously like fire-flags in tho breeze , and flashing over the mist in the first tide of the upper sunlight , and , as it were , lighting its way adown the dark perspective , produce a fairy and magical effectand under the influences of the

; varied and matchless splendour of Gothic art we cannot but be attracted towards Him who is the perfection of all beauty , and the source whence flows in uninterrupted succession all those varied gifts which enlighten and sanctify the soul .

"lor Him , ye pillars , rear your brows on high ! Lift up your heads , great portals of the sky ! What fairer dome , save that which heaven expands What worthier seat of temples made with hands , Have builders sage her pillar'd for His throne ! ITor nature ' s God a work like nature ' s own ?

The Spirit Of Gothic Art.

Or where unlike the forms her hands produce , Still like the grace , magnificence , and use ? In new designs her fair proportions shown , Her likeness traced in structures not her own ; Her measures follow'd , harmonies bestowed , On strange materials in an unknown mode ; And half her influence o ' er the mind imprest

, By different means , and thence with livelier zest . To raise up columns from the marble mines , Embower the boughs , and interlace with vines . ; llise higher still , and arch a vault on high , To shield the storms , and emulate the sky ; Cross aisles to vistas of her sylvan bower ; Kear for the sun on earth a lantern tower :

Adapt each limb with various height and length , And build the whole in unity and strength ; Copying abstracted , in a different plan , The grace and order of the world and man . And scarce with rapture less , and awe confound , And lift to God the wight who gazes round , Than who bereath a cliff sees capes and bays ,

Far tinged with sunset ' s red and yellow rays , Or nightly wandering hears the hills accord , And heavens declare the glory of the Lord . " F- IUNCIS DJUKE , in the Builder .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

JEBUSALEM . Everything that concerns the holy city must have special attractions for Freemasons , aud M . Pierotti , who was appointed honorary government architect and engineer , ' has lately published tlie result of hisseven years labours in exploring the holy city , and a few extracts from bis work may not be deemed out

of place here , as notes on a subject Avith which all our rites and ceremonies are more or less connected . His manner of proceeding , he states thus : — " In endeavouring to identify the spots mentioned by Josephus , in a place which lias undergone suchfrequent alterations , I have nofc imitated the example

of most writers , in ancient and modern times , who have copied one from another , and based their arguments on mere hypotheses ; but , during " a period of eight years , have devoted myself to a thorough examination of every part of Jerusalem ; have carefully studied the terrain , the rocks , the stones , which I have sought under the accumulated ruins of centuries have made deep excavations to trace the course oi

the ancient walls , underground passages , aud conduits ; have watched the digging of numbers of foundations , from day to day , within and without the city ; have collected information from persons worthy of credit and experience iu building , about the most important works which bad been carried out before my arrival ; have descended into and examined

cisterns , clean and dirty ; and after working like a labourer during tbe day , have read Josephus instead of going to sleep , and tested bis statements for myself . I did not use any other authors except Livy and Caesar , whose writings I studied in order to understand thoroughly the Roman art of Avar , and the siege

operations of Titus against the city ; and after I had done all this I made plans and sections ou the spot .. This being well-known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem , I fearlessly present the result of my labours to all Avho take an interest in the reconstruction of the city of tbe Herods . I may , indeed , sometimes be mistaken in my arguments or Avrong in my conclusions : if so , I shall be glad to be corrected ; tbaukfal