Masonic Colleges In Britain.

Scotland , opposite the Isle of Skye . Here were two old castles , built in a remarkable manner of stone , with neither lime nor mortar , and which were surmised to have been places of refuge in the wars of earlier times . Here it was that the Masters assembled in council , and consequently they received the name of Masters of the Valley or Scottish Masters . In Lodassembledwhen they returned from their journeysall deference

ge , , was paid * ' - -n , as the most learned members of the fraternity , and to them were entrusted the most particular parts of construction . In this way the Masonic corporations , in connection with the convents ancl abbeys , became , after the fall of the Roman Empire , the great conservators of science and art ; and in so great esteem were the members of this corporation held , that , notwithstanding Britain ' s low political standing at this timethese Masons created

, , by their invincible hardihood and activity , an influence which embraced the whole of Western Europe . When a Mason was sent to a distant mission , a body of builders sprang up , no prayers br fastings , but work , hard work , and thus it was that a material edifice soon bore witness to the advent of the spirit of truth and humanity . During the invasion b y the Danes , between the years 835 and 870 nearly all conventschurchesancl monasteries were destroyed

, , , by fire , and with them the records and ancient documents of the Lodges which had been preserved in these buildings where they met . Fifty years afterward the King , Athelstan , desirous to rebuild these monuments , directed his adopted son , Edwin , who had been taught architecture by the Masons in a

convent , to assemble in the year 926 , in the Cit y of York , all the Lodges ' of Freemasons scattered throughout the country , to the end that they would reconstitute themselves according to the ancient laws . This was done , and the king confirmed to them all the privileges which were possessed by the free Roman colleges in the time of the Republic . The constitution was at this time presented b y the king to the assembly of Masons , and which is called the Charter of Yorkancl provesin its introductionthe Masonic corporations

, , , at this time were very little affected by any of the peculiar doctrines which were subsequently promulgated by council ' s of the Church . ( See the text of this constitution , under the title " Charter of York . " ) In those clays it was customary to dedicate and consecrate to some saint every erection for the worship of God , and with the like idea all the corporations of artists , artizans , and trades chose patron saints . The Freemasons chose St . John the Baptist

for theirs , because his feast fell on the 24 th of June , date of the summer solstice . This clay has always been celebrated by people of antiquity ancl b y the Masons , since the foundation of their fraternity , as the period of the year when , the sun having attained its greatest height , nature is clothed ancl ' disports herself in the greatest abundance of her richest products . As successors of the ancient colleges of the Romansthe Feeemasons of England conserved

, these cherished feasts ; but , not to come in conflict with the dominant clergy , they were obliged to give their celebration a name not calculated to give offence . It was on this account they were known not exclusivel y by the name of Freemasons , but often as the Fraternity of St . John , and upon the Continent almost exclusively as St . John Brothers , or Brothers of St . John .

A Mason's Story.

A MASON'S STORY .

( Continued from page 324 . ) \\ 7 "E left our hero and his lad y love , in our last chapter , on the eve of " separation . A few weeks after the events which we then narrated , Penrhyn called at Mr . Morton ' s house , and asked to see Mr . Morton . He was shown into that gentleman ' s study , where he was courteously received . Mr . 2 D