The Story Of A Wood-Carver At St. Paul's.

and then said , ' I engage you , young man ; attend at my office to-morrow forenoon . ' Then he walked on with the party , still holding the sow and pigs in his hand ; but when he got a little distance , he turned round , and said , 'Wait until we pass back . ' So I waited ; and , when they returned , Sir Christopher

came up to me , and said , ' Mr . Addison ( I think he said 'Addison' or ' Addington' ) wishes to keep your carving , and requests me to give you ten guineas for it . ' I bowed , and then he said , ' I fear I did you some iujustice , young man ; but a great national work is entrusted to my careand it is my solemn

, duty to mind that no part of the work falls into inefficient hands . Mind and attend me to-morrow . ' So I bowed , and ran home , and my kind landlady was also overjoyed . " This morning I have been at the office , and I am indeed engaged to do carving in this most wonderful

building . " I leave at your discretion to acquaint your father of this matter , and if you would write to me only one line , it would increase the happiness of , Deare Hannah , your faithful servante untill deathe , " Pnnn ? WOOD . "

It is added , — "The following notice of Wood ' s further career appears in the Report of the Commissioners of Public Works , respecting the building of St . Paul ' s Cathedral : —

' Philip Haybittle , subpoened from Sudbury , Suffolk , deposfld that he received certain sums of large amount , as per receipts , given during the years 1701-2-3-4-5-6-7 , for carved work in the Cathedral Church of St . Paul . On inquiry from their honours the Commissioners , respecting the difference betwixt his name and the name on the various receiptsthe

, said Philip Haybittle deposed that he married Hannah , only daughter of Ralph Haybittle , some time a merchant in Cheapeside , ancl by the terms of the will of ibis said father-in-law , he was obliged to change his name . '"

The story would seem to he all untrue , hut it is sufficiently interesting to excuse us for finding room for it . At the date given , 1669 , nothing had been done towards the rebuilding of the cathedral , the first stone of which was not laid until 1675 . — The Builder .

Masonic Prayer.

MASONIC PRAYER .

The following prayer was written and offered at the Centenary meeting of the Caledonian Lodge ( No . 134 ) , Nov . 15 , 1864 , by Eev . W . J . Skilton , M . A ., Chaplain : — Almighty and Eternal God , Supreme Architect and Euler of the Universe , the Source of light and of life and of knowledge , we , Thy humble servants , reverently adore Thee .

Wo worship before Thy throne , and praise Thee for Thy greatness and goodness , for Thy majesty and Thy might , for Thy wisdom and Thy truth . Accept our hearty thanksgivings for the many tokens of Thy favour bestowed upon our most ancient and most honourable Order . Assisted by Thy divine wisdom , and in obedience to Thcommandour great MasterKing Solomon

y , , , caused a material temple of exceeding magnificence to be built to Thy honour . After his example , and under Thy guidance , our fathers in the Craft have raised upon the firm foundation of truth a nobler temple to Thy glorya mystical temple , whose elements are not subject to decay , and adorned with the imperishable beauty of

Masonic Prayer.

moral and social virtue . With all humility and reverence we thank Thee that we have been permitted tocarry on their work aud to share their labours . With grateful recollection we remember that Thy care and providence have preserved and given prosperity to our Order through the long years of an eventful past , that great kings , and mighty princes and powerful nobles ,

and men renowned for their intellect and . their goodness , have stood in our ranks , that our brotherhood has spread throughout the nations of the earth , and become coextensive with the limits of the world . We supplicate the continuance of Thy all-powerful aid aud protection . Cleanse this temple of Thy truth , of pure virtue , of strong charity , from all that is false , from all that is

dishonourable and impure , from all that is selfish , from all that is unworthy to be found within its walls . Stablish its foundation , strengthen its pillars , beautify its courts , and make it to bo more and more a place , where Thy holy name is honoured and the source of benefit and blessing to mankind . But on this day we . are more especiallbound to praise Thee for the tokens '

y of Thy favour bestowed upon the lodge to which we belong . Through the long course of one hundred years Thou hast granted to it preservation and support ; and now mature in age , yet vigorous in power , and renewed in its life , grateful for the past , rejoicing in the present ,, and hopeful for the future , in our persons is it present before Thee , to implore the continuance of Thy

protection , and to consecrate itself anew to Thy service . Pour down upon us , we beseech Thee , the dew of Thy blessing . Give to every one among ns readiness , and wisdom , and strength , duly to perforin his allotted work . Impart Thy grace to us , that we may ever be faithful to ourgreat and solemn obligations . May we ever be ready to . greet each other as brethren . Make us to run swiftly

in rendering to each other mutual support in all just and lawful undertakings . Cause us in our daily supplicationsto be mindful of a brother's welfare . Enable us to keep inviolate the right confidences which a brother shall repose in ns . May we never shrink from the vindication of a brother ' s honour in his absence , and may we be ever linked together in one chain , indivisible , of

sincere affection , brotherly love , timely relief , and uncompromising truth . Finally , ever preserve us stedfast in the practice of all the pure and noble principles which Masonry inculcates . Strengthen us with fortitude in every hour of trial ; conduct us safely through the intricate windings of this mortal life ; and in the end of it instruct us how to

die . Thus known by our upright intentions , our levelsteps , and square actions , mercifully grant that we may be prepared to pass from labour to refreshment , from earth to heaven , from , the outer court to the inner sanctuaiy , the Holy of Holies , the glorious lodge-room above ,, wherein Thou , the Great Architect of the Universe ,, livesfc and reignest now , henceforth and for evermore-So mote it be .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

EESUSOITATIOK" 0 _? THB IEWIS . As the extracts bearing upon Masonic matters , from Smiles ' s Lives of ^ Eng ineers , which were inserted in last week ' s number , have met with several approvals , I now proceed to select more from the second volume . Speaking of liudyerd ' s—that is , the second Eddystone lighthouse—Smeatonthe builder of

, the present structure , says ( vide note , p . 22 ) " that the instrument now called the Lewis , though an invention of old date , was for the first time made use of by Rudyerd in fixing his iron branches firmly to the rock . " This was about the year 1706 , and I am inclined to think its newly-discovered powers were