faction at having done a good action, and rendered
justice.

Q. What reflections occur, when contemplating the conduct of Solomon?
A. That a wise man may err, and when he is sensible of his fault,
correct himself by acknowledging that fault, whereby he claims the
indulgence of his brethren.

Q. Why do the Symbolic Lodges take the name of St. John of Jerusalem?
A. Because in the time of the Crusades, the Perfect Masons, Knights,
and Princes, communicated their mysteries to the Knights of that
order; whereupon it was determined to celebrate their festival
annually, on St. John's day, being under the same law.

Q. Who was the first architect that conducted the works of Solomon's
temple? A. Hiram Abiff; which signifies the inspired man.

Q. Who laid the first stone? A. Solomon cut and laid the first stone,
which afterwards supported the temple.

Q. Was there anything enclosed in that stone? A. Yes; some characters,
which were, like the name of the Grand Architect of the Universe, only
known to Solomon.

Q. What stone was it? A. An agate of a foot square.

Q. What was the form of it? A. Cubical.

Q. At what time of the day was the stone laid? A. Before sunrise.

Q. For what reason? A. To show that we must begin early and work with
vigilance and assiduity.

Q. What cement did he make use of? A. A cement which was composed of
the finest and purest flour, milk, oil, and wine.

Q. Is there any meaning in this composition? A. Yes; when the Grand
Architect of the Universe determined to create the world, he employed
his sweetness, bounty, wisdom and power.

Q. What is the reason why the number eighty-one is held in such esteem
among Princes of Masons? A. Because that number explains the triple
alliance which the Eternal operates by the triple triangle, which was
seen at the time Solomon consecrated the temple to God; and also that
Hiram Abiff was eighty-one years of age when he was murdered.

Q. Was anything else perceived at the consecration? A. A perfume which
not only filled the temple, but all Jerusalem.

Q. Who destroyed the temple? A. Nebuchadnezzar.

Q. How many years after it was built? A. Four hundred and seventy
years, six months, and ten days, after its foundation.

Q. Who built the second temple? A. Zerubbabel, by the grant and aid of
Cyrus, King of Persia. It was finished in the reign of Darius, when he
was known to be a Prince of Jerusalem. Cyrus not only gave Zerubbabel
and the captive Masons thei