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Article MASONIC FACTS. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Facts.
Conrad de Lichternberg was the Bishop who laid the first stone of the present edifice in 1276 . The ceremony of laying it was splendid ancl imposing . After tlie celebration of Hi g h Mass , upon the anniversary ofthe Purification , of the . Yirgin , Conrad , at the head of all the Clergy of the place , accompanied by a numerous procession of the inhabitantswalked
, thrice round the extremities , of what was considered to be the old cathedral . He then dug up three shovels ' full of earth , and was followed , iu the like ceremony , by the rest of tlie clergy . Tlie workmen immediatel y began to dig out the foundations ; but two of them disputing about the honour of commencing just where
the Bishop had first put his spade to the earth , a quarrel ensued , and one was killed by the other with his spade . This was considered an inauspicious commencement . The work was interrupted for 9 days ; and the ground re-consecrated ; the foundation stone of the west front was then laid , upon whicli the towers
were to be built . iEneas Sylvius ( afterwards Pope Pius 2 nd ) , was the Pope ' s legate at Basle , and came frequently to see the west front of this celebrated cathedralduring its
, erection . In 145 S he was Pope , and in a letter says of this church , " secto lapide magnifice constructa , in aniplissimam fabrieam assurexit , duabus ornata turribus , quai'iim altera , quae perfecta est , mirabile opus caput inter nubila condit . "
J . " G . M . Sforza Yisconti , Duke of Milan , wrote in June , 14 S 1 , to the Chief Magistrate of the town , to send over to him some skilful architect or builder to superintend the construction of the cupola of his own superb metropolitan church , whicli he was theubeginino- to erect—such beins the admiration of those
employed in the cathedral of Strasbourg . — Grandidier , JEssai sur Hist , et Topoy . VJSylise Calhcdrale de St-rasioury , 17 S 2 . Strasbourg , in the middle ages , was celebrated for its school of masons , and the fraternity there was acknowledged by kindred associationsand in time
re-, ceived the appellation of the Ilaupi Suite , or Grand Loclge , and exercised supremacy over the hullen of various countries bordering on the Moselle . The Masters of various lodges met at Ratisbon in 1459 , and on the 25 th of April contracted an act of union , recognising the chief of Strasbourg Cathedral as the
head of the Freemasons in Germany . The Emperor Maximilian confirmed this act by the diploma which he gave in this city in 1498 , which Charles Y ., Ferdinand , ancl their successors renewed . One Dotzinger , of Worms , who had succeeded Hiiltz , was the first Grand Master . Grandielier says that the first
lodges were held in a building called the ILaurerlioff , in the Place opposite the Chapel of St . Catherine . Their statutes , 1459-1464 , in the original German , were first published b y Carl Heicleloff , in 1844 , at Nuremburg .
In the cathedral , there is yet preserved two boards , on which are delineated about 150 marks of the masons , formerly engaged in erecting the building . — I am indebted to Bro . G . Kloss , the present architect of the cathedral , for the following marks , taken from that portion erected in the 12 th century . ( See Figs . 49 , 51 . )
170 . Some particulars respecting Windsor Castle . In 1349 John Peynton was appointed to the office of Surveyor of AYorks at the Castle . In 1350 , Eichard de Eotheley , or Eichard de Eoehelle , held the same office ; in this year "William de Hurle and William de Heiiand also received the appointment , and were assigned to press hewers of stone , & c . ; they were also to provide materials , & c .
In 1351 , the King granted " to John de Spondelee the office of ALaster Mason , and gave him power to press Masons ancl other artificers , to convey them to Windsor , and imprison such as should disobey , until the King took other order . " In 1351 , Eobert de Bernham was appointed Surveyor ; " and to the end
that this great undertaking might be honestly and substantially performed , " the King ( Edward III . ) assigned John Brocas , Oliver de Burdeux , and Thomas de Foxle , jointly and severally , with all due diligence ( at least once a month ) to " ' survey the workmen and their works , ancl to encourage such as did their duty competently well , but to compel others that were idle and slothful .
