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  • Oct. 17, 1863
  • Page 7
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Oct. 17, 1863: Page 7

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    Article THE PRESENT REQUIREMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE IN ORDER TO A SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION WITH ANTIQUITY.* ← Page 5 of 5
    Article WHO BUILT OUR CATHEDRALS ? Page 1 of 2 →
Page 7

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Present Requirements Of Architecture In Order To A Successful Competition With Antiquity.*

from every channel ; and if architecture for its OAVU sake is to be promoted , —if a general taste is to be fully cultivated , and the attainments in this age rival the past , whilst the responsibilities rest Avith the profession , —the practical study of the art , it would seem , should be open to all who are capable of it ; and ,

in a subordinate form , non-professional help again become tributary . Upon revieAvmg the circumstances that favoured architecture in times gone by , it must be owned that the difficulties of competing with antiquity are great . The advantages grasped by the art were more than

peculiar—human faculty was then in a manner sold to it ; in the dark ages we see genius arbitrarily extinguished save in this one phase ; and the whole light of the intellectual firmament at that time may be regarded as absorbed from others to be concentrated on this subject . We can point to a hundred years .

in which about a hundred abbey and cathedral churches ¦ of first-class character were erected in this country , when it possessed but a tithe of the present population and means . Now , the modest demand for only one such cathedral to recommence with may be too much to be realised ; and , if so , puny in comparison

-is the revival of Gothic architecture . Without going to Mediaeval extremes , to impart the necessary feeling is no small matter ; for not the despotic potentate and feudal lords , nor a paramount hierarchy , but a whole people have to be moved to do themselves credit . Yet , notwithstanding the present age haA'e the ability

demanded , with far greater Avealth , greater facilities for traA'elling , and various better helps for acquiring intelligence and proficiency , we ought not to succumb to the past . And if taste received only the utmost rational fostering and encouragement , it is not presumptuous to say that , instead of being behind , we might hope to distance our forefathers in the race of architectural development .

Who Built Our Cathedrals ?

WHO BUILT OUR CATHEDRALS ?

In reference to the foregoing paper , by Mr . Vincent Wing , a correspondent of the Builder ( which originally published it ) writes as folloAvs : — The writer of a paper printed in the Builder , p . $ 69 , makes the statement , that Freemasonry in its Mediaeval system differed from the form it has existed

in since its revival at the beginning of the seventeenth ¦ century . It is very desirable to know Avhere the writer of that passage has found any statement dating previously to 1000 , and showing what that system really was : if he has no better authority than the usual dictionary articlesone error Avould be the

, assumption that any one has any knowledge of Avhat was Mediaeval Freemasonry in England ( and it must be noticed that the whole passage to Avhich reference is here made treats solely of England , —not of Scotland nor of Ireland , and not of France nor of Germany ) . It would also be very xiseful to knoAv where that Avriter found

any evidence that Freemasonry revived at the beginning of the seventeenth centurv in a different form . If he refer to the usual dictionary articles , or to the absurd histories that have been manufactured since 1725 , he will find that Ashmole ' s date ( 1646 ) is paraded as a proof that the

Mediseval system was then still in existence unchanged ; so that , unless he has alighted upon some document , a second error would be the statement , that Mediaeval Freemasonry was revived about 1600 -1625 ; and a third error Avould be the inference that it ever was revived . The fourth fault seems to be

the statement , that we know that from a very . early date ( by the way , what period is indicated by that expression ? Is it the time at Avhich the King of Bohemia built his " seven castles ? " ) there ' was an organised fraternity of Masons—constituting an Order partly religious ami partly professional . No notice of anything of the nature indicated appears in any of

the histories of Orders , civil , military , or religious , which have reached my hands ; and perhaps , by order he does not mean Order , but merely Society . Of course , it is only proper to give him credit for knowing that the Masons of London were ( or are said to have been ) incorporated about 1410 , by the name and

title of Freemasons , and for being aware that statutes were directed , 1360-1425 , against alliances and covines of Masons and carpenters . But the London fraternity or guild will not serve his purpose in any explanation of what is above italicised ; nor would such knowledge show the existence at a very earldate of

y an organised fraternity ( partly religious ) of Masons , who , from travelling and observation , as well as practice , gained intelligence . These last words are so decided , that it would be well to know , where any proof has been found that the body of Mediaeval Freemasons , or rather Masonsin England and in Francetravelled

