Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25
GLASGOW CATHEDRAL
. STORY IN MAsONnY-INTEREsT-
ING INCIDENTS.

Inscription.

barons and khichs.
OF the. hovs OF. Mynto.
wtthair Wits.
BARNS. and bretherein.
This inscription is set in the south wall
Of the great old Glasgow Cathedral, and Is
the last. cpd. indeed, the only one OF the
monument IN the nave which escaped the
rage of destruction shortly after the Re-
formation in Scotland. 1t is commemora-
tive of the Stuarts Of Mimic, distinguish
Cd family. it would seem, in the days
when knights won their spurs by doughty
deeds. The tablet is OF dark metal, EVIL
IDENTIFY of considerable age, though there
IS no date 20 confirm the supposition, with
little orhamentatIou-save the figure of
kueeling. headless knight. And the quaint
lettering here given verbatim. 1t was our
first sight Of one Of those noble buildings
monuments Of a past age, when commune
The dionitv of venerable beauty with that
Of modern times, and naturally lett
more lasting impression than some larger
and more magnificent though in no case
I am sure. more closely interviewer with
tbe history of "A country, or indelibly I'M
messed upon the hearts OF people sure
~ then. such a relic Of time mas not
looked down upon the coming ana going
Of man for 700 years without having much
that Is attractive TO record. and me Iol-
lowing brief sketch Of its rise and history
may. il is hoped. prove interesting 10 the
reader: u,
fee which itself had replaced more
primitive structure, the spot had long
been held i'm sacred esteem. holy man,
oolled unfortunately Kentigern ana
Nuneo Tor the Beloved. had about 55O
A u founded a religious establishment
ON the banks of the MOlendinar Burn. 81
Manga WAS the associate and friend OF
COLUMBIA. the Culdee TO wnom scotlanu
is Indebted for her first enlightenment III
the gentle religion Of Christ, ana was d
man of royal Though unacknowledse
hirtb his father. it is supposed, being
/ Even or Eugenius Eufurien' hlhs VI
Cuubrla. and his mother Pictish
nrincess To him, after the manner OF
/ he time. are attributed many miracles
| one only OF which l shall relate:
once upon a time. during that charming
net.iod which invests every story with
| more or less interest II not behet. IL
| happened that the queen or CadyoW had
| the misfortune to lose ring, presented
! TO her as a token Of affection by her nus
| hand. IT Is not agreeable under any cir
/ but when that loss involves others, such
| as ones matrimonial rights, or even lie
| itself. il becomes serious, indeed. To such
a limit i'm resentment or jealousy, was
| her lord prepared TO subject her, when
! the lady in great distress appealed 10
| ST. Kentigern beseeching him 10 De III
! ornamental in recovering the lost ring.
! shortly afterwards the holy man, while
jndulging after his deyotions IN s'roH
! along the beautiful banks OF the Clutha'
or clyde. desired that the first FISH there
after taken from the water should De
| brought 10 him. This was done, and IN
the mouth Of the salmon was found, no
| doubt 10 the great JOY OF all, the ring
| whose loss had caused such unhappiIess,
! and was now the cause of its removal
| This legend. the fish with a ring IN us
mouth. II will be observed. forms the
motif of a portion Of the Glasgow coat
| Of-aTms
The foundation Of the present building
was laid in 1la by Bishop Joceline, ana
the beautiful and massive crypt bearing
| his name, and 10 this day, standing I'M
rivaled among European cathedrals, was
| finished under his direction before the emu
! of the twelfth century. The name Of the
architect is unknown, but an ancient BODY
of the city Freemasons. formed about d
hundred years previously under charter
! Of Malcolm CanmOre, were its able anu
honorable constructors. These men were
| EMPLOYED by Joceline under the sanction
| of the King william. by the grace OF
| God. King Of Scots" and the deed. de-
manding protection and assistance
throughout the kingdom for It's collectors
| was witnessed by Hugh, our Chancellor
| Archibald Abbot OF Dunfermline; VII
| liam Lindsay, Justiciar. and Phllp de
/ /. q yr.xt rtFht lnGn-
! line died after "a useful and honorable
! life. in 1le9. at the Abbey OF Melrose, his
former charge, and was buried in the
/ choir To him succeeded a long line OF
| famous bishops, whose arms occupy
/ prominent places on the portions erected
! under their direction. Many Of these pre-
lates belonged to the flower of the Scot
| fish nobility. and naturally failed not 10
bring loyal ambition and immense prlde'
/ If not always the secret OF holy living
/ TO the government OF the now Famous
/ See. Nor were these characteristics con-
| fu.d 10 the use of the Church alone, for
during the wars with England, when Ed
ward T.. with the strength of his army at
his back. swore 10 subjugate the northern
/ kingdom 10 his will, at least one mitred
priest disdained not to buckle on armor
| and fight like a Scottish baron IN MS
country's cause.
| The great building, however, remained
/ unfinished and as time passed the super
structure grew more and more slowly
until any lengthy task came TO
be spoken Of with homely humor, as
Like ST. Mungo's wark, never TO be
finished" Grants OF land, however, from
the faithful and large quantities Of tim
ber. etc. were naturally successful, and
| after a time the edihce began TO ap-
proach completion. Bishop Blackadder,
| transferred 10 Glasgow from Aberdeen
i'm 1884 was the last prelate who added
IN the stonework, building the richly
| decorated choir-screen, the transepts or
rms Of the cross. the flight of steps
and aisles from choir 10 nave, the de-
scending archways, and exquisite but
unfinished crypt in the south transept
yrbicb hears his name All these parts OF
the church still distinctly show his
! family coat-of-arms carved in the mass
| i've stone
vastly increased, ana, indeed the Court
| ~ cameron the Magnificent. with its
retinues of men alarms and palatial
| state. approached the grandeur OF royalty
itself. The feasts OF the Church
we're celebrated with vast pomp. Males
tic professions, unusual splendor Of vest
ments the exhibition Of treasures.
ROYAL and other gifts OF gold, silver, and
| precious stones, as well as a large and
varied assortment OF sanity relics, made
up a truly gorgeous ritual, when con-
tinued until the advent ana subsequent
mower OF the reformed religion utterly
swent away all traces OF IT, Much might
he said of the troublous times that fol
lowed but they belong more properly tC
the realm OF history.
The new, independent spirit had silent
" made its way through long years ere il
Was suspected; bu now it began 10 make
itself felt Az power. and in the fierce
war OF creeds. Of which We have all