William of YV ykeham was appointed , by patent , dated 30 th . October , 1356 , Surveyor of the King ' s Works at the Castle and park of Windsor . By this patent he had powers given him to press all sorts of artificers , ancl to provide stone , timber , and all other materials and carriages . He had Is . a day while he
stayed at Windsor , 2 s . when he went elsewhere on his employment , and 3 s . a week for his Clerk ; on 14 th November , 1357 , lie received a grant of Is . a day from the King , payable at the Exchequer , over ancl above his former salary , " until he should obtain ecclesiastical preferment . " He advised the King to
pull down and rebuild a great part of the Castle , whicli was accordin gly done . Holinshed says that in 1359 , " the King set workmen in hand to take down much old buildings belonging to the Castle at "Windsor , and caused divers other fair and sumptuous works to be set up , in and about the same Castle , so that almost all the masons ancl carpenters , that were of any account within the land , were sent for , and employed about the same works . "
AVilliam de Mulsho was appointed Clerk of the Works in 1361 , which office lie held until 1364 . By Patent , 33 rd Edw . III ., 10 th July , 1359 , Wykeham was constituted Chief Warden and Surveyor of the King ' s Castles of Windsor , Ledes , Dover , and Hadlam , and of tho manors of Old and New
Windsor , Wichemer , and several other castles , manors , and houses , with power to appoint workmen and provide materials , and to order everything with regard to materials aud repairs . In this year Geffrey de Carleton was the chief or Master Mason , and had Gd . a day . In the next year 360 workmen were impressed
, at the King ' s wage , and in consequence of some of the workmen having left Windsor clandestinely , writs were issued to prohibit all persons from employing them , on pain of forfeiting all their goods and chattels , and to commit such of the workmen as should be
apprehended to N ewgate . In 1362 writs Avere issued to the Sheriffs of several counties to impress 302 Masons and diggers of stone , to be employed on the King ' s works . The counties of York , Salop , and Devon were to furnish 60 men each . Geoffrey Chaucer was appointed Clerk of the Works ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Facts.
Conrad de Lichternberg was the Bishop who laid the first stone of the present edifice in 1276 . The ceremony of laying it was splendid ancl imposing . After tlie celebration of Hi g h Mass , upon the anniversary ofthe Purification , of the . Yirgin , Conrad , at the head of all the Clergy of the place , accompanied by a numerous procession of the inhabitantswalked
, thrice round the extremities , of what was considered to be the old cathedral . He then dug up three shovels ' full of earth , and was followed , iu the like ceremony , by the rest of tlie clergy . Tlie workmen immediatel y began to dig out the foundations ; but two of them disputing about the honour of commencing just where
the Bishop had first put his spade to the earth , a quarrel ensued , and one was killed by the other with his spade . This was considered an inauspicious commencement . The work was interrupted for 9 days ; and the ground re-consecrated ; the foundation stone of the west front was then laid , upon whicli the towers
were to be built . iEneas Sylvius ( afterwards Pope Pius 2 nd ) , was the Pope ' s legate at Basle , and came frequently to see the west front of this celebrated cathedralduring its
, erection . In 145 S he was Pope , and in a letter says of this church , " secto lapide magnifice constructa , in aniplissimam fabrieam assurexit , duabus ornata turribus , quai'iim altera , quae perfecta est , mirabile opus caput inter nubila condit . "
J . " G . M . Sforza Yisconti , Duke of Milan , wrote in June , 14 S 1 , to the Chief Magistrate of the town , to send over to him some skilful architect or builder to superintend the construction of the cupola of his own superb metropolitan church , whicli he was theubeginino- to erect—such beins the admiration of those
employed in the cathedral of Strasbourg . — Grandidier , JEssai sur Hist , et Topoy . VJSylise Calhcdrale de St-rasioury , 17 S 2 . Strasbourg , in the middle ages , was celebrated for its school of masons , and the fraternity there was acknowledged by kindred associationsand in time
re-, ceived the appellation of the Ilaupi Suite , or Grand Loclge , and exercised supremacy over the hullen of various countries bordering on the Moselle . The Masters of various lodges met at Ratisbon in 1459 , and on the 25 th of April contracted an act of union , recognising the chief of Strasbourg Cathedral as the
head of the Freemasons in Germany . The Emperor Maximilian confirmed this act by the diploma which he gave in this city in 1498 , which Charles Y ., Ferdinand , ancl their successors renewed . One Dotzinger , of Worms , who had succeeded Hiiltz , was the first Grand Master . Grandielier says that the first
lodges were held in a building called the ILaurerlioff , in the Place opposite the Chapel of St . Catherine . Their statutes , 1459-1464 , in the original German , were first published b y Carl Heicleloff , in 1844 , at Nuremburg .
