Masonic Facts .

viis et simitis , cum introitibus et exitibus ; prout Johannes Middleton cementarius habuit pro tempore suo . Dahunt insuper prsedicti Prior et Conventus eidem cementario , a die confeccionis prassencium , Anno Domini , M ° CCC ° , primo usque ad festum Omnium Sanctorum ante dictum , quolfbet anno quo prffifatos Priorem et Conventual contigerit

liberacionem panni facere generalem unum garmamentum de secta armigerornm ejusdem Prioris ac eciam quolibet die a festo sancti Cuthberti in Marcio quod erit Anno DominiM ° CCC 11 ° usque festum omnium Sanctorum prasdictum unum panem album et unam lagenam servishe , ac eciam unum ferculum eoquinse ,

sieut armigeri Prioris prasdicti tunc temporis percipiunt . Dabunt itaque praidicti Prior et Conventuo cementario supradicto pro qualibet roda operis predict * , qua ; continebit sex ulnas et dimidium unius ulnae squar , tarn sub terra quam supra terrain , decern mareas argenti ; unde adincepcionem operis supradicti

idem cementarius pereipiet pras manibus XL libras argenti , et postea , cum perfecerit sex rodas operis supradicti , alias XL libras ; et sie XL libras tociens quociens perfecerit sex rodas modo supradicto ; donee

prffidictum opus merit plenarie consummatum . Proviso semper quod nee scaffaldes , seyntres , flekes , nee aha feoda quomodolibet veleat vendicare . Et erit praBdietus cementarius et alias sufficientes personam obligati dictis Priori et Conventui in una obligacione per consilium dictorum Prioris et Conventus facienda in XL libris singula vice qua XL libras in forma

pra * dieta idem perceperit , solvendis eisdem Priori et Conventui aut eorum successoribus , in casuquo idem cementarius defecerit per ficere pro singulis decern marcis summas pra ; dictae unam rodam operis antedicti sub forma et condicione superius memoratis . Et ad perficiendum opus prffidictumin forma

, prjedieta , citra festum . Omnium Sanctorum prredictum prredictus Petrus se obligat , ha ; redes et executores suos , per prresentes , prredicto Priori et ejas successoribus in centum libris solvendis , si defecerit in perficiendo opus prajdictum citra festum Omnium Sanctorum prardietum .

In cujus rei testimonium pra 3 sentibus indentures tarn dominus Prior quam dietus Petrus cementarius siqilla sua alternatim apposuerunt . Data Dunelmi , in festo purificacionis beata ; Maria ? ,

Anno Domini M <> CCCC primo . Willielmus Lameton ~ \ Willielmus Jalkar It n i i Thomas Forster j-A pparently bondsmen . "Williemus Melode ) Petrus Drynge , cementarius , ~ )

Dominus Willielmus Benet , I . , -, vicarius de Meryngton , \ - ^ -Wf ^ W Robertas Daynwell , cementarius , oonasmen . Willielmus Landes , cementarius , J ( A mem . at the foot of the contract ) . —xiij balkes de xij pees et j firste pece et j ches e convenable pour

corbell deni notre park dkl Haynpng . Hist . Dwielm Bcriptores Tres ., appendix p . clxxxvii . —A contract ( now in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Durham ) was made in 1398 , with Johan de Middleton , to rebuild the dormitory from the ground , Avhich for some reason or other he did not complete . He constructed a portion of tbe groining of the roof beneath the dormitory , and erected the walls to a corresponding height ; when in 1401 , the

Masonic Facts .

above contract was entered into Avith Peter Dryng , to finish the work . , The contract contains a many peculiar Avords relating to masons' craft ; the work was to be finished before All Saints' Day , 1404 . Dryng Avas to receive a suit of clothes , such as were worn by the Prior ' s esquires , yearly ; and daily a white loaf , a

flagon of beer , and a dish of meat from the kitchen , of the same quality as that prepared for the esquires ' table . He was to be paid 10 marks for every rood of masonry containing 6 ells , and half-an-ell square , 40 pounds of silver to be paid in advance , and £ 40 on the completion of every 6 roods .

The social position of the Master Masons of those days may be inferred , when we consider the relative position of the Prior ' s esquires . " The Armigeri , or esquires of the Prior of Durham Avere numerous , and many of them were highly connected in the country . They resided Avithin the walls

of the convent , and gave then * personal attendance to the Prior Avhen on a journey from home . The system of young men of family attaching themselves to persons of rank and dignity prevailed among the laity also , and continued to a comparatively modern period . "—The Priory of Wmehale , Glossary cecexviii ., by the Rev . J . Raine .

231 . The altar screen of Durham Abbey was constructed in 1380 at a cost of 800 marks— £ 533 6 s . 8 d . It was executed in London , out of stone brought from Prance . It Avas conveyed from London to Newcastle by sea , at the cost of Lord Neville , and thence to Durham at the charge of the convent . Prior Berrington employed seven masons far a whole

year upon its erection , at its own cost . —Baine . s Durham , 1833 . 232 . The folloAving is the commencement of the indenture for the tomb of Anne , Queen of Richard DZ . in Westminster Abbey . It is dated 1395 ; the tomb was to be finished within tyro years , to cost £ 400 , £ 100 to be paid in hand , £ 100 at Easter

following , & c . " Ceste Endenture fait parentre le Tres excellent et tres puissant Seigneur , notre Seigneur le Roy Richard , qi Dieux garde , d'ume part , et Henry Yevele et Stephen Lote , Citein Masons des Londres , d'autre parte & e . —G-ouglds SepulcJieral Monuments 1786

, , , vol . ii ., p . 186 . 233 . In a Roll of Expenses , 44 Edward III ., 22 nd April , 1370 . —William de Wynneford , " cementarns , " was sent to various parts to retain divers masons , to be sent over in the retinue of the King , beyond the sea , by command of the Chancellor .

The Landmarks Of Freemasonry.

THE LANDMARKS OF FREEMASONRY .

The following is the essay by Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , P . G . D ., on "The importance of maintaining the Ancient Landmarks of the Order , the incompatibility of innovation , and the rise , progress , and design of our lectures , "— -read at the Emulation Lodge of Instruction on Friday , May 30 .

BBETHBEJN ' , —From the circulars Avhich have been issued , it will be expected that I should , on the present occasion , deliver to you an essay on the importance of maintaining the ancient landmarks of our order , the incompatibility of innovation , and the rise , progress , and design of our lectures .