The New York herald., 1873-07-01
Warrant for Organizing the Royal Solo
mon Lodge, No. 2s3-The First
- Act of the New Lodge.
'sFROM THE VEST TO THE EAST" "
The Ancient Craft in Favor with Sultan
Abdul Asiq A Royal and Imperial
Group Of Patrons Of Masonry.


The attempt TO organize Masonic lodge In the
city OF Jerusalem. under American auspices, which
has been long on foot has at length succeeded.
Advices were received q few days ago from Mr.
John ShevillN who was sent out last Spring for
that purpose, that ION Wednesday May I, he or
ganized the Royal Solomon Mother Lodge, No. 293
In due and ancient form, in the Great Mark Masters
Quarry, under the city Of Jerusalem, and initiated
candidate"
AS pre- lace to this remarkable incident, which
forms an era in Masonic history, we give an accu-
late ground plan OF the Cotton Megara Tor Royal
Quarry, with which travellers to Jerusalem are
1amilar. The very existence Of this vast cavern
u.fder the city had been forgotten. No records Of
cusading times give any account of it, although the
discovery OF Christian crosses the walls shows
visits OF travellers at least since the OF Christ
Some Arab chronicles OF the ninth or tenth Gen.
tury hint the fact that every extensive
.aere the AOy City;' but these may refer to other
1anTe exca aHations known to exist under various
parts OF Je} hsaem. Upon rhe whole, it's the set
aied opinion that no knowledge OF
N~t- THE GREAT QUARRY
later than the first or second century of the
Christian era exists, and 1t was reserved for an
American missionary, DR.. ]. I. Barclay, to bring
she fact to light. Some twenty years snce pass
ing along outside the north wall Of Jerusalem his
dog, In pursuit OF a rat, scratched an open
ing under the wall and disappeared from the
eyes OF his master. This led to an enlargement OF
the opening and the most remarkable discovery
that this most wonderful OF cities has ever yielded
1t was found that under the northeast quarter OF
Jerusalem is an abandoned quarry OF such vast ex-
tent as to answer most satisfactorily the query
1has has long puzzled antiquaries-''Where did
Solomon's builo~r.r the native stone for the
walls and substructures of me TempleSn
TO enter this
s+ WEIRD AND MYSTERIOUS CRYPT
ft is necessary to pass outside the city at the
north or Damascus gate and turn to the right
The city wall here is about fifty feet high and Of
corresponding thickness. 1t was erected, as
an Arabic inscription shows, In the
year Hegira sls, equivalent to A. D..
Isla by order Of the Sultan Suleyman.
In constructing this wall all sorts Of massive
materials were used-granite columns marble
blocks aad huge beveled ''ashlars," that had done
similar Pty In mural structures ever since the
daysor ~ ,mon.
The T.. Voc into the great quarry has been en-
iarged with spade and chse. SO that it is an easy
matter now to visit the place. The point OF en-
trance will readily be recognized In the engraving
Lighting candles to dssipate the midnight dark.
you pass first In eastery direction 1l3 feet
The way is over great mounds OF rubbish partly
artificial, the marks OF chisels show; partly
made up oil pieces that have fallen from the ceiling
Then the way turns, at nearly right angle to the
south, 400 feet. The marks OF cnsel and hammer
become now morevand more evident.
FLcSxs OF SQUARED STONE,
In every stag OF preparation from the rough to
the perfect, cucumber the pathway Piles OF clip
pings heaped up everywhere. Upon the sides
of the quarry deep, narrow grooves are seen cut
.lengthwise and perpendicular, marking out the
dimensions OF proposed blocks, and showing the
ancient method OF detaching the stones from their
native bed. The marble is Of SOFT friaDle nature
called In the native tongue meleSsn u piece OF
witch mas been sent to this offce). Occasionally q
harder vein OF stone occurs but OF the chemi-
cal composition. and this the natives call nezzeh
Turning again to the left, we 60 the distance Of
SHALL BAsIT cHrsELLRD N The HARDER ROCK,
to Collect N wa or the snu worRmen Of re
water ct present Is bitter and disaGreeable to the
taste; Near this fountain y deep circular pit In
those early Christian dsvotees who used the quar-.
---sAAX * JerpssaeIl tcf the same purpose as
THE CATAC0MBS OF ROME,
VIZ, as places or concealment during the persecu
tions OF the first four centuries OF our era.
A little further to the south there Is an apart
ment eighteen eet square, which from its regular
form seems designed for particular purpose.
ra s s q Vs 10 ne
In probably by jackals, prove that there were once
awpD' "nings to the cavern. Numerous
w. - '3E5 ARE TRACED UPOS ri VIZ
aebrew inscription. but not sufiicienty
9nuersS97u 1anasN7 I'd. It was IN this apartment,
op among Free Masons as
THE BRoTHERLY COVENANT"
omon Mother Lodge, No. 2sa, OF
July organized. May Z.
ne HERALD will not have lorRot
renowned spot by MOTIFS, tn'
C. In 1865 Collecting togethe
mt craft as were to be found II
time including Captain warren
explorer the venerable Prussal
ermann and others, he entered tht
ole chamber and performed ther
ees Of Masonry so long disused Il
.Rscy. sEcREsY AND DARKNESS
o,herly interchange was made which ma
erpetuated In every language under HEAVIER
= and there our American brother repeated MS ow I
heart: 1--WE meet upon the level and we pal
upon the square, ... o,,
have been pursued by DR.. Morris and his associate
to secure the organization OF a regular lodge
Jerusalem. The dlcuities almUss y, tSo crat
the East, their numerous languages, their ine'
perience In Masonic work.. the want OF suitab
chambers lor lodge rooms, &C., ana most o' all u
NO GRAND LODGE OF nAsoSs IN THE rohkis
sHxeraI enorts TO organize this lodge at Jer
salem iailed-one from the death OF Hon. John
Brown at Constantinope and one IRON ~ the evri us
Mohammed Reschd. The nearest looges were :,
Beyrout, Syria, $50 miles in the north, ana r., po
said Egypt 200 miles to the southwest; but with
the memory OF man there has been no lodge
Palestine. 80. -. u....o.u
AZ last all the named difflculties were overcon
and the following warrant was issued by the Gra
Lodge OF Canada
wua,.s N. WILSON, Grand Master--ro all and every .
SIsh wsm MGssnsEal Eslcef %iis5n Es
Grand Master OF the Most Ancient and honorsDie r
ternity Of free and Accepted Masons OF Canada Sc
sso~ irrh.. we, by the authority and under (.
Of t5s safApd tSs a0afs humble M Ssion Of our.
III beloved brethren, robert Morrs ~
rloyd. Richard Beardsley, Charos =
raheim. Robert Macoy. James M' no"