The Tombs Of The Kings Golconda And Mosques Of Haidarabad Deccan Viewed Masonically.

of 33 points which is probably a conventional arrangement of the helianthus or sunflower . Pursuing our bootless quest ( for bootless it was as regards the feet ) we discovered yet another representation of this Sacred Symbol in the shape of the same helianthus border , the centre being arranged so as to represent what may be termed an arabesque treatment of a man's facewhich at once recalled the conventional method of representing the sun in

splendour in ancient illuminated manuscripts and elsewhere . This was the more interesting as it is a generally accepted idea that the Koran permits of the representation of no living thing in its forms of art as perhaps tending to idolatry . Possibly the reverence paid to the name of Allah , which in its own sphere is equally reverenced as the Tetragrammaton of the Jews , might well permit the use of the human form when delineating a symbol

which in itself is deemed worthy of worship as being the embodiment of the Divine JJssence . However this may be , the symbol in question would afford an important link in the chain of evidence which some exponents of comparative Religions would advance to show the common derivations of all faiths from Ancient Sun worship . Thus , then , as already stated , we find the salient points of the first two Degrees of Craft Masonry exemplified in the

Musjid . There now only remains the Third Degree and its teachings , which we shall endeavour to show are appropriately and forcibly presented by the Moslem Tomb . The ancient Moslem Tomb in Haidarabad , is , as a rule , a far more magnificent structure than the mosque ; indeed the comparative simplicity of the mosque is more often than not over-shadowed by the grandeur of the tomb , this being particularly noticeable in the wonderful tombs

of the Kings of Golconda on which the art of the architect was lavished in beauty of design , and the skill of the craftsman in the exquisite enamel which clothed its domes , an art now unfortunately lost , never it is to be feared again to take its place in the " handmaiden of use , " in adorning the monuments ofthe mighty . To attempt to adequately describe the ancient Moslem Tomb , wouId far exceed the limits of the present paper ; we will , therefore , touch

upon only such points as are of interest to Masonic readers . The tomb is built four square , and facing the cardinal points ofthe compass . It consists of a basement , which is the actual sepulchral chamber , and which forms a platform for the building above . The upper building is what may be termed , for want of a more suitable expression , a " false tomb , " that is to say , it contains a monument situated immediately over the actual monument in the

basement . It was to this false tomb that the energies of the architect were directed . The massive central dome was decorated , as in the case of the minarets , with "lily work , " " net work } " and "pomegranates , " while around the central dome were grouped smaller domes , all preserving the same characteristics , and one cannot help thinking , while thus regarding the great central dome , how well it expresses in itself " stability" when

compared to the lighter and more airy reproductions of itself which surround it . The central dome sums up as it were the lessons of the smaller minarets around it , and fairly symbolises the " conjoint signification " of the two pillars of the mosque . Whilst dealing with the external appearance of the Moslem tomb , it is most interesting to note that at the tomb of Meer Mahomed Saheb , on the banks of the Meer Alum Tank at Haidarabad , the

entrance is flanked by two stone pillars , surmounted by capitals identical with those of the mosque domes already noticed . This , although an unusual form in tomb architecture , is yet interesting by reason of its resemblance to Masonic tradition ; it is also a curious fact that three steps lead up to the two columns which flank the door , while five more lead to the actual entrance ; it is absolutely forbidden to ascend these steps in boots or shoes , which have

all to be deposited at the foot of the stairs . So much for the external appearance of the Mahomedan tomb ; let us now glance at the interior of the building and see how the Third Degree of' Masonry may be symbolised in its arrangements . Entering the basement or crypt , which is the actual sepulchial chamber , the prevailing idea is one of " darkness visible , " relieved only by a glimmering ray which proceeds from a small oil lamp

which is placed upon the " Master ' s" grave ; this is the light which is never extinguished . At the head of the grave rests the broom which is used to sweep the grave ; this broom is made , as a rule , from a branch of date palm , and bears a strong resemblance in its form to the branch of Acacia which is to be seen in the Third Degree tracing board in a similar position . The

grave itself is situated in the exact centre of the building and it is qu ' te conceivable that in dealing with the interment of the master , the secrets lost at his untimely death might well be supposed to rest with him , in the centre of his mausoleum . Again the custom of erecting the tomb near to the mosque suggests the idea that the master should be buried as near to the Holy Place as would be permitted by the ceremonial law .

It is the custom in many Moslem burying places to place a volume of the Koran upon the tomb , and this bears a strong resemblance to the custom existing in Scotch and American Lodges of having an " altar" on which the V . S . L . rests during the ceremony . Access to the crypt is gained by four doors situated at the N . E . S . W . and it is quite easy to see from this how the meridian and setting sun could be determined by the rays of the sun entering at the S . and \ V . doors respectively , and striking upon the centre

of the tomb . This crypt was usually built before the decease of the person for whom it was intended ; the E . As . and F . Cs . would therefore have finished their labours long before the crypt was actually required , and when at length the time came , for the great man to die , the Master Mason was ready with his tools to find the exact centre and raise the tomb . The mere fact also of the crypt being built during the lifetime of its future occupant would serve as an excellent " Memento Mori" to that exalted

The Tombs Of The Kings Golconda And Mosques Of Haidarabad Deccan Viewed Masonically.

