Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-16

kgtbunAl, formed WITHIN that interval, nave |
not bssn broken into fragments. or totally
Governments, civil and re-
ligieus, have been instituted and destroyed.
Powers and dominions innumerable have
arisen and passed away, without leaving
trace behind. Everything. bnt Masonry,
seems TO have been constantly changing,
from the rcmotest periods oil history. About
the date Of the departure Of the Rlmans
from Britain, and for lapse Of time altar
wards, during the sanguipary conflicts TIA,
ensucd, Masonry suffered decline, and
then had its only Interval Of depresslon.-
But il was only in the dark age which pre-
ceded the introduction Of Christianity, that
this noble institution dropped for time
When the light Of religion had dissipated
the prevailing darkness, Masonry was again
revived. by the countenance and patronage
Of the great and learned men Of the age,
and has ever since maintained its pristine
vigor and lustrs.-D:. d. zompkins.
Rsb. Morris In she Nelly Land.
A letter from the Holy Land to the Fresma-
sens Of Dee Aoinss
GsBAL SYRIA, March 18th, 1868.
M DEAR BRsIaRsM OF DEs AoINEs.-
The memories Of thanksgivlng night il
November last, In which you honored me
with . welcome that rendered mo sbivieus
to cold and fatigue aud equally strengthen
ID me in purse and in heart, will form one
Of NE abiding plsasufss OF my life. have
spoken Of II In many places and in many
places yesr coed wishes have provoked
Others 70 good works.
thought Of you in setting out upon my
frat extended tour from Beyrout this morn
ing, and determined TO dedicate tho memo
riss OF this day to you. Accept them in
the spirit in which they arc written.
You are aware that landed at Beyrout,
March Sd. That place will be my head
quarters during oil my stay In Syria and
il 10 from here shall embark those valua-
BILE specimens and relics Of which the brsth-
rem At Dss Moinss are entitled to 50 bonnti-
ful a share. The weather has been very
vet. II rains here under the TANKS OF
Mount Lebanon without the least provoca-
ton, and the first ride | made out Of the
oity March 81 | had il, both in rain and
hail, equal to the best thunder storms OF
Iowa This vet weather has cost mo about
week.. and changed my plans somsw hat.
have sent Bro. Thomson to Joppa for two
or three weeks, while work in this direc-
| ton.
To-day, as l said, | start out to Gebal-
Ny outfit, &C., will at least amuse you in
the description. hired n man whose bu.
siness it is TO furnish donkeys and horses.
His name is Hassan, which means a horse,
und horse hc is. az nearly as 6iped can
attain to the rank of a quadruped He IN
derstands just enough English to mistake
half that tell him, and when get him to
translate anything for me feel sure he is
exactly reversing my meaning. If not,
why do people ..eep bringing ine pipes and
glasses Of strong drink supposed even
the arabs knew that Rob. Morris neither
smokes nor drinksl
With Hassan, | employed a boy Of II,
named Yusef, which take it is the heather
for Joseph luckily this fellow don't pretend
20 know . word Of English. My knowledge
Of tho Arabic language, after two weeks
study, consists of Hre words, three OF which
can never think Of whom want to use
them. The two that shall ntcer forget
are "buckshsesh' aud "pias.re."
The ride from Bsyrout to Gebal 10 eigh,
hours, this being the way the dcscendent.
| OF our Masonic fathers nearure their travels
| rode good specimen OF a Syrian horse
Hsssan rode another; Yusof rode n sake,
-an intelligent beast, tGt Iidicalously
small, aud afflicted with fearful voice
which he keeps in good practice | vii
say here, ubon the honor ci brother aiq
son, that the bray Of an ass under Noun
Lebanon is uhc most excrutiating noise
ever heard in all my life. 1t takes the 70
nance out OF Holy Land excursion I,
hear It.
Two hours takes rs around the bay Of St
| George. This was the greatest shipping
| port for the cedar beams cut on tho west
ern portion OF the mountains and made VI
here into "fioats" for Joppa. have already
collected shells and other obls,,s from this
locality to go into the curious cabinets thai
your brethren have ordered of me.
Passing the Bay of St. George, which. bl
the way, was also the scene of the contes
between that celebrated cavalier st. Georg,
and tho Dragon, whose cave 10 said to b
seen HARD by, We Come to the mouth o
Maker 81 kalb (Dog River. Here are tn
celebrated Egyptian and Assyrian tablets
which shall describe in the second nun
Der Of my journal. have already mad
two visits to this locality aud secured tn
measurements, &c. They are wonderful
relics Of antiquity, and deserve the best al
tention Of all lovers Of the past.
Passing the bridge over the Dog River
third hour ends mo approaching anothe
beautiful bay, With which l am greatly
charmed. name it tho Bay Of tho Broker
Column, and consscrats it to the honor o
Free,nasonry At Dss Moinss. Coming roun,
toe southern point Of this bay, first pass
handsome palm tree. then number Of per
sons planting sugar cane, then lot Of cam
els carrying rough ashlars for . building
They are doing the work Of Entered Ap
prentiees. ~ I understand It, but with it'll
fervsncy or zeal, for they whine and grow
out steadily under their burdens and wall
as slow - they cen. Next SEQ . lot Q
ancient cistsrns cut in the solid rock. Mex
the small town Of Junia, with its dozen yes
sells hauled upon the beach for caulking n,
rspaiIs, just 90 the Ph9nician sailors di,
their caulking and repairs in this very BAY
5000 years ago. Exactly in the centre .
the curve formed BY the Ebay Of the Bro
ken column 10 an ancient Rsman mil
stone, about ten feet high, broken in til
centre. Opposits 10 it 10 . small cave.
the latter spread my baggage and eat =
dinner. Then 90 to the shattered pillar TAX
the measurements and dsscripti ens Of tina
and several fallen columns, a. you wi
find them in my Journal, and then selsm
My dedicate the place, with Masonic hon
ors. to you, using my Masonic dag for tn
purpose then cut the square and CON
pass on the seward side of the uprigh
shaft, surroundsd..as it iswith the frag
nenis Of other columns now degraded i
the earth. have cut the symbol with n,
chisel deep and durable, 80 that whensve
: brother shall pass this way he may readi
" find it. ! have cut it with solemn emo
tons. Alas, what insscts Of the day ar
W. Along this Roman road, plainl,
marked here BY the chariot wheels Of ID,
worlds eenquerors, have passed in success
sion all THE great names associated Will
this memorable land. Here too journsyed
the disciples Of the Lord in their way 4
and from Antioch, which isonly two DAYS
journey abeve me and here mast have of
ten Travelled Hiram the widows son.. q
many centuries before even the name o.
Roue was heard Of
Passing on, begin IL two hours NOR,
J 70 draw near 20 0sbal. How many asso.