mains of which exist in the walls of Mycenæ and Tiryns, was formed of large and irregularly shaped masses of stone, the interstices being filled with smaller Stones. In a few of the earlier English buildings, considered by some to be Saxon, the quoins, the door, and window jambs, and occasionally some other parts, were formed of stones alternately laid flat and set up endwise; the latter were usually much longer than the others. This is termed “long and short” work.
MASONRY. See Freemason.
MASON SPIDER (Mygale or Cteniza cæmentaria), a spider more commonly known as the “trap-door spider.”
MASPERO, GASTON CAMILLE CHARLES (mäs-pe-rō′) a French Egyptologist; born of Italian parents, in Paris, France, June 23, 1846. He began to lecture on Egyptology at the School of Higher Studies in Paris in 1869, and in 1873 was appointed Professor of Egyptology at the College of France. In 1881 he founded a school of Egyptian archæology at Cairo, and succeeded Mariette as director of explorations and custodian of the Boulak Museum. In 1886 he became professor at the Institute of Paris. As an explorer he excavated or opened the pyramids of the kings belonging to the 5th and 6th dynasties and other important sites. His most valuable written work includes the excellent “Ancient History of the Nations of the Orient”; “Egyptian Archæology” (1887; Eng. trans. 1887); “Popular Tales of Ancient Egypt” (1882); “Egyptian Studies” (1879-1882); “New Light in Ancient Egypt” (1909); “Egyptian Art” (1912). He died in 1916.
MASQUERADE, an assembly of persons masked and disguised by means of fantastic dress. See Carnival.
MASS, the measure or expression of quantity of matter in a body as indicated either by its weight or by the amount of force necessary to produce a given amount of motion in a body in a given time. See Physics.
MASS, in Roman Catholic theology and ritual, “the perpetual sacrifice of the new covenant, in which the body and blood of Jesus Christ are really and truly offered to God under the species of bread and wine.” According to the “Catechism of the Council of Trent,” the Sacrifice of the Mass was instituted by our Lord at His last supper (Luke xxii: 19); it must be offered to God alone; was signified in Malachi i: 11; is the same sacrifice with that of the Cross; there is one priest of both, for the celebrant uses not his own words, but those of Jesus Christ; it is a sacrifice of praise and propitiation, and available for the living and the dead. There is an obligation on all Christians of the Roman Obedience to hear mass on all Sundays and holy days of obligation.
MASS, in music, a setting of certain portions of the mass to music; the portions of the mass usually set to music—namely, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei. An Offertory and Benedictus are sometimes added to these numbers. Masses are designated musically after the key in which they commence, as Beethoven in d; and liturgically, according to the character and solemnity of the accompanying ceremonial.
MASSA, a city in Italy, 26 miles N. of Pisa. Extensive marble quarries are located near here, and the city also is important for its manufactures of silk and paper. Pop. about 30,000.
MASSACHUSETTS, a State in the North Atlantic Division of the North American Union; bounded by Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and the Atlantic Ocean; one of the original 13 States; number of counties, 14; area, 8,040 square miles; pop. (1890) 2,238,943; (1900) 2,805,346; (1910) 3,366,416; (1920) 3,852,356; capital, Boston.
Topography.—The surface of the State is mostly rough and rugged, with irregular mountain systems. The coast counties are, however, mostly level, with low, rounded hills, and rocky eminences on the coast. Cape Cod is a low, sandy arm of land extending in a semicircle around Cape Cod Bay. There are numerous salt marshes in the E. part of the State. The W. part of Massachusetts is traversed by two mountain chains, the Taconic and the Hoosac, the latter a continuation of the Green Mountains of Vermont. Between these ranges is the Hoosac valley, which at its N. end is 1,100 feet above the sea. Mount Greylock and Mount Washington are the highest points of the State; the former has an altitude of 3,505 feet and the latter 2,624 feet. A rugged tableland 1,000 feet high extends E. from the Hoosac range to the Connecticut river valley, with a series of trap ridges reaching their highest elevations in Mount Tom (1,200 feet) and Mount Holyoke (1,120 feet). The valleys of the Connecticut and Housatonic are noted for their beautiful scenery. The coast line is very irregular, being indented by numerous bays, the largest of these being Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and Buzzards, all of these affording excellent harbors. The Connecti-
