Evening star., 1909-03-12
0UARR|ES OF SOLOMON
Historic Caves Described by
Consul to Jerusalem.
FORGOTTEN FOR AGES
Masons Have Tradition That Order
Had Origin Therein.
MOTHER LODGE CHARTER LOST
Story of Rediscovery-Physician
Follows Trail Of Dog Lost in
Underground Passages.
MOTHER LODGE CHARTER LOST

| In a recent report Thomas r Wallace,
American consul at Jerusalem, Syria dis
cusses the Masonic lodge at Jerusalem
and the ancient quarry beneath the city
known to tourists as "Solomons quar-
ries"
Mr.. Wallace says:
AS of interest in connection with the
so-called Chamber of Brotherly Cove
nant," in the quarries under the city OF
Jerusalem, instituted in 1887, by Robert
Morris. would say that to the best of
my knowledge the quarries We're discov-
cred by DR.. Barclay in 1SsH, or fifteeen
years later than the date you give.
1 am informed by Rolla Floyd. one OF
| the oldest American residents of this
country, that Robert Morris of the United
| States, brought out charter from the
Grand Lodge of Canada, and with Henry
Mondsley an English engineer Charles
| Hetter a French Jew, and others. found
ed the Royal Solomon Mother Lodge NO.
293, August Z. 1873
Mr.. Floyd was senior warden at that
time and later became the first master or
the lodge. Mr.. Flood has not heard OF
the name of the lodge you give.
| This lodge had the charter taken away a
few years ago on account of bad man
agement. Several attempts have been
made to procure a new charter, all OF
which failed.
| These quarries known as King SOLO
mons have no seating Or other convent
ences. Still Masons meet there from time
to time, notably during the travelling sea-
son. and especially when the Clark cruise
is here.
| The uuarries are municipal property.
and an admission of one franc, which
equals 20 cents, is charged. Masonic meet
ings can be held at any time. The last
one was held less than year ago.
| ] have been able to count up only sew
enteen members here of the Masonic fra
ternity. though doubtless there are quite
a few more.
How Quarries Were Found.
Reference is made to the discovery of
the auarries It is of interest to note
that all records concerning them seem
to have been lost Their rediscovery was
| by pure accident
| The story Is that a certain DIR. Barclay
was out hunting. and his dog disappeared
in a hole under the north wall of the city
AS he failed to reappear the physician
tore away the weeds and earth covering
the orifice until the hole was sufficiently
enlarged for him to enter In search of
his dog. Thus the quarries were dlscov-
cred.
1t was supposed to be large cavern
an immense quarry from which the rock
had been quarried beneath the ground.
The character of the work and. method
used to separate the rock indicated the
same had been done ages ago. The name of
l"Solomon's Quarries'' has been applied.
| These quarries are mentioned In Joseph
us as the Royal quarries." But little
attention Is given them by archeologists
and writer's of recent years.
The only interest melted by them among
tourists and investigators who visit the
city is with the members of the various
| Masonic bodies, who usually visit the
place, especially when their attention Is
called to the matter, and to the old legenC
related to them of the ancient master who
first organized the Masonic lodge.
First Masonic Chamber.
A chamber IS pointed out in the quarry
where the first meetings were held. 1t is
small semi-circular place, with wha,
might be construed as seats surrounding
it, That is, there are projecting shelves
of stone around the walls of this circular
pit, and among the debris that partially
fills this chamber is a pillar of stone, sale
to have been the chapel.
This doubtless is the so-called Cham
ber of Brotherly Covenant" you mention
although l have not been able TO learr
that a name has been given to it here
1t has not been used a regular meeting
| place for a lodge.
1t is in the same condition at presen
. as when the quarry was first discovered
1t would, at best, accommodate but
!; small number for lodge work. | under
stand that some large circular areas. com
mon in the quarry. are used by visiting
Masons for lodge purposes
The length of time the quarry has beer
lost is matter of conjecture. Probabl,
the entrance was closed at the time o
the destruction of the city by the Romans
or from constant accumulation of debri
or dumpings carried out from the city
as this vicinity has been used as a com
mon dumping ground. They, at least
have been lost sight of for ages past.
Forgotten for Ages.
AS an indication of the length OF tim
called to find made by Mr. Page o
, the American colony at Jerusalem. in tn
quarry. many years ago.
A small pottery lamp was discovere
by him, filled with dust composed of th
dust particles that float in the air Thes
particles would remain in the vessel afte
falling, protected by the rim from dis
turbing currents. The rocks falling fror
the ceiling or walls would increase tn
floating dust atoms. But such disturb
ances seldom occur in the quarry
The pottery lamp is one that was prob
ably used by the workmen in the quarry
1t contained only the accumulation @
$ dust atoms. and as 1t was about one inc
( In depth. and was full, it will be seen tha
. ages must have passed to thus fill tn
: vessel, especially in this vast cavern
v where air currents scarcely exist to pu
: | in motion the floating atoms.
n All who visit the quarry are impresse
with its great size and Importance as dis
: playing stupendous activities on the par
s of the people who worked them, as We
@ as the great skill shown by them j
e cutting out the stone from the solid roc
walls with the crude implements pro
= vided them for that purpose
q The fact that the work is underground
ii forming a large cavern, is what impresse
h the mind with the vastness of its eXten,
: but il is calculated that two thre
cities the size of the present Jerusaler
1nuld he huilt from the Nck eXcaNate