Wonders Of Operative Masonry.

bright virtue aud manly fortitude , of regal renown and knightly valour . Great events have distinguished them all , and the ashes of famous statesmen and heroes lie interred within their walls . America can

boast no such storied spot — it is too young . We must go to the mother-country and follow in the footsteps of the fraternities of travelling Freemasons of the Middle Ages if we would view such masterpieces of art and monuments of history .

Let us visit , in imagination , some of these edifices . AVhat Freemason can behold without emotion the splendid remains of Melrose Abbey , aud view the figure of the Compasses cut above one of its portals , with the inscription beneath signed by

John Moreau , architect ? Who can , unmoved , gaze at the massive , lofty tower of AVinchester Cathedral , as perfect now as when first erected , seven hundred years ago . Or who pass through , without a quickened pulsethe great carved doors

, , eight hundred years old , of the Cathedral of Sens ? ROSLIN CHAPEL possesses a peculiar interest to Freemasons from the connection

with the Fraternity of its founder , William St . Clair , Lord of Roslin . It is situated seven miles south of Edinburgh , on elevated ground overlooking the river Esk , amid 2- ictnresque and romantic scenery . Its architecture is in the florid style of the fifteenth century , with a multiplicity of

columns and arches and a profusion of adornment . Roslin Chapel was founded A . D . 1446 , and Lord Roslin employed in its erection the most celebrated operative Masons , gathered from almost every country in Europe . Beneath its

pavement many of the Barons of Roslin lie entombed . For a number of years they were buried in coats of mail , without coffinsthe first Baron who was crowded into a coffin having lived in the time of King James VII . Bro . Sir AValter Scott , in his " Lay of the Last Minstrel , " says :

" There are twenty of Roslin ' s barons bold Lie buried within that proud chapelle , " Roslin Chapel , in its present remains , is one of the most curious and beautiful examples of Gothic architecture extant . The profuse ornamental carving on its clustered

p illars is the admiration of every beholder . Its p icturesque location , architectural beauty and historical associations render it a place of popular resort during every summer season for pleasure parties from Edinburgh .

THE 'PRENTICE ' PILLAR , situated at the south-east angle of Eoslin Chapel , is famous to persons of culture , as well as to Freemasons , all over the civilised world . It exhibits a grandeur of design and a delicacy of execution that are almost

inimitable . From the base- to the capital four exquisitely sculptured wreaths of flowers , each differing from the others , ascend spirally around the shaft , eighteen inches apart , while upon the capitals themselves several scriptural scenes are exquisitely

carved . On the architrave ivhich joins the Apprentice ' s Pillar to the corresponding one on the south wall , is the following inscription in Gothic characters : " Forte est vinum , fortior est rex , fortiores

sunt muliers super omnia vincit Veritas . " Knig hts of the Eed Cross are familiar with the Anglicised rendering of this Scripture saying , to be found in Esdras , iii . 4 . There is a tradition relating to the " Prentice ' s Pillar , " ivhich has prevailed

for ages in the family of Roslin . Its model was sent from Rome , but the Master-Mason , doubting his ability to reproduce it faithfully without first seeing the original pillar whence it was taken , went to Rome to inspect it . In his absence one

of his Apprentices undertook the task , and so completely succeeded , that his master , on his return , was so inflamed by envy that in the heat of passion he slew him . According to another venerable traditionthe turrets of the Chapel were

, supernaturally illuminated by flames upon the death of every member of the family of Roslin . This tradition is beautifull y rendered in Bro . Sir Walter Scott ' s " Lay of the Last Minstrel . " We quote several stanzas :

" O'er Rosslyn all that dreary ni ght , A wondrous blaze was seen to gleam ; 'Twas broader than the watch-fire li ght , And redder than the bright moonbeam . " It glared on Rosslyn ' s castled rock , It ruddied all the copse-wood glen ; 'Twas seen from Dryden ' s groves of oak , And seen from civerned H : \ wthornden