Masonic Facts.

were architects , according to Felibien . —See Felibien . Mecueil Historique de la Vie et Ouvrages des plus celebres Architects . 4 to . Paris , 1687 . 26 . Anstee , a Monk of Gorze , enjoyed a considerable reputation in the 10 th century , as an Architect . —Lebevf , Etat des Sciences dep . Charlem jusqu ' a Boi Bobert . Rec . II . 139 .

2-7 . On the Portal of the Church of Fleury , now called S . Benoit sur Loire , is inscribed VIBERIUS ME FECIT . The porch was erected in the time of Robert the Pious , who reigned about 1010 . On the gate of the Church of St . TJrsin , at Bourges , built about the same time as the aboveis inscribed GEATVLVS EECIT .

, —Lebeaf , JSiat des Sciences . Rec . IL , 140 . 28 . Robert the Pious laid the foundations of the present Cathedral of Notre Dame , Paris , in 1110 , but after his death it was neglected until 1165 . The first stone was laid by Pope Alexander III . In 1181 the eastern part had so far advanced that it was

consecrated by Henry , the Pope ' s legate , and the Bishop himself , Maurice de Scully . —W / dttington ' s Historical Survey , p , 148 . 29 . The dome of Pisa , built in 1016 , from the designs of Buschetto of Dulietriam , a Greek Architect . —Vasari , vol . i , p . 226 .

30 . Chartres Cathedral — Fulbert , Architect . — Dallcaoaifs Architecture , p . 87 . 31 . Church of St . Remi-Rheims , consecrated by Leo IX ., in 1049 . —Whittington ' s Historical Survey , p . 51 . 32 . 1050—Cathedral of Seez , commenced by Azon , a Monk . —Felibien Arch ., iv ., 194 . 33 . A bridge across the Saone , at Lyons , built by Archbishop Humbert in 1050 . It is expressly mentioned that he was the architect , and that he also

defrayed the whole expense of the work . —Felibien Arch ., iv ., 194 . 34 . Church of Charite sur Loire , by Gerard the architect , in 1056 . — Dallaioay , p . 87 . 35 . Baldwin , Abbot of St . Edmirnda , rmrlpi ! -the ausu icf * - o £ "kk-o Cu-Liiiueror ( 1065-1087 ) , laid the foundation of another churchbecausesays the Monk

, , Hermannus , a contemporary , " haic quoque simplici facta schemate , non sie artificalis ut quasdam construmuutur hoc tempore . " The presbytery of Baldwin's Church which is compared by the same author for magnificence to Solomon ' s Temple , was consecrated in 1095 . —Hermanfo . 80 b .

, 36 . The Abbey of Clugny , built in 1069 by Huges and dedicated in 1130 by Innocent II . —Whittinqton , p . 53 . The designs were furnished in 1093 by Gunzo , a Monk of the Abbey of Cluny , and he superintended the erection of the same . —See the " Life of St . Hugh , Abbot of Clugny , " inserted in Surii Yitce

Sanctorum , p . 350 , Colouite , 1618 . 37 . Gundulph ; ' a Monk of Bee in Normandy , Bishop of Rochester in 1077 , and died in 1108 . He built Rochester Castle , and the Chapel in the Tower of London ; his successor , Enulph , says of him , " Bpiscopus Gundulp hus in opere easmentari plurimum

sciens et efficaxerat . " —Angl . Sac . t . i ., p . 338 . The Charter of TJchtred , the son of Gospatrio , conveying certain property to the Abbey of Whitby , is witnessed by , amongst others , Godefrid , the master builderdate of Charter about 1077 . Godefrid came to Whitby from York . —Charlton's History of Whitby , p . 60 . 38 . The Church of St . Lucien , Beauvais , was rebuilt iu 1078 by two artificers , who are described as

" Cffimentafii , " or masons , one of them was called Wimbolde , and built the greater part of the structure , the other , Odo , who built the Tower . —Felibien Arch . iv ., p . 193 . 39 . William de Karilepho , Abbot of St . Yincent , Normandy , and afterwards Bishop of Durham , 1082-1095 began the Cathedral there " on a plan which he

, had brought with him from Prance . "—Surtee ' s Hist , of Durham , vol . i ., p . 18 . 40 . Gloucester Cathedral . There are few churches in England which exhibit a more complete school of Gothick , than this cathedral . The chronicles of the building are preserved in the archives

of the Dean and Chapter , and were written by Abbot Procester , 1381-1412 . It appears that the foundation of the present building was laid on the Feast of St . Peter and St . Paul , by the Bishop of Hereford in 1089 , and was consecrated in 1100 . The roof of the nave is of later date , 1212 , as we learn from

the chronicle , " A . D . 1212 , completa est nova volta in navi ecclesiai , non auxilio faborum ut primo , sed animosa virtute monachorum time in ipso loco esistentium . " Prom this it is evident the vault of the nave was completed by the monks themselves . The earliest known specimen of fan vaulting is in the cloisters , 1360-90 ( it is peculiar to England ) , the other

examples are generally of the reign of Henrv VII . and VIII . The north transept , built in 1369-75 ^ cost £ 781 . The south transept was erected forty years earlier , and in it is placed a Master Mason ' s monument , projecting from the wall in the form of a Masons square , and supported by figuresone of which is clothed as a

, Mason . The position of one of these figures is very significant , and will be readily understood by all E . C Masons . An effort will be made to give the readers of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE a view of this very peculiar monument , which tradition says , belongs to John Gower .

"John Gowere , Who built Campden Church and Gloster towre . " ' Wigmore was Abbot from 1329 to 1337 , and made a tabula or frontal for the Prior ' s Altar , he was well skilled , for the images were worked by his own hands .

" Tabulam ad altare prioris cum ymaginibus politiset deauratis sumptibus suis adornavit . Et aliam tabulam , quae nune est in capella ahbatis , de eodem opere eomposuit . Qui in diversis arfcibus multiim delectabatur , ut ipse scepissime operetur et multos diversos operarios in diversis artibus percolleret tarn

in opere mechanico , quam in textura . " Professor Willis remarks of the fan vaulting , "that it demands great skill in stone cutting , that the joints may lie truly together , without which all would fall to the ground , " and further says " that the whole building is full of peculiar and

ingenious fancies . " " The vault of the south transept is fine , and one of the earliest specimens of this complex class of rib vaulting . Owing to the difference of the angles of the ribs such a vault was very difficult of construction ; most skilful workmanship was necessary

to make the ribs join at the intersections , and this led to the use of bosses which , while they concealed defective work greatly enriched the roof . But in this example there were no bosses ; the ribs joined perfectly and it appeared as if the Masons desired