THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

mingled with Hebrew faith, each mutually influencing the other.
[59] Strangely enough, there is a sect or tribe called the Druses, now
inhabiting the Lebanon district, who claim to be not only the
descendants of the Phoenicians, but _the builders of King Solomon's
temple_. So persistent and important among them is this tradition that
their religion is built about it--if indeed it be not something more
than a legend. They have Khalwehs, or temples, built after the fashion
of lodges, with three degrees of initiation, and, though an
agricultural folk, they use signs and tools of building as emblems of
moral truth. They have signs, grips, and passwords for recognition. In
the words of their lawgiver, Hamze, their creed reads: "The belief in
the Truth of One God shall take the place of Prayer; the exercise of
brotherly love shall take the place of Fasting; and the daily practice
of acts of Charity shall take the place of Alms-giving." Why such a
people, having such a tradition? Where did they get it? What may this
fact set in the fixed and changeless East mean? (See the essay of
Hackett Smith on "The Druses and Their Relation to Freemasonry," and
the discussion following, _Ars Quatuor Coronatorum_, iv. 7-19.)
[60] Rawlinson, in his _History of Phoenicia_, says the people "had for
ages possessed the mason's art, it having been brought in very early
days from Egypt." Sir C. Warren found on the foundation stones at
Jerusalem Mason's marks in Phoenician letters (_A. Q. C._, ii, 125;
iii, 68).
[61] See essay on "A Masonic Built City," by S.R. Forbes, a study of
the plan and building of Rome, _Ars Quatuor Coronatorum_, iv, 86. As
there will be many references to the proceedings of the Coronatorum
Lodge of Research, it will be convenient hereafter to use only its
initials, _A. Q. C._, in behalf of brevity. For an account of the
Collegia in early Christian times, see _Roman Life from Nero to
Aurelius_, by Dill (bk. ii, chap. iii); also _De Collegia_, by Mommsen.
There is an excellent article in Mackey's _Encyclopedia of
Freemasonry_, and Gould, _His. Masonry_, vol. i, chap. i.
[62] See _Masonic Character of Roman Villa at Morton_, by J.F. Crease
(_A. Q. C._, iii, 38-59).
[63] Their names were Claudius, Nicostratus, Simphorianus, Castorius,
and Simplicius. Later their bodies were brought from Rome to Toulouse
where they were placed in a chapel erected in their honor in the church
of St. Sernin (_Martyrology_, by Du Saussay). They became patron saints
of Masons in Germany, France, and England (_A. Q. C._, xii, 196). In a
fresco on the walls of the church of St. Lawrence at Rotterdam,
partially preserved, they are painted with compasses and trowel in
hand. With them, however, is another figure, clad in oriental robe,
also holding compasses, but with a royal, not a martyr's, crown. Is he
Solomon? Who else can he be? The fresco dates from 1641, and was
painted by F. Wounters (_A. Q. C._, xii, 202). Even so, those humble
workmen, faithful to their faith, became saints of the church, and
reign with Solomon! Once the fresco was whitewashed, but the coating
fell off and they stood forth with compasses and trowel as before.
[64] _History of Middle Ages_, Hallam, vol. ii, 547.