"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."

Merzdorf , in his valuable work on "Tbe Medals of the Freemasons , " mentions a copper medal ivhich probably emanated from the above society . Tlie obverse represents a hammer over two chisels crossed , and the inscription " DE . YIEB . GHECROON - . 1546 . CASOTBruji . " with a hand , the mint-mark of Antwerp . On tbe reverse is a hammer , trowel , and mould-board with the inscription

" CLAVDIV . NYCOSTBATVN . SIMPHORIAN'VN . * . " Schauberg , in his late work on the " Symbolism of Freemasonry , " states that " Meister-tafel" ( blasters' table ) at Basle has on each of its sides a representation of one of the four crowned martyrs , with a brief ancl pithy inscription alluding to tbe symbolic meaning of the Compass , Square , Rule , and Level , ns follows : —

1 . Cii-kels Kunst und Gerechtigkeit Den on Gofct niemand usleit . 2 . Das Wiukelmas hat Kunst genug , Wenn man es brucht on Ortes Fng . 3 . Der JIasstab hat Kunst mannigfalt , Wirt auch gebrucht von Jung und alt . 4 . Die Wog ist gar hoch zu loben Sie ziegt an den rechten Klobeu .

In tbe A'arious missals of tbe 15 th century , no explanation is to be found of the legend , altbougb a special litany is laid down for tbe feast-day of the four martyrs . ( 8 th November ) , and this is specially the case in the " Missale Coloniense , " 1480 . In the breviaries , however , the legend of tbe " Vier Gekronten " is given with more or less detail . It it impossible at this day to decide Avitb certainty which of these breviaries is the original source from which this

legend has been taken b y the others ; but it is a remarkable fact that the amplest details are always to be found in the breviaries of those bishoprics where at the time great cathedrals were in process of erection , as at Spires , 1477 ; Utrecht , 1497 ; Wurzburg , 1480 ; while in those of Basle ancl Constance , 1480 ; Salzburg , 1482 ; Lutticl ^ 1492 ; and Erfurt , 1495 , no reference is made to the legend further than the mere allusion to the memory of the four martyrs .

Although in the breviaries above mentioned the four martyrs are spoken of as sculptors , yet the continual recurrence of the expression "ars quadrataria , qnadratacia , or quaclraria , " signifying of , or belonging to , a stone-cutter , has a direct reference to architecture and to the stone-masons' art , and designates tbem as in reality Masons , " Steinmetzen , " or Stone-cutters . This reminds ns of a passage in "Anderson ' s Book of Constitutions" 1723

, , A'iz .: " Nor should it be forgot that painters also , and statuaries , ivere always reckoned good Masons , as much as builders , stone-cutters , brick-layers , carpenters , joiners , upholders , or tent-makers , and a vast many other craftsmen who could be named who perform according to geometry and the rales of building , " etc .

In the " Lives of the Saints , " 1475 and 1448 , it is said of these Masons that "the five understood AYell hoiv to carve , paint , ancl mould images ; " ancl in the " Passional , " -Zwoll , 1490 , — "These martyrs possessed all tbe arts of carving images . " So also in the ancient poem Ave have quoted —•

They were as gode masonns as on erthe schul go Gravers and gmage-malcers they were also . ( To be continued . )