Mason Marks In Egypt.

without being possessed of the knowledge thereunto appertaining . But what is still more strange is , that it is not among the grandees , if I may use this term , of sect or class , nor among the crowd of Moslems who frequent the mosques , nor among the dwellers in palaces , from whom information on this subject is to be obtained , or from whom an explanation of

the why and the wherefore of the usage of these Masonic emblems is to be gathered . It is among the artisans , more ¦ especially the " hajjar , " or stonemasons , who are more or less Christian , by the way , that the enquirer must seek for knowledge , and it is not until after many a weary hour of delay and trial , that one of these will communicate , and even -then onlin a reserved mannerbut the end is worthof the

y ; y means adopted to secure it . Much interesting intelligence of earlier Masonry , for such title I must accord to it , is thus acquired , and at some future time I may possibly be able to arrange parts in such a shape as to admit of their appearing in your publication . This is , however , incidental only to the " Mason marks " to be met with in part of Egyptfrom Alexandria to

every , Assouan ; not the mere devices I have already noticed , of modern date , but on old stones , evidently the remains of some vast pile , perhaps even old " corner stones , " now ignobly doing duty in the wall of an arsenal , the half buried foundation of ¦ a store-house , or , if by chance a sarcophagus , and there are many such , serving as a drinking place or water trough in the stable of the ox or ass .

The first which attracted my particular attention was an old stone , the property of H . B . M . ' s Consul , John 'Green , Esq ., in whose garden it was placed in 1855-56 , for the examination of the curious ; and as it was close to the door of the consular office , it attracted much attention . Mr . Green was not of the Craft , but he prized the stone much on account of its being a fine specimen , and in high preservation , of the old cuneiform character . It was about three feet by two , and at the bottom , under the last line of characters , bore

these marks © jX | JT " ^ > f * J _ ^ There can be little doubt but that these had been carved by some Master Masons , —but who shall determine the when or the where ? I do not know if Mr . Green took this stone with him on leaving Egypt , but if not , it will probably be found in the same place .

Again outside the Canopic or Rosetta gate , and about two miles from the town , the ruins of some important building were discovered by Mr . Harris , consisting of granite blocks and remains of columns , and also two black granite statues representing Osiris and Isis , on the base of each of which , as well as on many of the remains around , several Masonic marks , particularly the 0 _^ . and $ i are very

dis-, tinct , and totally apart from the hieroglyphic characters which are abundant on all the ruins . At Rosetta , where nearly every old house appears to be built of the ruins of other ages , Masonic marks are particularly plentiful , generall y the same as those noted above ; but here , on an old red granite stone built into the wall of the Mahafzeh or Court-house I first noted amongother emblems

, ; this mark r P , accompanied by j ^ and the inverted triangle , with an addition , thus * \ j 7 . At Damietta , Masonic marks of old date meet the eye in -all directions , but as the crusaders were long located here , I do not consider this so fertile a field for genuine marks

of our older brethren as other parts of Egypt . At all events , I view them with some doubt as to their not being of more modern than ancient date . At Heliopolis , near Cairo , in the ruins of the old Temple oftlie Sun , the above marks are frequently repeated , together with many others which we are not accustomed to recognize as Masonic emblemsbut whichfrom their contiguity to the

, , , known symbols of our Order , I should judge to have been such . Many of them are irregular , thus " 0 = f * / Q . ( r \ but are certainl y not hieroglyphics , having no connecting link with the other necessary features of this class of representation , and being in all cases detached and separate marks .

Mason Marks In Egypt.

To those who have the courage to descend Colonel Vyse's " Well , " as it is called , near the pyramid , a rich harvest of Masonic marks awaits them . Around the sides of the huge sarcophagus at the bottom of this excavation , the whole of the marks above given are abundant , but that of most frequent occurrence is the Tau , the symbol of Eternity * T * whileon the hewn stones lining the excavationindication ?

, , of tbe works of Masons abound . Indeed , from a close and careful examination of these marks on several occasions , and a comparison of similar marks in the " well" of the great pyramid , I am more than doubtful if , as yet , we have penetrated the arcana of those vast piles , and I entertain the belief that the labours of Bruce , Belzoni , and others have but given us a glimpse of the interior of the extei-nal

shell , while , like the cocoanut , tbe real interior , the hidden secret , is yet encased in another shell , which we have not succeeded in penetrating . But your space is already limited , and I must not , therefore , prolong this paper ; even if I should not have gone beyond the tether of a correspondent . Suffice it to say that , at Benisooef-Dendem at Thebes , in all directions , at Kossay ,

and in the magnificent portico , all now remaining of the temple at Esne , Mason marks may readily be distinguished and will well repay the trouble taken by a visitor versed in our Masonic art , to trace them out . I have not often heard of Masonic marks on coin . I possessed one , however , bearing *^ , which is now in the possession of the Asiatic Society , and duly enrolled in their collection in Park-street , Calcutta .

Architecture And Archæology.

ARCHITECTURE AND ARCH ? OLOGY .

GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE . The church of All Saints , Husbands Bosworth , has been re-opened for divine service , after having undergone considerable restoration . In 1858 a new mixed school and master ' s house were erected , at an expense of £ 800 . In 1859 a cemetery was formed ; which , with the two chapels , boundary fencesand an acre and a half of landcost £ 1-500 . In

, , , 1860 a new infant school was added to the mixed school at a cost of £ 400 . The two schools , together with the master ' s house , form a group on the village green , just at the entrance to the town from the Welford-road . The works in the church , included in the contract entered into by the Church Charity Trustees , embrace the conversion of the old vestry into a south aisle to the chancel bthe opening and restoring of

y two arches ; one , connecting it with the chancel , and another connecting it with the south aisle of the church ; the introduction of the two new windows of Decorated character ; the re-leading of the roof , and the erection of new seats in pitch-pine . A vestry , in keeping with the chancel , has been erected on the north side . The organ-gallery at the west

end of the nave has been removed , and the organ placed in the south aisle of the chancel ; the tower arch opened and restored ; and the interior of the tower fitted with seats for the accommodation of Sunday school children . The window in the west side of the tower has been restored and filled with stained glass . Facility was afforded in accomplishing this portion of the restoration by the fact that no

provision bad to be made for ringers ; inasmuch as the ringing of the bells ( five in number ) is effected by one man , through the medium of a bell-rhiging machine , which was provided some time ago at a cost of £ 35 . We understand that the works here detailed are only the beginning of what is contemplated . The works in the chancel include the removal of a flat timber roof and the substitution

of a high-pitched pitch-pine roof , of Decorated character , having six pairs of principals , with carved ribs moulded , resting upon stone corbels , terminating with carved bosses of natural foliage . A geometrical decorated window has been introduced at the east end , and a two-light window of similar character on the north and south aisles . Over the last-named windows scrolls , carved in Caen stone , have been introduced as labels , upon which inscriptions are carved in