Masonic Mems.

MASONIC IMPOSTORS , —We have been requested to caution the Masters , Treasurers , Almoners , and other officers of lodges , and members of our Order , against a- person travelling under the name of Dr . J . B . Smith , claiming to be a member of the Howard Lodge , No . 35 , Washington D . C ., in tho United States of America , and representing himself as the assistant director of

the United States Mint at Washington , at present in this country on tho business of the Government of the U . S . The individual in question has recently visited Crewe , and has levied contributions . Now as we are not aware that there is a Mint iu Washington , and moreover as there are several circumstances connected witli Dr . J . B . Smith ' s statements that are suspicious , we

feel it to be our duty to comply with our correspondent's request to at once insert this caution ; and we hope to be in a position by next week to complete our inquiries , and to publish the results —if they be such as our correspondent states that he has reason to believe will be sure to crop up ; mean time , "forewarned , forearmed . "

Masonic Archæolog Ical Institute.

MASONIC ARCH ? OLOGICAL INSTITUTE .

THE RECENT DISCOVERIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND . By W . BESAXT , Esq ., M . A . ( Concluded from page 255 . ) I propose now to g ive an account of the journey which he made up the narrow rock-cut passage connecting the pool of Siloamwitb the Virgin's Fountain . Again I must read his own

words , as they show the energy of the man better than any eulogium of mine would do . The passage had been previously explored by Dr . Robinson"I have examined aud surveyed the rock-cut passages leading from the Virgin ' s Fount to Siloam . We entered from the Siloam end , so as to have as much clean work as possible . For the first 350 ft . it was very plain sailing ; the height of passage sloping down fl ' om lGtt . at entrance to 4 ft .

4 in . ; the width 2 ft . ; the direction a wavy line to the east . At 450 ft . the height of passage was reduced to 3 ft . 9 ' m ., and here we found a shaft leading upwards apparently to the open air . This might bo made use of to great advantage by the owners of the soil overhead . From this shaft the passage takes a northeasterl y direction , and at GOOft . is only 2 ft . Gin . hi gh . Our difficulties now commenced . Sergeant Birtle . s , with a fellah , went ahead , measuring with tape , while I followed with compass and fiold-book . Tho bottom is a soft silt , with a calcareous crust at top , strong enough to bear the human weight , except in a few places where it lets one in with a flop . Our measurements

ol height were taken from the top of this crust , as it now forms the bottom of the aqueduct ; the mud silt is from loin , to lSin . deep . We were now crawling fours , and thought we were getting on very pleasantly , the water being only 4-in . deep , and wo were not wet higher than our hips . Presentl y bits of cabbage stalks came floating by , and we suddenly awoke to the fact that the waters were rising . The Virgin ' s Fount is used as a sort of scullery to tho Silw-. m village , the refuse thrown there being

carried off down the passage each time the water rises . The rising of the waters had not been anticipated , as they had risen only two hours previous to our entrance . At 850 ft . the height of the channel was reduced to lft . 10 in ., and here our troubles began . The water was running with great violence , lft . in height , and we , crawling full length , were up to our necks in it . " I was particularly embarrassed : one hand necessaril y , the other holding a pencil , compass , and field-book ; the caudle for

the most part in my mouth . Another 50 ft . brought us to a place where we had regularly to run the guantlet of the waters . The passage being only lft . -tin . high , we had just -I ' m . breathing space , and had some difficulty in twisting our necks round properly . When observing , my mouth was under water . At DODfc . we came upon two false cuttings , one on each side of the aqueduct . They go in for about 2 ft . each . I could not discover any appearance of their being passages ; if they are , and are stopped up for any distance , it will be next to impossible to clear them out in such a place . Just here I involuntarily swallowed a portion of my lead pencil nearly choking for a , minute or two . We were

Masonic Archæolog Ical Institute.

