triumphal arch, adorned with splendid engravings and sculpture, and a noble palace with the famous statue of Lacoon of one stone. 114 The emperor Trajan, by his warden, the renowned architect Appolodorus, constructed a wonderful bridge across the Danube, and built a noble circus, and several other edifices of stupendous magnitude at Rome. 130 Adrian, the Roman emperor, who was an operative, as well as a speculative mason, built the Roman wall, near the borders between England and Scotland, a commodious bridge at Rome, his famous mausoleum, &c. 287 St. Alban, the first who suffered martyrdom for Christianity in Englaud, was the first grand master in that country. 306 Constantine the Great, reared at Rome, the last tri umphal arch after the Augustan style; and on the removal of his throne to Byzantium, which he called Constantinople, he employed the craft and eminent artists of every description, in embellishing his new metropolis. 378 Theodosius the Great, emperor of the East, was so great a patron of the fraternity, that he passed a law, exempting them from taxation. 384 Arcadius, the son of Theodosius, enriched the city Constantinople with many superb structures, and a lofty pillar, with a flight of stairs, 147 feet high. 526 Justinian the first, supported the lodges of craftsmen, and, in a great measure, restored the whole Roman empire to its former splendour. 560 Under the same emperor, the church of St. Sophia was completed. He, in vain, attempted that this building should equal Solomon's temple, although he expended on it about 120 millions of dollars. 600 St. Austin, as grand master, founded the old cathedral of Canterbury; and, in 604, that of St Paul, London. 710 At the request of Keored, king of Mercia in England, to the most worshipful Charles Martel, grand master of France, some expert masons were sent from thence, to teach the Saxons those usages of the craft, which since the invasion of the Goths had been too much neglected, 771 Charlemagne, emperor of Germany and France, kept up several lodges, and gave great encouragement to the craft. 900 Alfred the Great, who was a most excellent prince employed the craft in various works, which reflect great honour on his memory. As grand master, he laid the foundation of the university of Oxford. 926 King Athelstane granted a charter to the grand lodge of York, of which his brother, prince Edwin, was first grand master. 950 Malcolm I. king of Scotland, was a great patron of the royal art; and under his direction, the foundation stone of Edinburgh castle was laid. 996 Hugh Capet, king of France, whose reign commenced in the year 987, was a great patron of masonry; and his son Robert, when he ascended the throne, followed the example of his father. 1060 During the reign of Canute, the craft were employed in building religious houses, particularly the abbeys of Coventry, Westminster, &c. 1090 Under the direction of the bishop of Rochester, who was then grand master, the palace of Westminster, and Westminster Hall, which is 270 feet long and 74 wide, being, as is believed, the largest single room upon earth, were built. 1099 The order of Knight templars, who were originally denominated Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, began about this year. The knights of Rhodes, afterwards called knights of Malta, after the capture of Jerusalem, began to be distinguished by their habiliments, and besides the vows which they had formerly taken, they took another, viz. that they would defend the pilgrims against the insults of the infidels. 1146 The craft employed under their grand master, the marquis of Pembroke, in building St Stephen's chapel, the editice, in which the commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland hold their meetings. 1219 The knights of the Holy Sepulchre were formed into an order. 1272 The superintendence of masons committed to the archbishop of Canterbury, during the minority of King Henry III. 1307 The fraternity employed in building several colleges at Oxford and Cambridge in England, under the superintendence of the bishop of Exeter, who had been appointed grand master. 1348 In the reign of King Edward III. when lodges were numerous, the grand lodge, with the consent of the lords of the realm, who were then generally free-masons, revised the constitution, and added several useful charges to the ancient code. 1413 On the accession of Henry V. to the English throne, masonry flourished under the patronage af Dr. Chichely, archbishop of Canterbury, who was then grand master. 1425 Masonic assemblies prohibited by act of parliament *. 1443 James I. of Scotland, who was a zealous patron of masonry during his whole reign, was initiated into the order. 1450 John De Medicis became grand master of the masons in Tuscany, and greatly promoted not only the masonic, but other arts and sciences. 1500 Free-masons, in England, were under the direction of the knights of Malta, from the year 1485, till Henry VII. avowed himself as their protec tor. 1502 24th June, Henry VII. presided as grand master, at a lodge held in his palace; from whence accompanied by a great concourse of brethren, he proceeded in ample form to the end of Westminster Abbey, where he laid the foundation stone of King Henry VII.'s Chapel. 