Masonic Notes And Queries.

the monastery having been rebuilt , it is easy to suppose that Abbot Peter would busy himself with the furniture , and our beautiful candlestick was one of the objects of art due to the devotion of himself and iris < gentle flock . '' Ifc appears that iu less than a century later , tins work , which Avas a marvel for the acre in Avhich it was produced , caino into the treasury of tho Cathedral of the city of SIons , JNormandy . Afterwards failing into n »< dert , " t passed into private familanil ultimatel

a y , y found its Avay Into the famed collection of Prince SoltikoU . As a great and murine Avork of a remote period , as a national relic illustrative of English History , the Government authorities at South KeuaiigfconhaiUonpdesired once more to reclaim this lost treasure to its native lancf On the dispersion of tho Solfcikofi collection a few month since , in Pans , an opportunity fortunately oecured ; and JJr . Uobi"son the superintendent of the Art

Museum at South Kensington , with a promptitude ? and tact so often brought hy him to the service of art has IIOAV once more made the Gloucester Candelabrum tho possession ot the Jimgush nation . Its value is supposed to be one thousand pounds . " The material of this AVOI-1 : is bronze , thickly gilt , with here and there pieces of silver inlaid in tha manner of ' the Italian niello ; tlie oi monstersami other

eyes , some point ; . ' , 'Hied with daik enamel It ivas cast in three pieces , and the moulds appear to have beeii wrought with so much accuracy as to necessitate bufc little retouching Irani the graver . The intricacy of the design , and the elaboration of the detail must have presented no small difficulties ot execution , avid the vrovk , making tos uttowance i ' oi' tho period OL its construction , redounds to tlie honour of the early English artisan . The style of art will be recognised on comparison with m IPT T-MH ]„>^ ; ., < --, ! ,. T . ' .. ! .:-..:,.:.. _ .. ... . ... — uAuiuiuion

... „ .........,.., „ , „ . , . peculiar anel marked in character . The amount of detail , and the inter . voven ornamentation , would indicate . Byzantine influence ; the other elements especiall " that of the grotesque , bespeak a northern orirrhi , corresponding Avith -Norman decorations and enrichments . "The candelabrum , at the foot , and afc the calixlike summit , has three sides , each somewhat corresponding to the others—Avith a variation The form is gracefulCloser examination ill show

. v .- an mimity of detail ; arabesque stems and foliage interwoven with human heads , figures , and fantastic animals . In this tangled mass , Jb is said , may be counted nine wen and forty-two monsters strwghug together , biting , and devouring one another . ° " The Avhole is redeemed hy a spiritual allegory . These monsters represent the Avicked victims of vices personified . The candle and candlestick on the other hand , were the jilting emblems of light giving trmhand the dut

-, " y of li . hts , " says one of the three Latin inscriptions , ' is the practice of virtue . The luminous doctrines of the ( fospet engages man to Jh from the darlness of vice ? Accordingly this lesson is further enforced by tha presence of the emblems of the four Evangelists , the Angel , ' lie Winged Suit , ihe iVingeuLion , and the Eagle , ranged around the stem , woclaimvn- * good tidings of light and of truth to the four quarters ofthe earth aud dispelling from the world darkness

and discord "Analogous ideas and subjects will suggest themselves in the realms ot poetry , painting , and architecture . Thc oft -repeated temptations of St . Anthony , the saint in the midst of hideous monsters the gargoyles at the roofs of churches , ilvWcm out by the good spirits within , and the seven-fold IJ Inferno of Dante " ' iven up to cruel monsters . These are all examples of that conflict o >' G'OOCl Wltll Pl . ll a . nnr . nl . S . ^ . 1 1 ... .. ? . „ / -. 7 ... . ... ¦¦ - — ~ m »^ « y um > uiemccscer candelabrum

... -, ,.. „ : 'the hght sinned m darkness , and the darkness comprehended ifc not '" Ihe italics arc mine except in the last paragraoh , where -Uaute s Avork is quoted . I imvo italicised these words for the purpose of draAvmg attention more prominently to chem , believing that thoy are of great importance to all Koyai _ Arck Afasons , as shoAving the carlv knoivlecVc of Arch Masonry in thc Mcdkcval Church " it is worthy of

, remark that tins candelabrum Iras throe sides : I presume a triangle . Amongst the men nine aro to be counted , tho proper number to constitute au Arch Chapter . Tho candle is too Avell knoAvn a symbol to need a remark-. j \ ofc doubfciji ^ tlie translations ot the latin inscriptions , ifc Avould have been more satisfactory if thoy bad been quoted as they stand , but sufficient is to ho found in the sentence to skoiv certain iloyal Arch les

