EXPLOBATIONS IN PALESTINEAPPEAL TO FBEBMASONS.

Southland Times, Issue 1075, 18 December 1868, Page 3

EXPLOBATIONS IN PALESTINEAPPEAL TO FBEBMASONS.

The Palestine Exploration Society was founded in 1866, " for the purpose of thoroughly, systematically, and scientifically exploring the Holy Land." The ends more particularly contemplated were : — ",i. The pursuit of archaeological researches by means of excavations, copying of inscriptions, making plans of ancient edifices and ruins, taking accurate photographs of monuments and other objects of antiquarian interest, &c. — 2. Au accurate topographical survey of the country, so as to fix localities and distances, and furnish, a correct description of the general aspect of the country. — 3. The observing and describing of the flora, fauna, geology, and meteorology of the country. —4. The collecting of authentic information as to the manners, customs, and traditions of the native population of Palestine." The Society commenced operations in 1866, and in the middle of 1867, Lieut. Warren, R.E. (P.M. of the Lodge of Friendship, No. 278. and P.P.Z. of the Calpean Chapter at Gibraltar), took charge of the explorations. In November, 1867, it was reported officially, "Mr Warren has established by actual demonstration that the south wall of the sacred enclosure which contained the Temple is more than half its depth beneath an accumulation of rubbish — probably the ruins of successive buildings which once crowned it ; and that if bared to its foundation, the wall would present an unbroken face of solid masonry of nearly I,OOOft. long, and for a large portion of that distance more than 150t'fc. in height ; in other words, nearly the length of the Crystal Palace, and the height of the transept. The wall, as it stands, wich less than halt that height emerging from the ground has always been regarded as a mar-

f vel. What must it have been when enI tirely exposed to view ! No wonder that I Prophets and Psalmists should have rejoiced in the ' walls' and ' bulwarks' of the Temple, and that Tacitus should have described it as modo arcis constructum." Since then, the operations have been continued ; and the most competent judges believe that the results of them will be "to solve problems as to the sites within the Holy City, which have perplexed the most earnest inquiriers for centuries, and enable us to read many parts of the Bible in a clearer light and with a fresh interest." The Palestine Explorations, then, might well interest all civilised men. The Masonic body — " whose fundamental principles are based upon the Sacred writings of the Jewish people and whose traditions cluster round the greatest and wisest of Jewish kings" — may well feel a special interest in the progress of the work. The Grand Lodge of England has voted 100 guineas in aid of the work, and has " recommended the same to the notice of Provincial and District Grand Lodges, and of Private Lodges as worthy of the support of the craft." Various documents, consequent upon this resolution, were recently received by Bro. J. H. Harris, D.G.M. Grand Lodge of England, for Otago ; and no doubt the Otago brethren will send home a fair sum to help an undertaking of such peculiar interest.