1509 Cardinal Woolsey appointed grand master on the accession of Henry VIII. and notwithstanding his bad conduct in other respects, he was very attentive to the concerns of the fraternity, who prospered greatly under his administration. 1530 On the disgrace of the cardinal, Cromwell, earl of Essex, succeeded as grand master He em ployed the fraternity in building St. James' pa-lace and other stately edifices. The act, however, was not enforced, lodges being held as usual under archbishop Chichely. till the initiation of King Henry VI, into the order, when the act was formally repealed, 1561 27th December, Queen Elizabeth, being jealous of free-masons, sent an armed force to suppress their communication at York; but some of the principal officers employed on that service, having been initiated, made so favourable a report of the principles and proceedings of the fraternity, that she forthwith countermanded her orders, and gave them no farther trouble. 1566 7th June, Sir Thomas Gresham, as grand master, laid the foundation stone of the Royal Exchange, London, which he afterwards completed at his own expense. 1651 The famous and learned Inigo Jones, was appointed grand master in 1607, and continued in that office till 1618, when he was succeeded by the earl of Pembroke; he was re-elected in 1636, and continued to preside over the lodges till his death. 1673 King James II. attended by a numerous body of the fraternity, laid the foundation stone of St. Paul's Cathedral *, London. 1674 The palace of Holyrood house, at Edinburgh, rebuilt in the truly Augustan style, under the direction of Sir William Bruce, baronet, grand master of Scotland. 1695 King William, having been initiated into the order, approved of the appointment of Sir Christopher Wren as grand master, and honoured the lodges with his royal sanction. 1717 In the beginning of the seventeenth century, the annual assembly of the grand lodge, had not, for some years, been duly attended, owing to the bodily infirmities of Sir Christopher Wren; but upon his death, Mr. Sayer was elected and masonry revived. 1719 A great addition to the number of free-masons takes place in England, after the election of Dr. Desaguliers to the office of grand master. *This noble fabric was begun and completed in the space of 35 years, by one architect, the great Sir Christopher Wren, one principal mason, Mr. Strong, and under one bishop of London, Dr. Henry Comp. to; whereas, St. Peter's at Rome, was 153 years in building under twe've successive architects, assisted by the police and interest of the Roman See, and attended by the best artists in sculpture, statuary, painting, and Mosaic werk. 1720 A number of valuable manuscripts, concerninglodges, particularly one written by Nicholas Stone warden under Inigo Jones, destroyed by some too scrupulous brethren. 1723 The book of constitutions of the free-masons, containing the history, charges, and regulations of that most ancient and worshipful fraternity, by James Anderson, published under the sanction of the grand lodge. The Duke of Buccleugh, then grand master of England, proposed a scheme for raising a general fund for the permanent relief of distressed masons and their families, which was readily adopted. 1726 The brethren of Wales, who had formerly been independent, unite under the banners of the grand lodge of London * 1728 A deputation was granted to George Pomfret, Esq. authorising him to open a new lodge at Bengal 1729 Lord Kingston made some valuable presents to the grand lodge of England 1731 His example was followed by the Duke of Norfolk. Francis, duke of Lorrain, afterwards emperor of Germany, made an entered apprentice and fellow craft at the Hague, and afterwards promoted to the dignity of a master mason in London.. 1735 The States General of Holland published an edict,. prohibiting the meetings of free-masons in their territories t. * The progress of masonry has been so rapid in the English settlements in India, that in the year 1800 there were upwards of fifty lodges, whose annual contributions to the charitable and public funds of the grand lodge amounted to a very considerable sum. In this remarkable edict, it is stated, that, "though they (the States General) had not discovered any thing in the behaviour or practices of the fraternity contrary to the peace of the public, or to the duties of good subjects, they were resolved nevertheless, to prevent any bad consequences, which migh ensue, that the lodges, congregations, assemble of the free-masons should be enti ely abolished.' But this, and the other ridiculous edicts, passed by some other states, answered no purpose. except, perhaps, to unite the brethren more closely. Their assemblies were continued as usual, and in. France, that illustrious hero the prince of Conde, frequently laid aside his warlike habiliments to wear the honest and humble apron, and work with diligence in carrying on the design. Days of intolerance are now, however, gone, and it is sincerely to be hoped, that they will never again return. |