Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

PRETENSIONS OP FREE MASONRY. 17 .
What were the materials of the tapestry which lay bu.
ried in ruins from the time of the deluge, and was tapestry
yet after a lapse of 1400 years ?
4. " All the treasures"—but I must abridge; the relation
is long, and so particular as to be wholly incredible.
Solomon, the king, supposing something idolatrous in these
ruins, " declined building in that spot, lest the worship of
the Deity should be profaned by the place."
Under the temple (which was erected in another place)
he built a vault, having a long narrow descent through nine
arches, where he used to retire in company with Hiram of
Tyre and Hiram of Abiff, when they had occasion to enter
upon things of a secret and important nature.
5. " There were then none else living qualified to enter
the sacred vault. One of their number being removed
from them, disordered their system for a time; and, as
they were consulting in what manner to supply his absence, -
application was made to them by some intendants of the
building, illustrious knights, and grand master architects,
who well knew there was a secret place under the temple,
in which the king, &c. used to meet, soliciting the honour
of being admitted there; to whom Solomon replied with
an open air, my brethren, it cannot now be granted."
How wonderfully exact is Masonic tradition! even the
"open air" with which the king put off his inquisitive
princes is not forgotten.
6. " Some days after this circumstance, Solomon sent
for the three grand master architects, Joabert, Stockin,and
G., and directed them to go and search once more amongst
the ancient ruins, where so much treasure had been already
found, in hopes of finding more. They accordingly departed,
and one of them, viz. O., in working with the pickaxe
amongst the rubbish, came to the large iron ring;—they
found it fixed in a large stone perfectly square. With much
difficulty they raised it, when the mouth of a deep and dismal
cavern appeared."
This is the identical iron ring which Enoch placed there
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