THE STONEMASONS OF GERMANY.
165
meant work in large masses, and that, therefore, Auszuge must
and every writer without exception has followed his lead, wholly regardless
detail,
of the fact, that massen, in such a sense, is not German but French, and (even viewing this as
immaterial) the interpretation can only be made to apply by omitting as senseless the qualifithe conclusion that Masswcrk
be work in
cation "aus
dem Grund"
and by suppressing Masswerk entirely in Art. XLV.
well have been conjectured that the terms were purely technical,
many
might
which on close examination they prove to be.
reference to a technical dictionary at once
For
reasons
in both articles,
it
A
Masswerk in architectural phraseology denotes carving, carved work, tracery, or
proportioned work," from messen to measure; and finally, after persistent research, it
disclosed that
"
literally,
became manifest that
"
Ein
Aiisszug aus
dem Grunde ncJuncn
"
means, to take or extract an
elevation or design from a given ground-plan (Grundriss).
The signification now becomes
clear.
The stonemason's special handicraft was the elaborate carving of stone and his
;
peculiar knowledge was the preparation of the plans, designs,
principles of architectural drawing
;
and
this is the art
which he was forbidden
(Art. XIII.) except to a properly indentured stonemason's apprentice
(Art. XII.) unless free of the craft
;
such work, in fact the
etc., for
;
to
communicate
or to put in practice
but which he was required to impart gratuitously to every
^
properly qualified stonemason (Art. XIV.).
"
"
and we may leave the Ordinances.
No more beatings has
been presented as a heading, but briitchen in the original German is not easily translated.
The modern form Pritschc signifies a wand, something like a harlequin's sword, a flat lath, a
and Heldmann ^ gives a description of the remarkable and humorous ceremony,
bat, etc.
One more
article
(LII.)
;
which
it
was the object of
and rendered
If a fellow or apprentice
this article to suppress.
unfit for use a piece of stone, it
was hoisted on a
procession to the refuse heap, called the Bcinhaus,
i.e.,
litter,
had utterly
spoilt
and carried in solemn
bonehouse, charnel house, ossuary.
As
mourner followed the unlucky workman, and behind liim all his comrades. The ceremony over, the procession returned to the lodge, and the delinquent was thoroughly birched
chief
with the
flat
plumb-rules.^
craftsmen, and any
number
Here again we meet with the humorous symbolism
of the mediaeval
might be given of their ability to bring into play
The glassmakers were required to abstain from
the full resources of metaphor and allegory.
"
working under a non-guild master they were to avoid him as far as they could see a white
*
In all trades the journeymen fraternities affected an appearance of poverty,
horse in a field."
of illustrations
;
so that although the traveller
was well received and hospitably pledged, yet when the receiving
was wont comically to borrow this expression
brother placed the pledge cup before him, he
'
German students
will find indications of this meaning in the confirmation of the Emperor Ferdinand, 16th
where he speaks of " Aus dem Grund ausgezogen Steinwerckh" "oder maszen," given by Heideloff,
September 1621,
" Bauhiitte des
and confirmation strong in the interesting reprint at the end of the work of
in his
Mittelalters," p. 91
—
;
an old German manual of operative geometry, the concluding chapters of which give instructions for drawing the
ground-plan and elevation of a finial, showing all the various stages, and finally presenting us with a complete ground" Darnach so haist
dj figur ain rechte fiale aus gezogu
plan and elevation side by side, and it concludes with the words,
"
The finial in those days was not
ausz dem giunt Des ain exempel zu negst neben der geschrift stct d. grut fln der auszug.
"
the small cluster at the top of a pyramidal formation, but the whole pyramid itself (Ogilvie's
Dictionary "), as show u
only
in the drawings mentioned ; so that the importance to the craftsman of this knowledge is apparent, more especially when
we
consider the peculiarities of the Gothic stjde of architecture.
'
Heldmann, Die
'
fancy something of a similar nature, called "goosing,"
Ch. L. .Stock, Grundzuge der Verfassung, p. 11.
*
I
drei Aeltcsten Geschichtlichcn
Denkmalc,
is
p.
280, note.
not
unknown amongst our modern
tailors?