General Architectural Intelligence.

in pendents . The arches of the nave repose on tent cut stone columns . The entire edifice has been constructed and completed by Irishmen . St . Cuthbert ' s Church , Darlington , has , for a considerable time past , excited a considerable fear and alarm as to its safety . Large rents and cracks have long been observed in the massive illarspieces of stonework frequentlleave

p , y their places , aud the west end of the church is now so far out of the perpendicular as to render it necessary to restore the building throughout to a state of acknowledged safety . Some time ago Mr . Scott was requested to inspect the fabric , and report as to the plans to be adopted for successfully carrying out the restoration , and the probable cost thereof . The sum he has named is largeand it is doubtful

, very whether it can be raised within a reasonable time to justify the churchwardens proceeding with the work . The Duke of Cleveland has promised £ 1 , 000 towards the fund . A meeting of the parishioners , and all persons friendly to the object , was convened on Thursday week last , " to consider the measures which may be thought necessary to place the fabric in a state of security . " A considerable number were

present , and the report of Mr . Scott was read , and much discussion , chiefly of a conversational character , ensued as to the course to be adopted , and the method of raising the ways and means . A provisional committee was appointed and a subscription entered into at the meeting .

St . Mary ' s Church , Whittlesey , is undergoing an extensive restoration . Below the floor of the south aisle a very beautiful semi-efligial monument has been found ; it is of the fourteenth century , the same date as the aisle . The carved head ( with upraised bauds in the attitude of prayer ) is within a trefoil under a foliated pedimental canopy . Between the head and the feet the slab is elaborately carved ,

representing foliage springing from a central stem . On the south wall a portion of a late Mediasval fresco has been found , consisting of text in black letter within a richly-coloured border . All the bones have been removed from the aroined crypt or charnel vault at the east end of the fabric , and the vault will in future contain the apparatus for warming tho church . In removing the panellinfrom the walls of the

g chancel a piscina was discovered near tho east wall , there being in the same wall two chiquefoiled sedilia under an ogee hood , ancl another chiquefoiled piscina under a slightly projecting canopy . The lower part of the Medieval roodscreen , with tho sacred monogram painted on one of its panels , is to be re-erected in its original position . The tower and spire and the west door are to remain in their

present state , there not being sufficient funds to extend the restoration to these parts . The turret staircase , by which tho rood-loft ivas reached , between the chancel and the south aisle , is perfect . Before tho restoration it could not be ascended , tho entrance to it being blocked . The restoration is to be completed in December . In the meantime the parishioners attend divine service at St . Andrew ' s church , which fabric is also much in need of similar treatment to that being carried out at Sfc . Mary ' s . i

The parish church of Orcop , Herefordshire , after having undergone a thorough restoration and partial rebuilding has been reopened for divine service . In addition to the work of restoration , fche tower has been rebuilt , the north aisle being lengthened , and a new porch and vestry added , and a vaulted chamber has been formed under the latter for the convenience of hereafter erecting an ajiparatus for warming

the church . New aisles have been built dividing the tower and chamber from the nave . There is much aboufc this church of a distinctive character , highly interesting to the ecelesiologist . The tower is unique , and though rebuilt , the ancient modal has been retained . It is a heavy oak timber structure , about 60 feet high , three stages in height , carried fromwithm the church upon four oak legs , the lower stage

is encased with masonry . The roof over the nave , which , uutil now , has been concealed with plaster , is elaborate , and has been entirely restored to its original beauty . It is very massive aud richly moulded , and a similar roof of oak has been placed over the chancel . The benches are executed of oak , from a design suggested by remnants of tho ancient sittings . A new carved stone pulpit and font have been erected , the former entered by au archway through the nave

General Architectural Intelligence.

wall . The chancel is also stalled , and contains an oak reading desk and lectern . The aisle and chancel are laid with encaustic tiles . The plaster and whitewash have been removed from the east and west walls .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TUB OLDEST LODGE MINUTE BOOK . On the 29 th of December , 1725 , it was resolved , for divers reasons , that the induction of James Parmentier , Thos . Barton , John Atwood , W- Wharam , J . Brotherton , J . Cock , and Isaac Thuret , be suspended till further orders . Mr . Thomas Reed petitioned to become a member , and attended , that day to be made a Mason . It was also ordered that a

tenor violin , case , and bow , be purchased , as well as twochairs for the censors , . which were to be of the followingpattern : — " the frames and elbows of walnut tree , with stuff'd seats and backs , covered with Spanish leather and adorn'd with brass nails . " At that meeting their "Rt . Worpfull and highly esteemed Brother , " Cooz't Enevet was elected presidentand chose Bro . W . JonesSenior Censor

, , ,, and Papillon Ball , Junior Censor . The balance paid over to the new President amounted to £ 13 5 s . Id . The Society now appear to have commenced a season of trial , for we find on the 6 th of January , 1725 , that a motion having been , made that Bro . J . 0 . Eversman had been guilty of sundry irregularities , it was ordered that he have notice to attend to make proper satisfaction . Jan . 13 th , 1725 , petitions

wereread from Mr . Voisin Humphrey and Mr . James Bayne , asking to be admitted members , and it was ordered that they should attend immediately to be made Masons toqualify thorn for admission , aud having done so , they were

both made Masons . On Jan . 19 th they ordered a Register of Members to be made and entered in " book of Records . " Then appointed a Registrar , who was to be paid ten guineasfor his services , and who was to keep the music books , and have power to call upon the junior member of the society present to help him in laying them out and collecting them after they were done with . Bro . Gulston was . elected

Registrar . Jan . 31 , 1725 , Resolved , " That the proceedings in relation to the building of a ship for this Rt . Worpful aud Highly Esteem'd Society voted the 18 th of November last past be entirely stopt as not proper or convenient for the said Society . Ordered , that Bro . Fra . Galpine , the intended master of the said ship , do not contract for the same , on the behalf of this Society , and that all proceedings

thereon be totally stopt and abolished , and that the absent members be informed thereof iu writing by Mr . Registrar . " " Feb . 3 , 1725 , After recording that J . O . Eversham had been thrice summoned to appear , and had failed to do so , it was resolved that he be expelled . Ordered , that he be no longeradmitted , " and that he is with contempt from this day expelled . " There was also a call of £ 3 17 s . eachand one

, auy not paying the same , was " liable to the penalty of a misbehaviour . " This call was paid at a meeting on the 10 th of Feb ., producing in the whole £ 77 . Bro . Jas . Parmentier was to be paid £ 7 14 s . on account of the picture he waspainting . ' —MATTHEW COOKE .

IIOUES OF LABOUR . Although our lodges are usually held in the evening , yet would it not be proper to consecrate , or constitute , a lodgeso late in the day , as it was always a maxim of theprimitive brethren to lay the foundation stone before the rising of the sun , and not after high twelve as with us . For these reasons I ask , remembering the divisions of the 24-inch gauge , what are the Masonic hours of labour ?—Ex . Ex .

MASOXIC BEXEFIT SOCIETY . Iii Preston's Illustrations of Masonry , mention is made of a Masonic Benefit Society . What became of it?—GEOIXGE L . DEFINITION OF SIASOXRY . I want adefinitiou of Masonry as concise as possible . —Jouif BLAKE . [ Take the following : —Masonry is that grand and universal science which includes all others , but more especially that which teaches the knowledge of ourselves , and the duties incumbent on us as men aud Masons . ]