The Grand Mother Scotch Lodge Of Marseilles.

No . 28 , 1807 , Genoa-No . 29 , 1808 , Digue . No . 30 , 1809 , Bastia , Corsica . No . 31 , 1810 , Vaiensolles . No . 32 , 1811 , Ciotat .

No . 33 , 1811 , Pampeluna , Spain , a military lodge . In 1801 , the Triple Union of Marseilles of the Rectified Regime Avas affiliated . The Mother Lodge of Marseilles was in

recognition Avith two of the Grand Lodges of Berlin , and with the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . The Mother Lodge of Marseilles was on good terms with the nei ghbouring lodges of the Grand Orient of France , and with many at a distance . It will be seen its own lodges Avere chiefly in the district of Marseilles .

The degrees given up to 1801 were seven : —1 , E . A . ; 2 , F . C ; 3 , M . M . ; 4 , Perfect Master ; 5 , Master Elect of Nine ; 6 , True Perfect Ecossais of Scotland ; 7 , Chevalier d' Orient . They did not give the Rose Croix degree up to

that time . In 1810 the degrees were : —1 , E . A . ; 2 , F . C ; 3 , M . M . ; 4 , Elu ; 5 , Ecossais ; 6 , Chevalier d' Orient ; 7 , R . C . That is they had adopted the Grand Orient or French system of 1786 .

In 1808 a strange event took place in the lodge at Marseilles . An intruder tried to force his Avay into the lod ge . He was turned out and they bandaged his eyes , and ducked him in the garden . The fellow was so frightened that he went -mad ,

and there was great excitement , but the Perfect of the department happened to be W . M . of the lodge , and by prudence the trouble was appeased .

The Palestine Exploration Fund.

THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND .

' Communicated by Bro . JOHN OXSAND , 18 ° , of Lodges Nos . 515 , 954 , § rc , on board S . M . 8- "Lord Clyde , " at Jaffa , 18 th May , 186 ® A few brief details of some of the works now in progress at Jerusalem may be of interest to the brethren in general , and perhaps awake the

sympathy of many who do not as yet justly estimate the value of the society ' s operations . At the southern extremity of the west wall of the Harem ( or Old Temple Wall ) are the remains of the great viaduct over the Tyrapean Gulley .

This fine structure ( a single arch ) must have been over 100 ft . in height , with a span of 42 ft . ; the roadway over it was about 45 ft . wide , and formed

the communication between Mount [ Zion and the Temple . This arch sprang from the Temple wall , and was supported on the Avest by a pier . Descending a shaft , we reach a gallery about 50 ffc . below the

surface , leading to the remains of this pier . It is 46 ft . long and 12 ft . through , and , for economy of materials , is built with deep recesses ; in fact , the whole pier seems to have been made up of smaller piers , in height about 7 ft . 3 in ., and averaging 6 ft .

in length , the bays or spaces betAveen being of similar dimensions . Lying across these little piers and the bays are lintels , each formed of a single stone , the largest being 12 ft . 6 in . in length , and 3 ft . 9 in . iu height ,

and weig hing about 11 tons . The stones composing this pier are beautifully bevelled , the lowest course resting on the rock is 3 ft . 6 in . high ; the second course 3 ft . 9 in . in height , and the others were probably of the same dimensions . The

stones in these courses vary from 4 to 7 tons in Aveight , and are very fine specimens of masonry . In this shaft , among other galleries , is one of 160 ft . in length .

Returning to the surface , Ave Avalk to the Jews ' Wailing Place , close to which is a shaft and gallery , leading to an arch still perfect , Avhich the fallen viaduct over the Tyropean Valley must have much resembled . Many very interesting discoveries

have been made in connection with this arch . A magnificent chamber , Avith a white marble pedestal , in the centre—perhaps the remains of a column—has been discovered , and named the Royal Arch Chamber . Four smaller chambers ,

apparently in continuation , have just been driven into , and are now being cleared out and explored . Nothing can be more promising than this portion of the society's Avorks . Near the Damascus Gate the supposed remains

of the Church of St . Etienne have been discovered , as also those of the Asnerie , or Donkey House , which was used by the Knights Templar in the execution of one of their principal duties—that of escorting pilgrims betAveen the Holy City and the

sea coast . At this point there are many traces of the Crusaders . A stone , with a large Templars' cross cut on it , was found among the debris ; it had evidently formed part of a wall .

Near the south-east angle of the Temple wall a shaft has been sunk to the foundations , a depth of 73 ft . from the present surface . The whole of