, , at all . My own researches tend to a totally different conclusion , which would count the " travelling" as a fifth error . The sixth fault seems to be the assertion that we know that these Masons , by well-devised plans , communicated their intelligence to their whole body . If by " plans" the Avriter means "designs , "

he is understandable ; but , if he means " system of communication , " it Avould be useful to know what these plans Avere , or where any ground except imagination exists for them . The seventh error seems to be conveyed in the assertion that the organisation was fostered by the clergy . No proof of that has yet

occurred to me . The eighth fault is the assertion that the rearing of religious structures was allowed to be monopolised by the Freemasons as an organised body . No safe evidence on that point has yet been adduced in its favour by the most fervently zealous members of the Craft . But , if they cannot find any proof

that it is a fact that ecclesiastics were associated to the mediaeval body ; or , that priests possessing a taste for it were not only associated in Freemasonry , but readily initiated , they Avill thank me for thus asking for the long-desired evidence which would show that those words do not convey a ninth error . Probabl

y you will think that nine such faults justify merciless criticism ; but please to observe that if there is little excuse for any one of them , there Avould certainly be less for the inferences Avith which the lecturer has followed them . As no documentary evidence that the organisation was very complete , and under a central

control , has eA er been published , it is open to me to urge that no sound archaeologist could hope to establish so much on the faith of curious correspondence in the details of work , or from a universal similarity of arrangement . No doubt exists in my mind upon the anxiety of the Builder to forward any mode of ascertaining who built our cathedrals : so I take this

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1863-10-17, Page 7” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_17101863/page/7/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—LXS. Article 1
VIENNA. Article 2
THE PRESENT REQUIREMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE IN ORDER TO A SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION WITH ANTIQUITY.* Article 3
WHO BUILT OUR CATHEDRALS ? Article 7
ANCIENT MYSTERIES. Article 8
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 8
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 11
THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Article 12
CAN A WARDEN INITIATE, &c. ? Article 13
THE HIGH DEGREES. Article 14
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 14
METROPOLITAN. Article 14
PROVINCIAL. Article 14
IRELAND. Article 15
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
Obituary. Article 16
REVIEWS. Article 16
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 19
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Present Requirements Of Architecture In Order To A Successful Competition With Antiquity.*

from every channel ; and if architecture for its OAVU sake is to be promoted , —if a general taste is to be fully cultivated , and the attainments in this age rival the past , whilst the responsibilities rest Avith the profession , —the practical study of the art , it would seem , should be open to all who are capable of it ; and ,

in a subordinate form , non-professional help again become tributary . Upon revieAvmg the circumstances that favoured architecture in times gone by , it must be owned that the difficulties of competing with antiquity are great . The advantages grasped by the art were more than

peculiar—human faculty was then in a manner sold to it ; in the dark ages we see genius arbitrarily extinguished save in this one phase ; and the whole light of the intellectual firmament at that time may be regarded as absorbed from others to be concentrated on this subject . We can point to a hundred years .

in which about a hundred abbey and cathedral churches ¦ of first-class character were erected in this country , when it possessed but a tithe of the present population and means . Now , the modest demand for only one such cathedral to recommence with may be too much to be realised ; and , if so , puny in comparison

-is the revival of Gothic architecture . Without going to Mediaeval extremes , to impart the necessary feeling is no small matter ; for not the despotic potentate and feudal lords , nor a paramount hierarchy , but a whole people have to be moved to do themselves credit . Yet , notwithstanding the present age haA'e the ability

demanded , with far greater Avealth , greater facilities for traA'elling , and various better helps for acquiring intelligence and proficiency , we ought not to succumb to the past . And if taste received only the utmost rational fostering and encouragement , it is not presumptuous to say that , instead of being behind , we might hope to distance our forefathers in the race of architectural development .