personage and lead him to " contemplate his inevitable destiny . "—Upstairs in the False Tomb , all is beauty and brightness . The spacious dome over the false grave glows with the richest of colours , while in its centre the sacred symbol before alluded to again attracts the eye . In the south west corner of this is a winding staircase which leads to the upper gallery of the tomb ; this again tallies with the lecture of the Second Degree which describes

the KCs . as entering at the south door , to ascend to the middle chamber where they received their wages . It will also be remembered that our ancient brethren on reaching the middle chamber had sundry Hebrew characters pointed out to them , and we see the counterpart of this in the symbol before mentioned as being in the centre of the tomb . One other little point accords remarkably well with the statement that the F . Cs ., after entering at the

south door found their " ascent was opposed * * " —The explan - ation of this is that although doorways of necessity existed in these tombs , doors as we at present understand them did not exist . A glance at the massive hard lintels of polished stone ( Deccan trap ) would show no trace of a door having ever existed there , and consequently , what more natural than to place a guard to arrest the approach of any unwarranted intruders ?

Having thus demonstrated the close resemblance existing between the Moslem forms of Mosque and Tomb and the traditions of Masonry the question naturally arises—How are we to account for these resemblmces ? To this several answers may be given . The first and readiest answer would probably be that the establishment of communication by King Solomon with other nations would lead to an imitation of his great Temple in

other lands , the more so , as we are credibly informed that Embassies were sent to him by most of the leading Sovereigns of the then known world . Another reason , and perhaps a better one , is that which is afforded by archrclogical research . Moslem architecture may be divided into three classes , viz ., Moorish , Egyptian , and Persian , and it is to the last class that the buildings above described and discussed may be relegated ; Persian

architecture we know was greatly improved by King Cyrus , whose connection with the Jews has now become a matter of history . But architecture came to Persia from the Turanians , that is to say , Tyre . The connection of Tyre with the Temple is well known , and it requires no great stretch of imagination to assume that the architecture of Persia and Palestine are both sister styles emanating from one common centre , Tyre . With regard

to the curious form taken by the pillars of the existing tracing board , it must be borne in mind that these tracing boards were designed and " written up to " at a time of very comparative enlightenment ; possibly the transition from the dome of the minaret to the globes is referable to ancient travellers , for it is not a hard matter to suppose that in days gone—by a traveller

returning home would bring a confused idea of what he had seen and would probably be unable to resist the chance given him by the minarets of Jerusalem of giving his opinion , which would carry considerable weight . Be this as it may , the remarkable resemblances noted above can only be urged as the excuse for thus opening the doors to what it is possible may prove to be a most interesting Masonic discussion .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Faithful Lodge , No . 229 . The installation meeting of this excellent little lodge took place on the ioth inst ., at the Masonic Temple , the Globe Hotel , Main-street , Cockermouth , when Bro . W . VV . R . Sewell , S . VV . and W . M . elect , was installed W . M . for the ensuing 12 months . The lodfje having been opened by the W . M ., Bro . H . Peacock , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . Stwd . Eng , and the usual business having been transacted , Bro . James Gardiner , P . G . Sec , assumed the chair of Installing Offi-er , and in a perfect manner placed the W . M . elect in the chair of A ., where he was saluted primarily by a Bjard of

Installed Masters and then by the brethren of the lodge . He then installed his officers as follows : Bros . H . Peacock , l . P . M . ; T . Atkinson , S . W . ; T . Mason , J . W .: W , . ' . Bennett , M . O . ; R . Robinson , S . O . ; E . L . Waugh , J . O . ; F . R . Sewell , Sec . and R . of M . ; and J . Hewson , Tyler . The addresses were most impressively rendered by Bro . T . Atkinson , P . M ., P . J . G . W . A cordial vote of thanks to Bros . Gardiner and Atkinson for their services as Installing Officers was carried . Two candidates were proposer !

for advancement at the next meeting . The members present included Bros . Col . I ' " . It . Sewell , P . M ., D . P . G . M .,- H . P-Jicock , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W .: T . Mason , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; T . Atkinson , P . M ., P . J . G . W . ; W . W . R . Russell , S . VV ., W . M . elect , P . G . Std . Br . j James Gardiner , P . G . Sec ; and others . Bros . | . Dickinson , P . M . 181 , Treas ., P . P . J . G . W ., and G . A . L . Skerry , P . M . 2 S 2 , P . P . G . K . of M ., were the visitors .

At the conclusion of the ceremony the brethren adjourned to the Globe , where a banquet was provided by the W . M ., which was a great success in every respect . The toast of " The Installing Masters " concluded the list , and terminated a most pleasant evening .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . BOWDEN GREEN . —A meeting of friends of the National Thrift Society took place on Saturday last at Cannon-street Hotel , for the purpose of making a presentation to Bro . Bowden Green , in commemoration of his completing -0 years' Secretaryship of that society . The testimonial consisted of an illuminated address , 25 volumes of the " Encycloprc lia Britannic * " ( 7 Vme ; Reprint 1 S 9 S ) , ami a

Royal Enfield bicycle . The Chairman ( Dr . Greville Walpole ) , in handing these to Bro . Green , congratulated him upon the success of his 23 years' work in the came of social reform , and regretted that the presentation of one more article—a purse—would have to be deferred , as it was not yet " lined . " Bro . Bowden Green having expressed his sincere thanks for the address , and the gifts which accompanied it , the meeting terminated .

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