In the cathedral , there is yet preserved two boards , on which are delineated about 150 marks of the masons , formerly engaged in erecting the building . — I am indebted to Bro . G . Kloss , the present architect of the cathedral , for the following marks , taken from that portion erected in the 12 th century . ( See Figs . 49 , 51 . )
170 . Some particulars respecting Windsor Castle . In 1349 John Peynton was appointed to the office of Surveyor of AYorks at the Castle . In 1350 , Eichard de Eotheley , or Eichard de Eoehelle , held the same office ; in this year "William de Hurle and William de Heiiand also received the appointment , and were assigned to press hewers of stone , & c . ; they were also to provide materials , & c .
In 1351 , the King granted " to John de Spondelee the office of ALaster Mason , and gave him power to press Masons ancl other artificers , to convey them to Windsor , and imprison such as should disobey , until the King took other order . " In 1351 , Eobert de Bernham was appointed Surveyor ; " and to the end
that this great undertaking might be honestly and substantially performed , " the King ( Edward III . ) assigned John Brocas , Oliver de Burdeux , and Thomas de Foxle , jointly and severally , with all due diligence ( at least once a month ) to " ' survey the workmen and their works , ancl to encourage such as did their duty competently well , but to compel others that were idle and slothful .
William of YV ykeham was appointed , by patent , dated 30 th . October , 1356 , Surveyor of the King ' s Works at the Castle and park of Windsor . By this patent he had powers given him to press all sorts of artificers , ancl to provide stone , timber , and all other materials and carriages . He had Is . a day while he
stayed at Windsor , 2 s . when he went elsewhere on his employment , and 3 s . a week for his Clerk ; on 14 th November , 1357 , lie received a grant of Is . a day from the King , payable at the Exchequer , over ancl above his former salary , " until he should obtain ecclesiastical preferment . " He advised the King to
pull down and rebuild a great part of the Castle , whicli was accordin gly done . Holinshed says that in 1359 , " the King set workmen in hand to take down much old buildings belonging to the Castle at "Windsor , and caused divers other fair and sumptuous works to be set up , in and about the same Castle , so that almost all the masons ancl carpenters , that were of any account within the land , were sent for , and employed about the same works . "
AVilliam de Mulsho was appointed Clerk of the Works in 1361 , which office lie held until 1364 . By Patent , 33 rd Edw . III ., 10 th July , 1359 , Wykeham was constituted Chief Warden and Surveyor of the King ' s Castles of Windsor , Ledes , Dover , and Hadlam , and of tho manors of Old and New
Windsor , Wichemer , and several other castles , manors , and houses , with power to appoint workmen and provide materials , and to order everything with regard to materials aud repairs . In this year Geffrey de Carleton was the chief or Master Mason , and had Gd . a day . In the next year 360 workmen were impressed
, at the King ' s wage , and in consequence of some of the workmen having left Windsor clandestinely , writs were issued to prohibit all persons from employing them , on pain of forfeiting all their goods and chattels , and to commit such of the workmen as should be
apprehended to N ewgate . In 1362 writs Avere issued to the Sheriffs of several counties to impress 302 Masons and diggers of stone , to be employed on the King ' s works . The counties of York , Salop , and Devon were to furnish 60 men each . Geoffrey Chaucer was appointed Clerk of the Works ,