Masonic Poets Of Scotland—No. Ii.

when more enthusiastic than we-are UOAV . When but a child we Avatehed , Avith eager eyes , to see a trace of Ellen ' s bowers . The hills were not then so far shorn of their leafy ornaments ; all Avas beautiful , and all was new . Tears since , a steamboat was permitted to hiss and splutter through the waters of Loch Katrine ,

an profanation of the sacredness of the scene , but , in ¦ accommodation of the wants of excursionists . Cheap trains and return tickets have now banished romance ; and , with the shriek of the railway whistle and the grumbling of the train haunting us , we almost remember with regret even the fleecing and extortionateness of sundry Highland hostelries .

Freemasonry And Architecture.

FREEMASONRY AND ARCHITECTURE .

The following very able article has been contributed by Bro . Emra Holmes , a much-respected member of the Craft in Hartlepool , to a local contemporary : — St . Hilda ' s Church , Hartlepool , was built

according to general authorities about the year 1185 , and in all probability by the Freemasons , three years before the preaching of the third crusade under the first of the Plantagenets , Henry II . During this reign the Grand Master of the

Knight Templars superintended the Freemasons , and employed them in building their temple in London , A . D . 1155 . The early history of the Masons is as follows : —St . Alban , the protomartyr of Britain , had been appointed by the

Emperor Caransim Grand Master of the Freemasons , but in the last persecution by Diocletian of the Christians , to Avhose faith he had been

¦ converted , he was beheaded , A . D . 303 . St . / Augustine , the first Archbishop of Canterbury , Avas a great supporter of the Craft , and under his . patronage they built Canterbury Cathedral , A . D . 600 ; the cathedral of Rochester , A . D . 602 ; St .

Paul's , London , A . D . 604 ; St . Peter ' s , Westminster , A . D . 605 ; and many others . King Alfred the Great employed the Freemasons in building the University of Oxford , which he founded . King Athelstane , Avho succeeded to the throne

A . D . 924 , granted a charter to the Masons , empowering them to meet annually in communication at York , Avhere the fh-st Grand Lodge of England was formed in 926 , at Avhich EdAvin , brother of the king , presided as Grand Master . When

Athelstane died the Masons dispersed , ancl the lodges continued in a very unsettled state till the reign of Edgai' , in 960 , when the fraternity AA'ere again collected by St . Dunstan , under whose

auspices they Avere employed on some sacred structures . Under the patronage of Edward the Confessor , Masonry , Avhich had fallen into desuetude , revived . He restored Westminster Abbey , assisted by Leofric , Earl of CoA'enfciy , Avhom he

appointed to superintend the Masons . The abbey of Coventry ancl many other structures Avere finished by this accomplished architect , AVIIO Avas the husband of the celebrated Lady Godiva , about Avhoni Tennyson has Avritten a charming poem ,

Avell known , we have no doubt , to the majority of our readers . When William the Conqueror acquired the Crown of England , he appointed Gundulph , Bishop of Rochester , and Roger cle Montgomery , Earl of ShreAvsbury , joint patrons of the

Masons , Avho afc this time excelled both in civil and military architecture . Under their auspices the fraternity AA'ere employed in building the ToAver of London . King Stephen employed the fraternity in building the chapel at Westminster ( the old House of Commons ) ancl several other Avorks . These Avere finished under the direction

of Gilbert de Clare , Marquis of Pembroke , AA'ho at this time presided over the lodges . On the accession of Edward I ., A . D . 1272 , the care ofthe Masons AA'as entrusted to Walter Giffard , Archbishop of York , Avhen Westminster Abbey was

finished . In the reign of Edward II . the fraternity Avere employed in building Exeter and Oriel Colleges , Oxford , and Clare Hall , Cambridge , under the auspices of Walter Stapleton , Bishop of Exeter , Avho had been appointed Grand Master in

1307 . Masonry flourished under Edward III . He patronised the lodges , and appointed five deputies under him to inspect the proceedings of the fraternity , viz ., John cle Spoulee , Avho rebuilt St . George ' s Chapel at Windsor , AA'here the Order

of the Garter Avas first instituted : William a Wykeham , afterwards Bishop of Yfinchester , Avho rebuilt the Castle of Windsor at the head of 400

Freemasons , A . D . 1357 ; Robert cle Barnham , AVIIO finished St . George's Hall at the head of 250 Freemasons ; Henry Yeuele ( called in the old records " -The King's Freemason" ) , ^ Avho built the Charter House in London , King ' s Hall ,

Cambridge , Queensborough Castle , and rebuilt St . Stephen ' s Chapel , Westminster ; ancl Simon Langham , Abbot of Westminster , AVIIO bni'fc the body of that cathedral as it IIOAV stands . When Richard II . ascended the throne , William a Wykeham Avas continued Grand Master . He rebuilt Westminster Hall as it UOAV stands , and