The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-06-21
Said to Have Been Birthplace of
Masonic Order.
Investigation Made at Jerusalem by
the state Department Reveals
Many Points Of Interest
TO Members.

Washington.--As a result Of the eff
fort of the department of state to
learn all that is possible Of the birth
place of Masonry" Thomas r. Wal
lace, American consul at Jerusalem,
has made an extensive investigation
Of "Solomon's quarries" in the Holy
city. His report a few days ago TO-
the state department is of interest to
Masonic bodies, and particularly to
American Masons, because an Ameri-
can, Rolla Floyd became senior war
den Of the Royal Solomon mother
lodge. instituted IN Jerusalem In 1878.
"solomons quarriese were men
toned by Josephus in the writing OF
the ancient historian. They were lost
through the middle ages and until
most recent times. A chamber is
pointed out in the Quarries as the ori-
ginal meeting place of the ancient
body OF Masons. The chamber Is the
so-casled chamber of brotherly Gov
enant"
Mr.. Wallace said that his investiga-
lions LED him to believe that the quar-
r. became lost when the Romans de-
stroyed Jerusalem. It 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 Josephus described the temple
as having been white. like a noun
tain of snow" The stone in the
quarry is white and soft, hardening
with exposure to the air. This factor
would have made It desirable as build
ing stone because of the comparative
ease with which It may be cut and
finished.
Josephus spoke OF the mammoth
cavern beneath Jerusalem. The quar-
ries were Of such extent that an ap-
proximately small portion of them
might have been spoken Of as vast. ="
The Quarries were discovered by ac-
cident. According to the story told
By Mr.. Wallace, DR.. Barclay was out
hunting. His dog disappeared in a
hole near the north wall Of the city.
The dog failed to reappear. DR.. Bar
clay tore away the earth and weeds
about the hole until he had enlarged it
enough to enter. It was the entrance
to the QIarries.
A chamber is pointed out In which
It is said the first meetings Of Mason
~ were held. 1t is a small semi
circular place, with seats about 1t
formed OF shelves Of stone. crumbled
into a shapeless mass at one end of
the semicircle is what was once pill
lar OF stone and is said to have been
the chapel of the lodge. 1t is in the
same condition now as when diecov-
cred, Mr.. Wallace said.
An American named Page, accord
ing to Mr. Wallace. gave the best indi-
cation Of the time which passed since
the quarries we're lost A small pot
terry lamp such as those used by the
early Jews, was found in the quarries
By Mr.. Page. 1t was filed with the
minute particles of dirt which float in
the air. These particles would remain
In the vessel after falling in, because
protected from air currents by the rim
Of the vessel. The pottery lamp had
bowl one inch deep. It contained
only these atoms of dust, showing that
| It requires ages to fill.
The supposed connection Of Solo
mon with these quarries. together
with the traditional idea that assoei
ates him with the early history Of ths
Masonic fraternity. Is responsible foi
the interest with which Masons re
gar these caves. and especially the
partisular chamber where lodge meet
ings are sometimes held. Gavels and
pape weights nude from the white