The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-12-12
Masonic Researches i'm the Holy
Land,

4 very slim gathering assembled last evening
1T Cooper Institute TO hear a lecture announced
ON the above subject by Robert Morris. Ii. D.
The lecturer. although, n shown III the mcagre
Attendance, not very heartily abetted or encour-
aged by his Masonic brethren. did his best TO
make himself entertaining. and he certainly, IN
the interesting facts he gave IN connection with
his theme, showed that in his tour through the
Holy Land his researches had been both careful
and extended.
On the Ist Of March last, DIR. Norris said he
started on his tour Of the Holy Land. He made
Bevrout bis headquarters. He found here n
Masonic Lodge known rs No. 40 Palestine
Lodge. The ritual and ceremonies were IN
French, and, in fact, through SYRIA French lntiu-
cuccs were III the aSccudancy. lie spoke OF Rev
Mr.. Fisk, n Missionary from this country who
had been made q Mason before leaving the United
States. and the greater influence he exercised az q
missionary on this account. Very soon after his
arrival he paid his respects 10 the Grand Pacha,
being admitted u his presence through his ere
dentials rs a Mason. The Pacla was deeply in
tercstei in his GRAND and afforded him every
possible assistance ut his command. On parting
with the Pacha the latter, under his own sign
and seal, gave him u letter that procured him the
best attention everywhere.
Only the best class are Masons. The poorer
classes are bigotedly prejudiccd against IT. Ro-
man Catholic influence throughout all the Orient
was opposed to Masonry. From Beyrout lac went
10 Damascus. Here he found sixteen Masons. all
ul great ciulucllcc- DezllllliR Win lHC L dC3ii-
While there Inc helped to organize a lodge.
Among the Moslems he found great attachment
20 FreenasOnry. M~oslcmsand Christians unite on
the platform of FrecmasOnry. He spoke III turn of
his visits to Tyre, Jaffa, Jerusalem, and other
places additionally connected with Freemasonry.
lie found Tyre, which had once sent forth l20,-
600 to help build Solomon's Temple, 4 miserable
town. lie did not find a Mason here. Its ancient
splcndor and intelligence had departed. OF label
and Lebanon he gave about the same account.
At Jaiia he discovered more relies of ancient
Frecmas0nry. He here found five Masons includ-
ing the Emir. For q moment he branched off his
topic to speak Of n Yankee enterprise in the es-
adjustment of an omnibus route between Jaiia
and Jerusalem, on the old road on which We're
drawn the cedars from Lebanon used in building
Solomon's Temple. He next spoke ut length of
his researches at Jerusalem. He went to the
quarry whence were taken the stones for building
the Temple, and there found many Masonic en-
blems dating back to the times of the Crusaders,
and he believed they could be found running back
to the time of Melchizedek He described his
visit to Mount Moriah, where was founded the
Knights Templary of Freemasonry. The tomb Of
the first Grand Commander is still to be seen
there. The lecturer unfolded in turn his re-
searches throughout all Palestine and gave inter
esting descriptions of various Masonic emblems
be continually met in the course of his travels.
Though speaking over an hour he was listened to
with deep and unflagging attention.-Nei0 York
Herald, October l9h.