The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar ... - Lodge Prudentia

FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARto unitetans, who made application to be permittedwith them in the construction of the temple. Butthe Jews, who looked upon them as idolaters, refusedto accept their services. The Samaritans inconsequence hecame bitter enemies and so prevailed,by misrepresentations, with the ministers ofREBUILDING JERUSALEM.Cyrus, as to cause them to put such obstructions inthe way of construction of the edifice as to seriouslyimpede its progress for several years. (See Cyrus,in Supplement.)In the seventh year after the restoration of theJews, Cyrus, their friend and benefactor, died (530B. C), and was succeeded by his son Cambyses(Ahasuerus), who, after a reign of eight years, -diedin Syria. Smerdis, called in Scripture Artaxerxes,then usurped the throne of Persia, and forbade theJews to proceed with the work, and the temple re-