- princip . Thc emblems ofthe four evangelists are not so . Christian symbolism does nofc appoint these emblems m tho manner indicated , but the Eoyal Arch Mason knows from whence they come and to ivhafc they allude . I must not be more explicit , but I think if a photograph could be obtained of this work of arfc it Avould add considerabl y to our knoAvled ge of hoAv far Masonry Avas understood

at that time , for it is evident in the last words ot the article , that ns it was then the symbol of lio-hfc and knoAvled ge to tho spectator , so it is now to those Avho

are not Eoyal Arch Masons , a mysterious allegory oxpressing groat truths , but in their case onl y imperfectly comprehended for "the light shined in darkness and darkness comprehended it not . "—MAITIIW COOKE . THE LONGEST Tl'XtUlE OS Ol'i'ICE BY A AV . M . What is longest tenure of office thafc the W . M . of a lodge has hold ?— Such

C . JST . —[ a question is not easily answered , rue Duke of Sussex was for many years W . M . of the lodgo of Antiquity , and , being a Eoyal Prince , Ai-as ompoAvered to appoint a Deputy WM ., Avhich he did , and several weiliviioAA-n Masons served the latter office , but , in their case , t-iioy could not sit for more than two years at a time . Perhaps somo of our readers may be able to furnish other instances within their own knowledge . ]

BAST MASTEIl ' s J 15 AT 15 I ,. Why is the 47 th Theorem of the 1 st Book of Euclid adopted as the jeivel for a Past Master . Euclid says : —* ' In any ri ght angled triangle , the square Avhich is described upon the side subtending the right angle , is equal to the squares described upon the sides which contain the right angles' What has this to do wifch a Pasfc Master thafc ifc should he devoted to him only ?—S . S .

ASCIENT LAKTOIAKKS . What are the landmarks of the order ?—T . ina'iu' O ' BKIEN A 3 IASO : >' . A correspondent enquired if Henry O'Brien , B . A ., author of an . essay On the Hound Towers of Ireland , Avas a Mason , lie introduced into that performance the seventh verso of the following song , AA'hich is of considerrble antiquity and

y , as very popular among tho brethren . O'Brien generally had several copies of this hymn about him , and , on " meeting A-dth any of his antiquarian friends who AA-ere not Masons , -was in the habit of thrusting it into their hands telling them that if they understood the mystic allusions it com tained they would be in possession of a kov which would unlock the pyramids of Egypt ! The air to AA'hich it is sung-IS peculiar to it and of a solemn niaintivc character : —

Come all you Freemasons that dwell around the globe , That Avear the badge of innocence , I mean the royal robe , Which Xoah be did wear AA-hen in tho ark he stood , When the A \ -orld Avas destroyed by a deluging Mood . 2 \ oah he ivas virtuous in the sight of the Lord , He loved a Freemason that kept the sacred word ; For he built the ark- and he planted the first vine ; Ami iiIris soul in

no - heaven like an angel doth shine . Once I Avar , blind , anil could not see the light , Then up to Jerusalem I took my flight , I _ Avas led by the evangelist througlwi Avilderness of care , " i ou > n . Tv see hy the sign and fche badge that I wear . On the thirteenth rose the ark , let us join hand in hand , the Lord to b

For spake Moses y Avater and land , Unto the pleasant river ivhere by Edon it did rin , ( Sic !) And Eve tempted Adam hy the serpent of sin . When I think of JJIoses it makes me to blush ; AU ou Mount Hoveb where I saw the burning hush ; 2 , Iy slices I'll throw off , and my staff I'll east away , And I'll v .-mider like a pilgrim " unto my dying day .

When I think of Aaron it makes me to Aveen , Like-vise ofthe Virgin Mary ivho lay at our Saviour's feet ; -Twas in the garden of Gethsemane where ho had the bloody sweat ; Ilepent , my dearest brethren , before it is too kite . I thought I saw tivelve dazzling lights , Avhich put me in surprise , And gazing all around me I heard a dismal noise ; The

serpent passed by me , I fell unto the ground , AA'ith great joy and comfort the secret word I found . Some say it is lost , hut surely ifc is found , And so is our Saviour , as is known to all around ; Search all the scriptures o ' er and there it Avill be shown Tbe tree that Avill not bear no fruit must be cut doivn . Abraham Aras a man Avell beloved by the Lord , He was true , as Avas found , to great Jehovah ' s Ai'ord He stretched forth his hand and took a knife to slay his son , But an Angel appearing said , the Lord ' s Avill he done !