Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-15
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH-sUNDAY. JULY Is. 1888.


| in his hand he held pair OF compassea
The second, moro youthful in appear
ance, carried q mason's square. The
third, strong man with heavy curling
beard, held rule, and the fourth,
handsome lad with light, flowing auburn
locks, brought level, thus betokcning
they we're masters OF the sacred art OF
Freemasonry. They glided in with
solemn, soundless tread, and with them,
last 10 como into his dazzled sight, en-
tered the sanity Virgin, clothed with ce-
lestial beauty, carrying in her right
hand lily with siIyer-white flowers.
81 have heard thy prayer, and am here
to help thee in thy need, . said the Virgin
TO the awe-stricken architect. Zone
penalty lay upon thee"
"What is it. o Queen OF Heaven ?"
"For worldly ambition, and because
thou hast said IN thy heart. Solomon, L
will surpass thee thy name shall be for
gotten among the sons of men,"
"But," cried the disappointed arti-
san, ait is in hope of fame l have
toiled, prayed, suffered l have out
watched Orion and the sun has looked
down on me as it rose. The cathedral
OF nv heart and soul is to be the monu-
ment which he who sees will ask in won
der and amaze, Who was the archi-
tect 2"
"There is but one condition." said
Mary, mildly; "choose this instant,
the hour passes." =,
He covered his face with his hands and
wept aloud ; few moments his sobs
echoed through the cell and the struggle
was past. He raised his eyes to the
Blessed Virgin in thankfulness and ex-
claimed "If only my holy work lives
on, am content that my name Is written
in Heaven"
81 shall write it with my own hand in
the Book OF Remembrance, where the
prayers of the saints are recorded, for
thou art worthy" said the tender voice.
"In six centuries, as men count time,
the cathedral will be finished, hallowed
by the prayers of such disciples as thou.
and radiant with angelic light"
She made sign Of command to the
master masons, and they sketched with
rapid touches a design which shone like
]
forest OF stone pillars shot on high, the
arches curved to meet them, and two
majestic towers, flying buttresses and
pihnacles, went up higher and higher,
like winged things, into the blue of
Heaven. In silence the old monk Il
grieve that his name is LOST contemplated
the divine revelation. When the gray
light OF dawn stole into his cell the
vision softly faded, but the plans
drawn by the four masters OF
the art of architecture under the eye
OF the Virgin Mother were burned into
his memory. The cool breeze of morn
! ing famed his forehead. and the sun
chcerily looked into his narrow window
1t was not the fever Of mailman nor the
delusion OF Satan. He rose and whls-
pered, "When | wash my forehead with
| fresh dew the mists will clear away" He
went into the garden and walked an
hour, all the while in prayer. He re-
turned to his cell and spread the I'M
touched parchment. An invisible force
guided his hand swiftly as light travels.
Ground-plan and elevation, longitudinal
and transverse sections, delicate detail
drawings were made before noon, and
when the minister clock struck II the
happy architect laid his perfected sketch
at the foot of the throne.
But such work-tirm as adamaDt,
light as lace, lovely as music-is not
complete in one, two, or three genera
tons, and after exhausting wars the ma
sons were dismissed by the Government.
Then at night the ghost OF the architect
would walk the walls, moaning, like the
winds in the pines " cannot rest till
this work goes on my bed is hard. 1t
is no place of rest till the men come
back TO their sheds" He was always
dressed in green Qor German ghosts aro
not sworn to white robes), with a gray
cap on his head, measuring-rod and a
pair OF compasses in his hand.
Not till the times Of the good Emperor
William was the final wreath of stone
foliage laid in place, just $50 years to a
day after the laying OF the first founda-
ton.
And thus was created the fairest tenn
pie outside the City OF Precious Stones.
Fit resting place for the shrine of the
Wise Men from the East
THE THREE KINGS OF COLOGNE.
SUsAN T.. WALLACE.