The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-03-17
A GREAT CAVERN LODGE
Arisona Maeons Meet In . Mann
moth Gave.
Return to the First Prinsiples 81 the
Ancient order ~ ExenDli-
hed 1T solOnon's
Temple.

that the order had its birth in the cave
quarries beneath Mount Lebanon, where
the workmen of Solomon's temple gath
cred at n ght and bound themselves a
brotherhood, united in the triple cause
Of mutual protection. learning ana
truth. In the earlier days of the guild,
through the persecution that ever is
allotted a cult that is new, the caves
Of Syria were the lodge rooms. But
the days when masonry was deemed
allied to the black arts are past, and
not for centuries have the craftsmcE
Of the order been compelled to hide
their lodges lik, the foxes.
In Arizona there is return to first
principles. for the annual sessions of
the grand lodges Of the territory wi.
he held in a cavern. Not in n dismal
quarry, rough strewn with the products
OF the chisel and mallct. but IN a temple
Of surprising beauty, a direct gift from
the supreme master, unmarried hy touch
of human workman. Large it is rs the
largest lodge room. with fluted I D. 4 frss-
coed roof. with wondrous colun rs and
pillars. such as mortal could never hev,
the walls the spotlcss white Of purity.
with here and there a stripe of the blue
Of the earth. At the masters right hand
nature has placed pedestal Of creamy
white, that will ring like bel under
his ravel. On either side the dais are
snowy curtains of purest lime, through
which the lights will shine, only mel
lowed by the barrier. Though the lodge
room is 300 feet below the surface. il
yet will be reached from below; I'D
well guarded it may be. for the ap-
preach for rods is by narrow tunnel
Then the way leads up a short shaft
and through portal broken in the cav
ems side.
At the back, beyond the masters sta
ton. is another gateway. but one that
only adds to the mystic influence Of the
place. Outlet il is. yet no man knoweth
whittier it leads. Though the cavern's
air is sweet and pure, no draft comes
from the StyCian pit. No man has ever
been lowered into its mouth. and Ian
terms swung down show nothing be-
yond the narrow slit. six feet in width,
of unknown length and depth. Stones
thrown within are never heard to strike
the bottom. Such is the rearward boun-
Diary OF the lodge room.
The location is at Bshec, one of the
most unromantic of mining towns, set
in gorge Of the Mule mountains, in the
southeastern part of Arizona. Down
the narrow valley the shanties struggle
in the usual Notwithstanding way. At
the head are the great smelling fur
naces, surrounded by the growing
mountains of Stag. Below this lies the
lodge room; down a shaft, along a drift
and up an "upraise." where stolid Cor
nith miners broke through the side of
the chamber. The room is approximate
Is an acre in area and 90 feet in height
Under foot the white floor is almost
level. Overhead the dripping of lime
water long ago drained has left the most
curious tracery, much as though, it has
been remarked. the cavern were in an
iceberg and not in coarser earth.
The management of the Copper Queen
is not in the mining business for senti-
ment. That the cave has not been dis
turbed is probably owing to the fact
That the copper deposits cease in the
surrounding lime rock. So work has
been prosecuted elsewhere in the GO
miles Of drifts and shafts that honey
comb the earth to the depth Of 500 feet.
Vet the manager of the mine. the senior
OF the noted Williams brothers, is not
man devoid of sensbllity Of fitness.
He is, withal, a mason. Tie has offered
tbp 1ovprr for the rrorH 1o1co eesSippc
and perhaps the only modern depar-
ture will be to brilliantly light it by
electricity.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.