The Interior Op A Gothic Minster.

altar at St . Alban's . It had a superb frontal of carved Avork , inlaid Avith metal ; over it appeared St . Alban's shrine , with relic shrines around , and in the centre the pendant pyx , suspended from the painted vault of the apse . At St . David's , the mortise for the Gospel lectern remains in the

altar step ; at Canterbury , a small orifice probably served for the same purpose ; and at Exeter , the eagle till recently stood below the altar-step . At Manchester , the credence-table of wood , and"at Lincoln the Easter sepulchre , with its sleeping guards ; at Norwich , the quatrefoild aperture for

the Avatchers remain . The sedilia , or graduated seats for the priest , deacons , and subdeacon , remain at Exeter , Rochester , Selby , Ripon , St . David ' s , Ottery , Binham , Worcester , and Dorchester , and Tewkesbury , the latter still retaining their colour ; four in number at Westminster ,

Durham , Furness , Paisley , Gloucester , Bolton , ancl Ottery , in the lady chapel , and five at Southwell . The chaplain , deacon , and sub-deacon , or crossbearer , and , on great days , a canon with a mitre , were thus accommodated at an episcopal mass ; and on great festivals , when the dean Avas celebrant , the assistants were doubled ; but at Durham there are four sedilia on either side of the

altar , these were probably used by the four acolyths in the pontifical mass , one with the mitre , the thuribler , and taper-bearers ( Martene , de Ant . Bit . Eccles ., i . 221 ) . The prascentor and rectors of the choir had iron folding chairs when ruling the choir . Trivet says that Edward I . gave the royal

chair in Scotland , in 1298 , for the seat of the celebrant at Westminster ( Leland , Collect ., iii . 328 ) . StoAve , Harding , Holingshed , ancl Fabian mention it thus occupied . Those of Hexham , Beverley , and Westminster AA ere of oak . The frid-stool , or chair of sanctuarya hollowed seat of stoneis

, , still preserved at Hexham and at Beverley . The privilege was held by many churches , as at Beaulieu , St . Martin ' s-le-Grand , Westminster ( Archasol ., viii . ' 1 ) , Ramsey , Croyland , Ripon , St . Burian ' s Tintern , Jarrow , Leominster , and Whitefriars ( Jo . Assoc . Soe , vol . v ., pt . ii ., p . 2-53 ) .

Reredos . —Curtains or dorsals originally fenced in the east side of the altar , but in time Avere replaced by the reredos of stone , as at Exeter , Lincoln , BrecoJi , Beverley , Bristol , York , Canterbury , Durham , Westminster , and with exquisite specimens , now lost , at Peterborough , Tewkesbury ,

and Gloucester . But these are dwarfed in importance by the enormous screens Avhich were designed to enhance the magnificence of the high altar at St . Alban's , 1326—35 ; at Ohristchurch , Winchester , and St . Mary's Overye , a gorgeous structurecovered Avith tabernacle workimages

, , , and sculpture , although obstructing the view of the furthest eastern limits of the church , which had heretofore augmented the sublimity of the sanctuary . And yet it appears like the gorgeous veil of a further holy of holies , wherein is the substance of which our earthly services are but the

The Interior Op A Gothic Minster.

faint shadoAvs . The germ of it may be seen in the panelled east wall at Wells . We cannot portray to our imagination the grandeur of Winchester when its canopied niches were filled with silver figures of saints surrounding the superb jewelled rood , above which hung the crown of Canute ; but

we may question if it could equal in effect the eastern end of Durham , where more than a hundred status filled the empty canopies of its exquisite screens , c . 1380 , and its pinnacles glittered in the light of countless tapers . Curtains of the richest velvet and silk closed the sides of the

altar , on which lay the superb Liber Vitas , the record of departed benefactors . Over it sparkled the golden pyx ; below , a canopy , crested with a silver pelican . On the north side stood the pelican of brass for the gospel , near the place of the eastern sepulchre ; Avhile three lampssuspended by chains

, and burning in basins of silver , threw down a tempered light perpetually . From Maunday Thursday until the Wednesday after the Feast of Ascension , a superb paschal candlestick , with seven branches ( a type of the pillar of fire that led the Exodus ) , wrought into flowers of glistening latten ,

supported the Easter candle , which reached almost to the vault , and was lighted on the morning of the resurrection Avhen the solemn procession , singing the hymn Ghrisius Resurgens , Avith torch and taper , compassed the whole church . At St . Paul's and Durham a buck was offered at the high altar annually , and a lamb by the tenants at York . ( To he continued . )

Freemasonry In India At The Present Time.

FREEMASONRY IN INDIA AT THE PRESENT TIME .

{ From the Masonic Record of Western India . ) Whilst most of the Grand Lodges of Europe are disturbed and unsettled by opposing interests , it is satisfactory to observe that the disaffection has not reached India . Everywhere we find progress and emulation . Lodges that have long laid

dormant are rousing themselves into activity , and AA'ithin the last feiv years several new Lodges have come into existence . We can only attribute this to the judicious appointment of the different Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Superintendents , with whom alone rests the power

and responsibility for good or for evil . Bengal is at the present moment governed by one of the most popular Provincial Grand Masters under England in the person of Hugh D . Sandeman , Esq ., of the Bengal Civil Service , who is also Prov . Grand Superintendent of P ^ oyal Arch

Masonry . By a firm , but benign and courteous rule , he has gained the affection and respect of every member of the Craft . The last St . John ' s Day witnessed a scene Avorthy of the Order—a union of the banners of English and Scottish Masonry . Since the year 1858 this is the first