Basilica Anglicana—Ii.

incurred , is collected Avithin the limits of these consecrated AA'alls . What wonder that Addison ' s Spectator used to derive a melancholy peace from a Avalk through this field of graves , this modern Golgotha : — "I knoAV , " he says in one of his charming papers , " that entertainments of this sort arc apt to raise dark and dismal

thoughts in timorous minds , and gloomy imaginations ; but for my own part , though I am ahvays serious , I do not knoiv AA'hat it is to be melancholy , and can therefore take a view of nature in her deep and solemn scenes AA'ith the same pleasure as in her most gay and delightful ones . By this means I can improve myself ivith those objects which others consider with terror . When I look the tombs of the great emotion of

upon every envy dies in me ; when I reacl the epitaphs ofthe beautiful every inordinate desire goes out ; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone my heart melts with compassion ; when I sec the tomb of the parents themselves , I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom wc must quickly follow ; when I see kings lying by those who deposed them — when I consider rival wits placed side by sideor the hol that divided the world

, y men ivith their contests and disputes—I reflect ivith horror and astonishment on the bitter competitions , factions , and debates of maukmd ; when I read the several dates of the tombs , of some that died yesterday , and some six hundred years ago , I consider that great clay when we shall all of us be contemporaries , ancl make our appearance together . "

German Masons In The Middle Ages.

GERMAN MASONS IN THE MIDDLE AGES .

THE folloAving is an extract from a little Avork on the organization of the trades and handicrafts in Germany during the middle ages , by Archivarius , Ch . L . Stock , Magdeburg , ISio . Some of tho customs of the . stonemasons of those days strongly corroborate the opinion that Freemasonry Avas originally closely connected with the real stonemasons , and that indebted for

we are some of the noblest remains of Gothic architecture to the desi gn ancl co-operation of that Order . It is Avell known the journeymen of each craffc had their own manner of making themselves known to their brothers and obtaining aid and protection whenever they stood in need of them . . For this purpose each craft Lad its peculiar mode of salutation ; the folloAving was that of the Masons , from which the readers of this journal must draw their own inferences : —

" v \ ith your favour and permission , God ble « s this plan and all that stand around thee . _ ( Here th . e journeymen place tAvo seals upon one another at right angles , thus X ) . ( The honourable members hero read the letters presented to tlieiu , or return the salute ) .

Stranger . I am a Mason by salute ; through snow ancl ice have 1 come . Do you wish to knoAV my name ? Master . Who has sent thee hither 1 Stranger . My honourable master , the honourable overseer , and the whole , honourable Craffc of Masons in the citv oi N . N . J

Master . For Avhat purpose did they send thee ? Stranger . For the purpose of honourable promotion , morals , and honourable conduct . Master What dost thou understand b y morals and honourable conduct ? Stranger . The usiiges and habits of our Craft

. Master . When clo these commence 1 Stranger . When I havo honestly and faithfully completed my apprenticeshi p . Master . AVhen do they finish ? Stranger . When death breaks my heart . Master . By what means is the Mason known ?

yranger . B y hiss honourable conduct . Master . What sort of a Mason art thou ? Slrmujer . I am a mouth Mason . Master . Row dost thou make this known ? Stranger . B y my honourable salute and the words of my tongue .

German Masons In The Middle Ages.

Master . Where was the honourable Craft of Masons first erected in Germany ? Stranger . At the dome of Magdeburg . Master . Under what monarch 'I Stranger . Under Emperor Charles II ., of the Christian religionthe fifth in the year 87 G .

, Master . Hoiy long did that emperor reign I Stranger . Three years . Master . What Avas the name ofthe first Mason ? Stranger . Hieronymus—and the first tool was called Walkim . ' Master . How many words has tho Mason 1

Stranger . Seven . Master . Name them . Stranger . God bless all honourable conduct . God bless all honourable . knowledge . God bless the honourable Craft ol Masonry . God bless tho honourable Master . God bless the honourable Foreman . God bless the honourable

Fraternity . God grant honourable promotion to all Masons here and all places by sea and by land . Master . What is secrecy in itself ? Stranger . Earth , fire , air , snow , through which I hope to bo promoted . Master . What dost thou carry under thy hat ?

Stranger . Honourable Avisdom ( knowledge of my Craft ) . Master . What dost thou cany under thy tongue % Stranger . Nothing but honourable truth . Master . Why dost thou carry an apron 1 Stranger . In honour of my Craft , ancl for ray OAVII advantage .

Master . What constitutes fche strength of thy work ? Stranger . That which cannot be consumed either by fire , or by Avater . "

Creek Art; And The Application Of The Beautiful To The Useful.

GREEK ART ; AND THE APPLICATION OF THE BEAUTIFUL TO THE USEFUL .

in- joux AVII . SOX noss . IT is to the earlier periods of the history of Gircccc one looks for all that is great in Art . The ivorks of art which that country produced , when she bad reached the hi ghest point oi' refinement and civilization , ivere remarkable for their elegant simplicity . It ivas not till luxury had enervated her powers , ' and wealth had created an over abundancethat she lost her purity of tasteand

, , became lavish , even to prodigality , of the resources at her command . If , then , there be one school more than another in which the designer—no matter in AA'hatevcr branch ofthe Industrial Arts lie may be engaged—should particularly study , it is unquestionably that of Greek art . The modeller , AVIIOSC mind is imbued with a thorough appreciation and love of the masterpieces of a school so fertile in refinement and purity of design , ivill never violate taste iu

making neiv combinations . He will use his materials as a musician uses his instrument—to produce harmony , lie will give beautiful material embodiments to his conceptions , when his eye has been educated to the fine forms of the relics of that art . Nor must he study alone the more imposing sculpture Avhich is generally made the student ' s text ; he must turn his attention to minor objectsthe bronzesA'ascslampsand other fictile waresYet

, , , , . , Allien he has carefully copied and studied the pottery , as well as the marble remains , mural frescoes , and many antique fragments that have been handed doivn to us from that ancient people , and ivhich arc all eminently calculated to assist in the designs of those useful domestic and highly ornamental ivorks which form universal objects of trade , he will , in all probability , find that his greatest difficulty is—adaptation . But the rules which this knowledge of

Greek art will have laid down for his guidance will be , first , that he preserve a congenial character ot ornament , and adopt no other , in any of the details , after he has once chosen his style ; secondly , that he consider the uses of the object ; aud , thirdly , that he unite to this refined taste and suggestive knowledge of the beautiful in all its phases , an equal acquaintance with practical manufacturesHis frequent inspection of these beautiful

. antique ivorks will produce such a standard of excellence in his mind that so influenced he will , when the object is purely ornamental , and the decorations may be to any extent florid , not destroy the object by floral or other superfluities , and when