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

aising him from this depth in the earth by the Master's grip, and that "upon the
five points of fellowship," which are, "foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast,
hand to back, and mouth to ear."
It is no wonder that infidel Masons should ridicule the credulity of professed
Christian Masons in crediting such a ridiculous story as this.
Again, Masonry goes on to represent that, after Hiram was thus raised from this
grave, six feet deep--"foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back,
and mouth to ear"--he was brought up to Jerusalem, and buried under the Most
Holy place in King Solomon's Temple. I will quote from the lecture of this
degree, as found in the seventh edition of Bernard, p. 81; "Question [speaking of
the body].--What did they do with the body? Answer.--Raised it in a Masonic
form, and carried it up to the temple for more decent interment. Q.--Where was it
buried? A.--Under the Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holy of Holies, over which they
erected a marble monument, with this inscription delineated thereon, A virgin
weeping over a broken column, with a book open before her; in her right hand a
sprig of cassia; in her left, an urn; Time standing behind her, with his hands
infolded in the ringlets of her hair."
Now, observe, this burial was under the Most Holy place in King Solomon's
Temple; and the marble monument was erected over it, and consequently must
have been in the Most Holy place itself. Does not every careful reader of the Bible
know that this is false? We have a minute description in the Bible of everything
relating to the Most Holy place--its form, size, embellishments, and of every
article of furniture there was in it. No such statue was ever there, and the whole
story is a gross falsehood.
But let me quote a little further from this lecture, continuing on page 81: "Q.--
What does a Master's lodge represent? A.--The Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holy of
Holies of King Solomon's Temple. Q.--How long was the temple building? A.--
Seven years; during which it rained not in the daytime, that the workmen might
not be obstructed in their labor." This is a likely story! Is there anything of this
kind in the Bible? And does anyone believe that a miracle of this kind could have
been wrought without having been recorded in the Bible? But again: "Q.--What
supported the temple? A.--Fourteen hundred and fifty-three columns, and two
thousand one hundred and six pilasters, all hewn from the finest Parian marble."
Where did they get this? Again: "Q.--What further supported it? A.--Three grand
columns or pillars. Q.--What were they called? Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty.
Q.--What did they represent? A.--The pillar of Wisdom represented Solomon,
King of Israel, whose wisdom contrived the mighty fabric." But the Bible
represents Solomon as having received the whole plan of the temple from David,
who received it directly from God. Solomon never contrived the building at all.--1
Chon., xxviii. 11,12,20.
Again, on page 82, we have the following: "Q.--How many constitute a Master's
lodge? A.--Three Master Masons. Q.--Where did they usually meet? A.--In the
sanctum sanctorum, or Holy of holies of King Solomon's Temple." Now, this
misrepresentation is kept up; and in the work of making a Master Mason they
make the lodge represent the Most Holy place in King Solomon's Temple. A