Lodges of Excellent Masons, nine in each; over which presided as many Super-excellent Masons as Masters; and these met in Lodge under the superintendence of Tito Zadok, Prince of Harodim; twelve Lodges of Master Masons, 300 in each, ruled by twelve Grand Architects, and twenty-four Architects 7

regularly to Tito and Adoniram. The key was anciently a symbol of power, and therefore is appropriated to the Treasurer in Blue Masonry, because he has the command of the purse, which is the sinew of power. But it is otherwise explained in the 29th degree. There "the ebony box instructs the candidate that he ought to keep the secrets that have been entrusted to him with the most scrupulous attention, and preserve them in the closet of his heart, of which the box is an emblem. And while reflecting on the sable colour of the box, he is to learn to cover his secrets with an impervious veil, that profane cowans may never discover them. The key demonstrates that having already obtained the key to our sublime mysteries, if he behaves with equity, fervour, and zeal to his companions, he will soon arrive at the true meaning of the Masonic society."

66 This person, whose name was more properly M., or M., was Master of the Masters, according to the 5th degree under the continental arrangement. He was a very virtuous man, and consequently a great favourite with King Solomon, who made him one of his Intendents. He was also an intimate friend of H. A. B., which induced Solomon to send him in search of ++++++, when every former attempt had proved ineffectual. The search was eminently successful.

67

7 It may be remarked that neither the degree of Grand Architect or Architect is numbered amongst the seven degrees now practised, which terminate in the Royal Arch. Indeed, there is a great diversity of opinion and practice on this point. In many Lodges of our own country, the Royal Arch is conferred as a fifth degree, viz., E. A. P., F. C., M. M., P. M., and R. A.; although in reality the grades are Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Mark Master, Master Mason, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, Royal Arch. This is also the American form. In Ireland they stand, Entered

68

as Wardens; 1000 Lodges of Fellowcrafts, 80 in each, with so many Mark Masters in the chairs, and 2000 Mark Men as Wardens; 420 Lodges of Tyrians, Sidonians, and Egyptians, 80 in each, under H. A. B.69 And 100 Lodges of E. A. P.'s 300 in each, under the superintendence of Adoniram. All these were declared FREE;70 or in other words, were exempted from

Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master Mason, Past Master, Excellent, Super-Excellent, Royal Arch. While on the Continent the Royal Arch forms the thirteenth grade. Few of our country Lodges practice Mark Masonry, which indeed is unsanctioned by the Grand Lodge, although it appears absolutely necessary to the right understanding of the whole system.

68 Their duty was to re-examine the materials, after they were brought to Jerusalem, that every part might duly correspond and prevent confusion and mistake when they were employed in fitting the respective parts to their proper places, and by their additional marks, in the form of an equilateral triangle, they proved and finally passed the work which had been previously examined by the Mark

men.

** It is probable that these 420 Lodges of strangers were directed by Solomon to be kept separate and distinct from those of his own subjects; because, being of a different religion, they practised a different system of Freemasonry. This however is but conjecture, although it appears corroborated by the fact that the spurious Freemasonry, or the mysteries of Tammuz prevailed amongst the Tyrians, as that of Osiris did amongst the Egyptians; the ceremonies and purport of which were exactly the same.

70" At the building of the temple, it is supposed by our best informed Brethren, that amongst so great a number of workmen there employed, certain ranks were necessary, whereby to distinguish them from one another. The members of the secret society of Tyrian artists, who were hired by King Solomon to erect that sacred structure, in order to distinguish them from the Jews, who performed the more humble labours, were honoured with the epithet of FREE annexed to the name of builder or Mason; and being

FF

all imposts, duties, and taxes." Thus the number of men at the construction of the temple appears to have been

81 Excellent Masons,

3,600 Master Masons,

80,000 Fellowcrafts,

33,600 Tyrians, &c.

30,000 Entered Apprentices,

70,000 Ish Sabbal,

217,281 total.72

This arrangement produced the happiest effects; and introduced amongst the fraternity that perfect harmony and universal brotherhood which is so often referred to in our ancient charges.73

talented foreigners, were most likely freed from the usual imposts paid to the state by the subjects of Solomon." (Husenbeth, in F. Q. R. vol. iii. p. 18.)

"Thus the promise of Saul to the slayers of the Philistines was that he would make their fathers house free in Israel; and that it should be for ever exempted from all taxes, impositions, and services, to which the Israelites generally were subject.

