Wonders Of Operative Masonry.

distinctively Norman . The Cloisters , completed A . D . 1412 , are of singular magnificence , Avith elegantly groined roof , the earliest existing example of the fan-vault , and it has been thought that the Masons AVIIO built this Cathedral originated it . The chroniclerEobert of GloucesterAvas

, , a monk of this Abbey , and AVarburton , the author of the " DiA'ine Legation of Moses , " Avas Bishop of this See ( 1760-1779 ) . Gloucester Cathedral is 500 feet long , with transepts measuring 12 S feet , and central tower 225 feet high .

A Trip To Dai-Butsu.

A TRIP TO DAI-BUTSU .

( Continued from page 530 . ) Yokoska Dockyard , Japan , May 29 th , 1873 .

THE following quotation is gleaned from A . B . Mitford's " Wanderings in Japan , " but not quoted verbatim et literatim : — " Ita , one of the ladies at the court of Yoritomo , Avas entrusted Avith the last wishes of this great manAvhohad he

, , lived , intended raising some such memorial himself . Making a pilgrimage throughout the length and breadth of the land , Ita succeeded in collecting a sum of money which enabled her to build a great Avooden Budha , and temple to hold

it , Avhich Avas consecrated in 1228 . This temple was bloAvn down soon afterwards , and the image began to rot . Nothing daunted , Ita tried again , and still early in the same century succeeded in erecting the present bronze figure , together with a

grand hall and gateAvay with two guardian gods . In 1495 all the buildings Avere washed aAvay by an immense tidal wave , the great Budha and pedestal alone remaining . The place became deserted and overgroAvntill 200 years laterwhen a

, , famous ] . ) riest , Yutcn , turned his attention to it , built a temple by the side of it , and collected the ancient relies . " The interior of the immense idol is fitted as a chapel , and contains the family gods

of Yoritomo . Here Ave Avere undeceived as to the construction of the idol ; on the outside , from its beautiful finish and long exposure to Avind and weather , it is difficult to believe it anything but one whole and perfect piece of casting ; but lookiug upwardsnow Ave can plainly see the

, joints , and find that the whole is in squares varying from 3 to 4 ft . in area , but yet bronzed together so beautifully that a close and careful scrutiny of the outside failed to show us the least trace of joint or crevice . AVithin the temple the

sacred Avails are defiled with inscriptions of European and American aspirants for fame , not even the stone is spared on which is graven the prayer—" Namu Amada Butsu " ( Save us Eternal Budha ) . There is an earthy smell within , from the

absence of ventilation and light , and so taking a cursory g lance at the scores of little images , gilded and silvered , mouldy and fresh , old and neAv , ugly and passable ( none are pretty ) , Ave once more pass through the IOAV archway into the purer

air without . The idol has a greenish hue , Avhere for centuries nothing save the changes of the atmosphere have played upon its surface . Further doAvn , within reach of the thousands that visit it annually , there are many hig hly-polished patches of

dark brown , especially observable on the thumbs , from the friction of pantaloons and maybe more costly and flowing dresses . I have forgotten to mention that the idol is in the usual Japanese style of sitting ( cross-legged , tailor-wise ) with the hands clasped—fingers interlocked , and thumbnails meetinar—and resting on the

lap . Our Avhole party found ample room to sit on the two thumbs , the only inconvenience experienced being the fiery state of the metal , Avhich had been exposed to an almost tropical sun for several hours . Looking upward fiom the pedestal , the features are clearly and beautifully defined ,

shoAving a most benign and intellectual cast of countenance , Avhilst the head being slightly bowed CIOAVII gives a closer aud truer view . We now introduced ourselves to the priest in his own sanctum—a roomy

grass-matted apartment—Avhere we had a refreshing AVUSII , notwithstanding the Avater being the hardest possible to be obtained , after Avhich our host led the