Who Built Our Cathedrals ?

WHO BUILT OUR CATHEDRALS ?

In reference to the foregoing paper , by Mr . Vincent Wing , a correspondent of the Builder ( which originally published it ) writes as folloAvs : — The writer of a paper printed in the Builder , p . $ 69 , makes the statement , that Freemasonry in its Mediaeval system differed from the form it has existed

in since its revival at the beginning of the seventeenth ¦ century . It is very desirable to know Avhere the writer of that passage has found any statement dating previously to 1000 , and showing what that system really was : if he has no better authority than the usual dictionary articlesone error Avould be the

, assumption that any one has any knowledge of Avhat was Mediaeval Freemasonry in England ( and it must be noticed that the whole passage to Avhich reference is here made treats solely of England , —not of Scotland nor of Ireland , and not of France nor of Germany ) . It would also be very xiseful to knoAv where that Avriter found

any evidence that Freemasonry revived at the beginning of the seventeenth centurv in a different form . If he refer to the usual dictionary articles , or to the absurd histories that have been manufactured since 1725 , he will find that Ashmole ' s date ( 1646 ) is paraded as a proof that the

Mediseval system was then still in existence unchanged ; so that , unless he has alighted upon some document , a second error would be the statement , that Mediaeval Freemasonry was revived about 1600 -1625 ; and a third error Avould be the inference that it ever was revived . The fourth fault seems to be

the statement , that we know that from a very . early date ( by the way , what period is indicated by that expression ? Is it the time at Avhich the King of Bohemia built his " seven castles ? " ) there ' was an organised fraternity of Masons—constituting an Order partly religious ami partly professional . No notice of anything of the nature indicated appears in any of

the histories of Orders , civil , military , or religious , which have reached my hands ; and perhaps , by order he does not mean Order , but merely Society . Of course , it is only proper to give him credit for knowing that the Masons of London were ( or are said to have been ) incorporated about 1410 , by the name and

title of Freemasons , and for being aware that statutes were directed , 1360-1425 , against alliances and covines of Masons and carpenters . But the London fraternity or guild will not serve his purpose in any explanation of what is above italicised ; nor would such knowledge show the existence at a very earldate of

y an organised fraternity ( partly religious ) of Masons , who , from travelling and observation , as well as practice , gained intelligence . These last words are so decided , that it would be well to know , where any proof has been found that the body of Mediaeval Freemasons , or rather Masonsin England and in Francetravelled

, , at all . My own researches tend to a totally different conclusion , which would count the " travelling" as a fifth error . The sixth fault seems to be the assertion that we know that these Masons , by well-devised plans , communicated their intelligence to their whole body . If by " plans" the Avriter means "designs , "

he is understandable ; but , if he means " system of communication , " it Avould be useful to know what these plans Avere , or where any ground except imagination exists for them . The seventh error seems to be conveyed in the assertion that the organisation was fostered by the clergy . No proof of that has yet

occurred to me . The eighth fault is the assertion that the rearing of religious structures was allowed to be monopolised by the Freemasons as an organised body . No safe evidence on that point has yet been adduced in its favour by the most fervently zealous members of the Craft . But , if they cannot find any proof

that it is a fact that ecclesiastics were associated to the mediaeval body ; or , that priests possessing a taste for it were not only associated in Freemasonry , but readily initiated , they Avill thank me for thus asking for the long-desired evidence which would show that those words do not convey a ninth error . Probabl

y you will think that nine such faults justify merciless criticism ; but please to observe that if there is little excuse for any one of them , there Avould certainly be less for the inferences Avith which the lecturer has followed them . As no documentary evidence that the organisation was very complete , and under a central

control , has eA er been published , it is open to me to urge that no sound archaeologist could hope to establish so much on the faith of curious correspondence in the details of work , or from a universal similarity of arrangement . No doubt exists in my mind upon the anxiety of the Builder to forward any mode of ascertaining who built our cathedrals : so I take this

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