New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
THE MARK or THE CRAFT.

u,soric tradition informs us that at the building
of King Solomon's Temple every Mason was pro-
yided with a peculiar mark, which was paceu upo"
his work 10 distinguish from that Of his fellows
BY the aid OF these marks the overseers WERE
without any difficulty, enabled to trace piece OF
defective work to the faulty workman. and every
chance of imposition among so large an assembly
OF craftsmen as were engaged in the construction
Of the temple was thus easily and effectually pre-
vented.
History confirms the probable truth OF this tradi'
ton because IT abundanty shows that a similar
usage has always existed among operative Masons
These marks for instance. have been found a.
snre Worms burg. Rheims. Basel and
several other places. and NJ Didron, who
reported series OF observations on me s u,a
byS Mr. Mr. Godwin in The Arch@ologcal rransac
9sT to stnc schools or lodges Of
lie divides them into two classes, those Of the
stones The marks Of the first class consist Of
monogrammatic characters. while those OF LINZ Ine
second OF the nature of symbols. such as SHOES
trowels. malets etc: ,. o,,o...r,,
Review" published in London. states that similar
marks are to be found on the stones which com
Pose ae %f rs 81 IN the ne
says this visitor. 'are composed OF large oDiong
covered CSyT by e Masonic s' cmbems which
thing more than mere ornament Ihey are noS
over the walls Of the fortress in many places as q,
high as thirty or forty feet from the ground. II
sands Of stones on the walls bearing these ma,
sonic symbols were carved, marked and nuInoerred
in the quarry previous TO the erection OF the puid-
ing"
In the ancient buildings Of England and France
these marks to be found in great abundance.
In a communication this subject TO the l.onuon
Society OF Antiquaries Mr.. Goodwin states mat. III
his opinion, these marks. II collected ana com
pared might assist in connecting the various bands
of operatives who, under the protection or the
Church-my sticay unted-spread themselves over
Europe during the Middle Ages, and are known as
Freema sons" Mr.. Goodwin describes these mar rs
as varying IN length from two 10 seven lnches ana
as formed by single line slightly indented con
s!sting chiefly OF crosses. known Masonic synlpols'
emblems of the Trinity and Of eternity. the douDe
triangle, the square. etc -,
The same writer observes that in conversation
In September 1874. with Mason at work on the
Cathedral Of Canterbury he found that many
Masons (all VINO Freemasons). had their nys-
tic marks handed down from generation to genera
ton: the man with whom he was conversing stat
ed that he had his mark from his father. and that
he had received Il from his grandfather.
Information of this kind will be acceptable 70
Mark Masters 1t will enable them to understand
the nature and original purpose Of the 'individuai
mark" which Is but duplicate Of the one placed
by the operative Mason his work while the
general mark OF the craft" whose history forms
so important a part Of the instructions or the de-
gree will become interesting to him from the
details that have been presented to his notice