Masonic Miscellany

Question: Why was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the King Solomon’s temple when it was being built?

Answer: one possible explanation is the following from Bro. Stewart Donaldson’s Weekly Fix by Bro. John Alexander PM: The building was of white stone, actually Dolomite, a compound of magnesium and calcium carbonate. There is a bed of this material, forty feet thick lying under the entire city of Jerusalem and about a hundred yards from the Damascus Gate can still be found a cave which expands into a perfect labyrinth of chambers. These are called "King Solomon's Quarries" and, indeed, visitors have reported that evidence of ancient quarrying activity can still be seen to this day. Dolomite has a most peculiar quality. When first extracted from the surrounding rock it is comparatively soft and workable. But, with exposure to sunlight, it becomes hard and able to take a good polish. This may be the reason why the stone was worked at the quarries before being transported to the building site where it would undoubtedly have proved too hard to carve.

Question: Where is the clock below?

Answer: next month!

Hillsborough Lodge No. 5444, Sheffield was consecrated 18 December 1933. The stepping stones on the banner were across the River Don, above the Leppings Lane bridge, and known as the 'Leaping' or 'Lepping' Stones. The motto 'Fratri pietatem praestare' means 'Show love to a brother'. Every lodge banner probably has its own story.

Do you know your lodge’s own symbolism?