University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-04-30
THE BIRTHPLACE
OF MASONRY

a Il
partment of State to learn all that Is
possible of the birthplace of Masonry,
| Thomas r. Wallace, American consul
at Jerusalem. has made an extensive
investigation of ''SolOmOn's quarries In
the Holy city. His report few days
tC the State department is of interest
to Masonic bodies. and particularly to
| American MasOns. because an Amerl-
can. Rolla Floyd. became senior warden
of the Royal Solomon Mother lodge. in
Stituted in Jerusalem in 1873.
"Solomon's quarries" were mentioned
by ,Josephus in the writings of the an
cient historian. They were lost through
the Middle Ages and until most recent
times. \ chamber is pointed out in the
quarries as the original meeting place
of the ancient body of Masons. The
chamber i the sO-calIed Chamber of
Brotherly Covenant"
Mr.. Wallace said that his investiga
ti0ns led him to believe that the quar-
~ became lost when the Romans de-
stroycd Jerusalem. 1t is believed that
the stone with which the ancient Jew
ish temple was built was taken from
the quarry The basis of this belief
is that .|oSephuS described the temple
a- having been white like Il mountain
of SHOW" The stone in the quarry is
white and soft. hardening with expos
urc to the air. This factor would have
made it desirable as building stone,
because of the comparative ease with
which it may be cut and finished.
.Iosephus spoke of the mammoth cavern
beneath erusalcm. The guarries were
OF such extent that an approximately
small portion of them might have been
spoken of as vast"
The GuarrieS were discovered by ac-
cident. According 10 the story told Mr..
Wallace. a DIR. Barclay was out hunting.
His dog disappeared in a hole near the
north wall of the city. The dog failed
to reappear. DIR. Barclay tore away the
earth and weeds about the hole until he
had enlarged it enough to enter. 1t was
the entrance to the quarries.
a chamber is pointed out in which it
is said the first meetings of Masonry
We're held. 1t is small semi circular
place with seats about it formed of
shelves of stone. Crumbled into a
shapeless mass at one end of the semi
circle is what once was pillar of stone
and is said to have been the chapel of
the lodge. 1t is in the same condition
now as when discovered. Mr.. Wallace
said.
An American named Page. according
to Mr.. Wallace. gave the best indication
of the time which passed since the
quarries were lost. A small pottery
lamp such as those used ny the early
Jews was found in the quarries by Mr.
Page. 1t was filled with the minute
particles of dirt which float in the air.
These PARTICLES would remain in the
vessel after falling i'm. because protect
ed from air currents by the rim of the
vessel. The pottery lamp had bowl
ono inch deep. 1t contained only these
atoms of dust. showing that it required
ages to fill.
The supposed connection of Solomon
with these quarries. together with the
traditional idea that associates him
with the early history of the Masonic
fraternity. is responsible for the inter
est with which MaSons regard these
raves. and especially the particular
chamber whore lodge meetings are
held. Gavels and paper
weights made from the white stone of
the quarry. and on which Masonic en-
blems are carved. are to be had i'm some
If The stores of Jerusalem. and are much
priced by Masons