Masons m Jerusalem

Taihape Daily Times, 23 July 1918, Page 7

Masons m Jerusalem

NEW ZEALANDERS' LODGE,

SITE OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.

An event of outstanding interest to Freemasons is described in letters received in Auckland from members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on active service in Palestine'—the holding of a Masonic meeting on the site of King Solomon's Temple, a place of peculiar interest to the craft. In New Zealand forces on all the war fronts there are a large number of Freemasons, who have organised an institution known as the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces Masonic Association. Of this body Lieutenant-Col-onel Barclay, of Auckland, new in France, is president. On the arrival of the New Zealand Mounted Brigade in Jerusalem, it was arranged by the association that an opportunity should be taken to hold a Masonic gathering in the historic city. . The Temple site itself was aimed at, provided the religious prejudices of the Moslem worshippers did not present an insuperable obstacle. As is well known the Mosque of Omar, the great Mahom•rncdan centre of the city, occupies the site accredited to the three successive Jewish temples. Accordingly the Grand Sheikh in charge of the Moslem temple was approached, and to the surprise of the officer entrusted with the overtures,, the Sheikh avowed himself a Freemason Masonic institutions, as a mattor of faet flourish almost as widely in Mahommedan and Jewish conrmunities as amongst Christians. The Sheikh at once showed himself sympathetic to the proposal of his New Zealand brethern, and the necessary arrangements were soon completed. The portion of the mosque known as the Cave of the Dome of the Rock, which is reputed to be on the site of the Holy of Holies, of the Jewish temples, was prepared for Masonic purposes, and, on April <3, a lodge was duly opened in it. Brigadier-General Moldrum, officer commanding the New Zealand Mounted Force 0 and an old Aucklander, field the Master's chair, and Colonel MeCarroll, of North Auckland, acted as Senior Warden. The jewel used by the latter officer on the occasion has been sent by. him to Masonic friends in Auckland as a memento of a historic gathering. The Grand Sheikh took part in the proceedings, acting as one of the guards of the lodge. A large number of soldiers of all ranks were present, and business ness of the evening included the passing of resolutions conveying fraternal greetings and good, wishes to various Grand Lodges, to the Lodges in New Zealand represented at the meeting. and to the members of the association on service in France.