A Lecture On The Antiquity Of Laying Corner Stones With Religious And Mystical Ceremonies.

royal . One is stated as a man of low extraction , but married to the lady Nofer-hotep , from the house of the king ; one Avas a king ' s son , and of tliree no details are given . These lived more than 400 , 0 years B . C . The priestly caste was more inclusive of learning and art in those , than in modern , times . When tbe highest God-patah ( the father of their other Gods ) Avas hailed by his title as Holy Architect of the UniA'erseancl tbe hih priest

, g under the kings Avas called the Foreman , it must be admitted that the art and architecture of the stonemasons Avas in tbe closest and most natural relation to tbe religion of tbe country . In the fourth dynasty , a king , Seruchis , is said to bave invented notable improvements in constructing edifices of carved stone , ancl some also in painting- tbe hieroglyphic writings . It is not singular that we find the names of the architects AVIIO Avere the

masters of tbe particular works inscribed thereon , ancl preserved , for these highly educated master masons held no grovelling position in the state . They were eligible to tbe highest civil and priestly offices , ancl frequently one more distinguished for practical abilities was entrusted with such . Nor is this a fanciful conception . Such persons holding double offices have inscribed their pride in their practical skill at the handicraft they possessed .

Mentu-hotep , the chief architect of Usurtasen I ., the inscription on bis tombstone , now at Boluogne , is thus described b y Brugscb ( I ., p . 140 ) . "He prides himself on having been 'a man learned in the law , a legislator , ' one who apportioned tbe duties ancl ordered tbe works in tbe District , who kept order in the whole land , who carried out all behests of the king , Avho , as judge , decided and restored his piroperty to the OAvner " ( see p . 19 ) . "As chief

architect of tbe king , be promoted tbe worship of the Gods ancl instructed the inhabitants of the country according to the best of bis knowledge , as God orders to be done . He protected the poor , and freed him Avho was in want of freedom . Peace Avas in the words which came from his month , ancl the book of tbe wise That was on his tongue . Very skilled in artistic Avork , with Ms oivn hand he carried out his designs as they ought to be carried out . He knew the hidden thoughts of men , ancl he appreciated a man according to his value , " etc ., etc .

He also was governor of the town of Ant , and the land of Tesher . His panegyric finished by some remarks about a Temple of Osiris : " I , it was , AVIIO arranged the work for the building of the Temple , and sunk the Avell according to the order of the holiness of the royal lord . " Righteous and generous Avere the speculative duties of bis office of architect . Proud of his craft was this Grand Master ; and no other official rank of his was so hi gh or so noble

that in bis mind it obscured tbe skill of his own hands , or the fertility ancl grace of his powers of artistic masonic design . The Craft , now four thousand years after you haA * e laid down the chisel ancl the mallet , dropped tbe crayon ancl tbe line , ancl put off your regalia , oh Mentu-hotep , will bail you as a fellow , and not forget yon ivhen they drink to tbe health of tbe living masons throughout the world and the memory of the dead .

Brugsch ( I ., p . 180 ) , says the artist was the most honoured man in tbe Empire , ancl stood close to Pharaoh , who poured his favours in a full stream on the man " of enlightened spirit ancl skilful band . " The old master Martisen , AVIIO liA'ecl forty-four centuries ago , calls himself "a master among those who understand art , and a plastic artist , " AVIIO "was a wise artist in his art . " He relates in succession his knowledge in the

makinoof " statues , in every position according to prescribed use and measure ; " also he describes as bis particular iiiA'ention an etching with colours that resist fire ancl ivater ; ancl states "no man has arisen who is able to do this except himself alone and the eldest son of his race , whom God ' s will has created . He has arisen able to clo this , ancl tbe exercise of his hand has been admired in masterly works in all sorts of precious stones , from gold ancl silver to ivory and ebony . " His son was named Usurtasen . These two masters opened tbe age of the hi g hest development of art under the kings of the twelfth dynasty .