72 This appears a large number of men to be engaged in the construction of so small a building; but it was in character with the custom of these early times. Herodotus informs us that the men who were employed in constructing the great pyramid of Egypt, (see note 14,) and in cutting and transporting the stone from the mountains of Arabia, were relieved by a fresh levy of the same number every three months. Ten years were employed in constructing a causeway for the conveyance of the materials, and twenty years more in erecting the pyramid. In the Archæologia, vol. vii. p. 336, it is asserted that it would take 40,000 men for forty years to excavate the cavern temples of Salsette in India.

73 They were instructed to "salute one another in a courteous manner, calling each other, Brother; freely giving mutual instruc

I subjoin the Masonic tradition respecting the payment of the workmen's wages, without vouching for its accuracy, because I am ignorant of the authority on which the calculations are founded. Indeed the probability is that the tradition has been fabricated in a subsequent age without the existence of any documents to attest its authenticity. The men were paid in their Lodges" by shekels, a silver coin of about half-a-crown of our money;75 and the number of tion, as might be thought expedient, without being overseen or overheard, and without encroaching upon each other, or derogating from that respect which was due to any Brother, were he not a Mason; for although all Masons are, as Brethren, upon the same level, yet Masonry takes no honour from a man that he had before; nay, it rather adds to his honour, especially if he has deserved well of the brotherhood, who must give honour to whom it is due, and avoid ill manners." (Ancient Charges, vi. 3.)

"It may here be demanded-if the men were paid in their Lodges, what becomes of the tradition as to the manner in which the Fellowcrafts received their wages? It must be evident to every Brother that before the temple was built, no chamber could have been in existence; and after it was erected, the above refers to another tradition which cannot be explained here, but it records a circumstance which was essentially necessary as a privilege to the faithful Fellowcrafts before they travelled into other countries in search of employment.

75 There were several kinds of shekels, which are thus described by Godwin. "The shekel was twofold, the king's shekel, of common use in buying and selling; it is valued 1s. 3d.; and the shekel of the sanctuary, which is valued 2s. 6d. The latter were of two stamps; one was always in use among the Jews. The thirty pieces of silver which Judas received are thought to be thirty shekels of the sanctuary. It had stamped on one side the pot of Manna, or, as others think, Aaron's censer or incense pot; with the inscription Shekel Israel. On the reverse was stamped Aaron's rod, with the inscription, Jeruschalaiim Hakeduscha. The king's shekel had

shekels per day was regulated by the square of the number76 of the degree which each order of men had attained." Thus with respect to the Entered Apprentices only; there were 10,000 in work and 20,000 at rest. These men, at the rate of one shekel per head, would receive daily 12507., or during the seven years and seven months of building the temple, 3,458,750/7

a tower on one side with an inscription in Hebrew signifying, Jerusalem Urbs Sanctitatis. On the reverse a corresponding inscription, viz., David Rex, et filius ejus Salomon Rex. The shekel of gold was valued at 15 shillings."

76 We are not told on what principle these squares of the degrees were instituted. And as the actual existence of some of them at that period is doubtful, the calculations which are derived from such data can scarcely be relied on, although they are introduced here as forming the genuine traditions of Masonry, which were much insisted on by our Brethren of the last century.

77 Thus, while an E. A. P. was paid one shekel, or 2s. 6d. per day, the Fellowcraft, having been passed to the second degree, received 2× 24 shekels, or 10s., the Mark Man, having attained the third degree, according to the arrangement then practised, had 3× 39 shekels, or 11. 2s. 6d. Those who had passed the chair of a Fellowcraft's Lodge, were called Mark Masters, and received 4 x 4 16 shekels, or 21.; if they had been raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, their pay was advanced to 5×5 25 shekels, or 37. 2s. 6d. The sixth degree was that of Architect; and the fortunate individuals were rewarded with 6×6=36 shekels per diem, or 47. 10s.; while the next grade, or Grand Architects, received 7 x 7=49 shekels, or 61. 2s. 6d. The pay of an Excellent Mason was 8 x 8=64 shekels, or 87. a day; and of a Super-Excellent Mason 9 x9=81 shekels, or 107. 2s. 6d. These daily payments amounted altogether for a single individual in each of the nine degrees, to 265 shekels, or 357. 13s. per day.

The above is also a tradition which the Masons of the last century amused themselves with.

78 This appears an incredible sum; but as gold and silver were so