Freemasonry In England.

During the reign of Mary we have no records of Masonry . Elizabeth succeeded her sister Mary , A . D . 1558 , and was made supreme head of the Church , in England . Now learning of all sorts revived , and the Italian style began to take the place of Gothic architecture . The Queen hearing that the Freemasons had certain secrets that could not be revealed to her , and being jealous of all secret assemblies , sent an armed

force to break up their annual Grand Lodge at York , on St . John ' s Day , 1561 , but the Grand Master , Sir Thomas Sackville , made some of the chief men sent on the errand , Freemasons , who then joining in that communicative , made an honourable report to the Queen , and she never afterwards attempted to disturb them , but esteemed them as a peculiar class of men , who cultivated peace and friendship , and the arts and

sciences , without meddling in the affairs of Church and State . Some colleges were built in this reign , and many stately mansions , particularly the famous Burleigh House . In consequence of many fine drawings and designs of the best Italian architects being brought home by traveEers , the Gothic style became slighted , and no doubt it would have been entirely discontinued if the Uueen had not encouraged the Craft . As

it was , the system of building became mixed , and perhaps the magnificent house built by Cecil may be considered the best example of this new order . Great conveniences were introduced in all classes of buildings , owing , in some degree , to the increased cheapness of glass , which , caused it to be more generally used in windows . And Harrison ( a reverend associate-historian with the exact Holiugshed , at the close of the sixteenth

century ) , observes , " The ancient manor-houses of gentlemen were , for the most part , built of strong timber ; howbeit , " he adds , " such as belatelie builded are commonlie either of bricke , or hard stone , ox both . Their roomes large and comelie , and their houses of office ( that is , offices ) farther distant from their lodgings , " & c , & c . " So that if ever curious building did flourish in England , it is in these our yeares , wherein our workmen

excel and are in manner comparable in skiU to Vitruvius , Leo Baptista , and Serb . " He proceeds to mention one great alteration in point of convenience to the middling classes , which had taken place in his time , namely , "The multitude of chimnies lately erected ; whereas , in their young dales , there were not above two or three , if so many , in most uplandish townes of the realme ( the religious houses and manour-places of

their lords alwaie excepted , and , pevadventvire , some great personages ) , but eche one made his five against a rere dosse in the hall , where he dined aud dressed his meat . " Such is the honest picture of the want of convenience in the buildings of the middle classes as late as the time of Elizabeth . The alteration of the times , as well as the destruction of the old system of church governmentwhichwith all its faultshad produced

, , , some of the most munificent patrons of architecture , as well as the most splendid architects ( whose works are distinguished by the sublimity of their conception , and the geometrical accuracy of their designs ) , as well as the introduction of the ornamental style , which had been introduced for some considerable time past , and which is considered as debasing the true Masonic principles of construction , was no doubt the cause of the