Masons, twenty of Mark Masters, one of Architects, one of Grand Architects, and three of Superexcellent And the numbers were as follows: Masons. 9 Super-excellent Masons, 72 Excellent Masons, 3,600 Master Masons, 80,000 Fellowcrafts, including Mark Masons," 93,681 total. divide themselves, according to his opinion, into two classes, those of the overseers, and those of the men who worked the stones. The marks of the first class consist generally of monogrammatic characters, and are placed separately on the stones; those of the second class partake more of the nature of symbols, such as shoes, trowels, mallets, &c. It is stated that at Rheims, in one of the portals, the lowest of the stones forming one of the arcades is marked with a kind of monogrammatic character, and the outline of the sole of a shoe. The stone above it has the same character, and two soles of a shoe, the third the same character and three soles; and so all round the arcade. The shoe mark he found at Strasburg and nowhere else; and accounts for this by the fact that parts of the cathedral of Rheims were executed by Masons fetched from Strasburg." (Godwin, in the Archæl. vol. xxx. p. 116.) 54 This degree is said to have been instituted to detect impostors in paying the wages to the Craftsmen, as we have just seen. It is a well known fact that such a system of distinction was practised in the Masonry of all ages. Mr. Godwin, speaking of buildings of more modern construction than the temple of Solomon, says, "the marks, it can hardly be doubted, were made to distinguish the work of different individuals. At the present time the man who works a stone, (being different from the man who sets it,) makes his mark on the bed or other internal face of it, so that it may be identified. The fact, however, that in the ancient buildings it is only a certain number of the stones which bear symbols,-that the marks found in different countries, (although the variety is great,) are in many cases All the materials being at length prepared, and every arrangement having been made, they were conveyed to the holy hill of Moriah, and all the workmen congregated together for the purpose of actually building the temple. Here we find the same number of Lodges as above. The only difference is, that as the levy of Jerusalem consisting of 20,000 men remained at rest during all the previous works were now brought into active operation, the Lodges of Entered Apprentices," which in all former cases contained only 100 Brethren in each, now of necessity consisted of 300, whence the following result is deduced. 81 Excellent Masons, 3,600 Masons, 80,000 Fellowcrafts, 30,000 Entered Apprentices, 113,681 total number. Such was the excellence of these arrangements, that when the materials, whether of stone or timber, were placed in their proper situation, as indicated by the identical, and in all have a singular accordance in character,-seems to show that the men who employed them did so by system, and that the system, if not the same in England, Germany, and France, was closely analogous in one country to that of the others. Moreover, many of the signs are evidently religious and symbolical, and agree fully with our notions of the body of men known as the Freemasons." (Archæol. ut supra. p. 117.) 55 We are told by Stone that in America, "the 70,000 porters of burdens are masonically called Entered Apprentices? and the 80,000 hewers of stone are denominated Fellowcrafts; the 3300 overseers were Masters." workmen's marks, each part fitted with such perfect exactness, that the temple had the appearance of a perfect monolith;56 and it seemed to all the most competent judges such a wonderful performance, that they were ready to pronounce it a work of the Great Architect of the Universe, rather than an exertion of human skill under the direction of human ingenuity. At the erection of the temple some salutary arrangements were adopted to prevent this immense body of men, many of whom were strangers, from committing disorders amongst the peaceable inhabitants of Jerusalem; and particularly as they were necessarily stationed in the precincts of the king's court. Accordingly Solomon created Tito, Prince of Harodim and inspector of the Architects; elevated Adoniram to the rank of chief of the Provosts and Judges."7 Other 56 This perfection, arising out of the Mason's marks, is confirmed by every ancient building, not only in this country, but in every quarter of the globe. A correspondent to the F. Q. R. says, “in the year 1542 was raised the fortress of Allahabad, in the East Indies; the walls of which are composed of large oblong blocks of red granite, almost every where covered by Masonic emblems, which evince something more than mere ornament. They are not confined to any one particular spot, but scattered over the walls of the fortress, in many places as high as thirty or forty feet from the ground. It is quite certain that thousands of stones on the walls bearing these Masonic symbols were carved, marked, and numbered in the quarry previous to the erection of the building. The emblems are these: Ο ΔΑΟ Ι "The degree of Provost and Judge was instituted by Solomon arrangements were made for the preservation of order and regularity. The king constituted rulers, governors, and officers, over every department in the state.58 Besides these he gave new powers to the princes over the twelve tribes; appointed captains for every month in the year; and purveyors over every district of the 59 for the purpose of preserving order and regularity amongst such a vast number of workmen; and the duty of those who were admitted to it was to hear complaints and decide differences which might occur in the Lodges. The sprig of Acacia with the letters J. H. S. are intended to incite the Brethren to imitate the Justice, Humanity, and Secresy of H. A. B.; and to teach the Provosts and Judges that Justice should be tempered with Mercy; and that all differences which might occur amongst the Craft ought to be kept secret from the world. This degree is numbered the seventh in the Continental nomenclature. 58 Thus Zadok was the High Priest; Nathan, the Prophet; and Benaiah, Chief Captain of the host. Jehosaphat was the Recorder, and Elioseph and Ahiah, the Scribes. Azariah presided over the officers, of whom Zabud was the chief; Ahisha was over the household, and Adoniram over the tribute. 59 Eliezer was Prince of the Reubenites. 60 Their names were Jashobeam, Dodai and Mikloth, Benaiah and Ammizabad, Asahel, Shamhuth, Ira, Helez, Sibbecai, Abiezer, Maharai, Benaiah the Pirathonite, and Heldai. 61 land. The nine degrees of Freemasonry were placed by this wise Grand Master under the superintendence of seven 62 expert and worthy Masons, whose experience suggested a course of discipline which produced the desired effect. These seven Grand Superintendents were Tito Zadok, Adoniram, H. A., G., Stolkyn, Joabert,65 and Mohabin. 65 and Mohabin.66 There were nine 63 64 61 The twelve purveyors were, Bendekkar, Benhur, Ahinadab, Benhesed, Ahimaaz, Benabinadab, Jehosaphat, Baana, Shimei, Bengeber, Geber, Baanah. 62 There were in reality only seven degrees. 63 Other degrees are commemorated amongst us. Thus the degree of Intendant of the Buildings, was under the government of King Solomon himself as the Thrice Puissant Master, and Tito and Adoniram as Wardens. The degree of Intimate Secretary, in which we find Solomon, Hiram, Joabert, and Zerbel, the Captain of the Guard; while that of Perfect Master has for its worshipful President Adoniram, under whom we find Stolkyn acting as Warden, and Zerbel, Director of Ceremonies. Many other degrees are commemorated, but there are reasonable doubts of their genuineness. (See Lect. 25.) 6 The mark or symbol adopted by these Grand Superintendents to designate the sublimity of their office, was the Sacred Roll, the compasses, and the square, representing the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hiram, and the curious workmanship of H. A. B.; also, Wisdom, Truth, and Justice. The Bible, or Sacred Roll, containing everything which is necessary for the attainment of Wisdom. The square by its angles being the emblem of strength, is also that of Truth, which will always rise up and defend itself against all opposition. The compasses, from their use in taking proportions, and thereby dividing to each Brother his just due, constituted an appropriate emblem of Justice. 65 King Solomon admitted this favourite minister to the distinction of the Red Degree, and entrusted him with the golden key of the ebony box containing the plans of the fabric, which was kept under a fringed canopy of scarlet and gold; and he made his reports |