now going in a zig-zag direction towards the north-west , and the height increased to 4 ft . Gin ., which gave us a little breathing space ; but at 1 , 050 ft . we were reduced to 2 ft . Gin ., and at 1 , 100 ft . we were again crawling with a height of only lft . lOin . We should probably have suffered more from the cold than we did , had not our risible faculties been excited by the sight of our fellah in front plunging and puffing through the water like a young grampus ; at 1150 ft . the passage again averaged a heig ht

, of 2 ft . to 2 ft . Gin . At 1 , 400 we heard the same sound of water dripping as described by Captain Wilson , the Rev . Dr . Barclay , and others . I carefully looked backwards and forwards , and at last found a fault in the rock , where the water was gurgling , but whether rushing in or out I could not ascertain . At 1 , 450 ft . we commenced turning to the east , and the passage attained a heiht of 6 ft . At 165 Sft . we came upon our old friend , the

g passage leading to the Ophel shaft , and , after a further 50 ffc ., to the Virgin's Fount . Our candles were just becoming exhausted , and the last three angles I could not take very exactly . There were fifty-seven stations of the compass . When we came out it was dark , and we had to stand shivering for some minutes before our clothes were brought us ; we were nearly four hours in the water . I find a difference of 42 ft . between my measurements

anil those of Dr . Robinson , but if be took the length of the Virgin ' s Fount into account , we shall very nearly agree . " " I must now refer you to another point , tho south-east corner of the temple , at the lowest point . Here ho has found certain letters carved or painted on the wall . The diagram shows them . No definite opinion has yet been pronounced ou them . Two very important discoveries have been made inside the Havam Area . I read his account of each : —

" At the northern end of the Haram Area at Jerusalem , east of the gate known as Bab Ilytta , are two tank mouths , which were not examined by Captain Wilson ; they are closed by heavy stones . To the west of these there is a private garden which projects out into and forms part of the Haram Aroa ; iu this garden there are two other tank mouths . I examined one of those some months ago , but was unable to get down the other on account of the small size of'the opening . On Monday last I

went again to this garden to have another try at these cisterns , and first examined that to the west , which is simply a tank about 8 ft . by 15 ft ., with a semicircular arch over it , and no appearance of rock about it . I then went to the other , situate at the south-east angle of the little garden , which at this point is elevated about 10 ft . above the Haram Area . On sounding I found it 42 ft . down , to tho water . I tried to descend , but to no

purpose until . 1 had nearly stripped to skin , and even tlien in my contortions I managed to slip the rope over one arm ; the narrow - passage was only for 3 ft ., and 10 ft . from the surface I came on the floor of a little chamber , about 6 ft . square , apparently on a level with the Haram Area . The shaft down to the cistern

continues through the floor of this chamber , about bit . square , apparently on a level with the Haram Area . The shaft down to the cistern continues through the floor of this chamber , and is a moderate-sized opening . On getting downtj the water I found it only 3 ft . deep , and concluding from the size of the cistern that help would be required in measuring , I signalled for Sergeant Birtles to come down . " On lig hting up the magnesium wire , and looking about me , into

I was astonished , my first impression being tbut I had got a church similar to that of the cathedral ( formerly a mosque ) at Cordova . I could see arch upon arch north and east , apparently rows of them . "After floundering about some little distance , however , I could see that there was a limit to the substructure , at no great distance to north and east . In the meantime Sergeant Dirties-( somewhat stouter than myself ) was making great efforts above ,

-with very little result ; do what he would he could not get past the narrow opening to this cistern , and at last had to give up the trial and go and get leave from the owner to pull down the upper mouth of the shaft , and then he very soon appeared at the bottom , bis shoulders considerably injured through his exertions . In the meantime the excitement of our Mind' had

begun to wear off , and ; the water felt cold . I was just giving the sergeant some sage advice as to how he should direct his steps to the best advantage , when I stumbled over a large stone and foil into the wall flat on my face . As just at present the weatliy is frosty , a bath in one's clothes is anything but pleasant . I found the stones on which I stumbled to be about six iu number , averaging 7 ft . in length and 3 ft . in depth and width . I could see inscription on them , aud they appear to have fallen in by accident .