The Palestine Exploration Fund.

the courses of the wall have been examined ; they are 8 ft . 9 in . in height , the stones being of the usual weight and dimensions ; the wall at this point is not less than 150 ft . in height . In sinking this shaft , a wall , supposed to be that

of Ophel , Avas discovered ; it has now been traced bout 150 yds . from its junction with the old Temple wall . This supposed wall of Ophel is 13 ft . thick at the top , and at the depth of 60 ft . is at least 15 ft . in thickness .

About 40 ft . from the south-west angle a shaft has been sunk to the foundations of the old Temple wall , a depth of 85 ft . beloAv the surface . Here the wall is 170 ft . in height from the foundations , while . at the south-west angle , close to the fallen viaduct

over the Tyropean Gulley , the Avail must rise at least 180 ft . above the ancient bed of the Gulley .. The courses of the wall exposed at this point are as follows : —The first three courses from the

surface are similar to those above ground ; they are great squared stones , Avithout bevels , in height about 3 ft . 3 m . The courses fourth to ninth are

similar to those at the Jews Wailing Place , 3 ft . 9 in . in height ; but the first five are much Avorn , though the bevel can be distinguished . The face of the ninth course projects considerably beyond the draught . The tenth and remaining courses differ

entirely from any now seen above ground . The faces of these stones appear as when they were brought from the quarries—roughly dressed into three faces , and projecting in some cases 18 in . beyond their draughts , which are about 4 in . to Gin .

Avide , and beautifully worked . These stones are admirably fitted together , the joints being scarcely visible . This brief description will give some slight idea of the wondrous Avails that surrounded the old

Temple , very few traces of which are visible above the present surface . Visitors to ancient Jerusalem must have indeed been astonished at such mag- - nificent works .

The value of these researches can scarcely be estimated , as they prove , almost beyond a doubt , that the east , south , and Avest Avails of the Harem are built on the remains of the old Temple Avails , the masonry of the foundations , and ' of very many

of the courses , being at least of the Herodian period , even if not of a much more ancient date ; and should the identity of the supposed Avail of Ophel be established , the society will have gained everything that can be desired as a basis for future researches .

The Palestine Exploration Fund.

Want of funds can alone prevent the carrying on of the researches on a much larger scale . Their object is undeniably of peculiar interest to the Masonic Avorld , and assuredly deserves its warm support .

The Grand Lodge of England has set a noble example , Avhich , if followed by the subordinate lodges under its banner , Avould materially aid in carrying out this great work . A small annualsubscription from each lodge Avould , in the

aggregate , be a considerable sum , and for the honour of the Craft it is to be hoped that the W . M . ' s will ' bring the case before their respective lodges . Christian , Jew , and Mahominedan should alike combine in a Avork of such mutual interest as an

accurate and systematic exploration of the Holy Land . In conclusion , I must acknoAvledge my greatobligation to Lieut . Warren , R . E ., for his greatcourtesy in pointing out and explaining the worksunder his direction , the success of which are mainly due to his great zeal and energy .

Masonic Notes And Queries-

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES-

THE BXPEESSION- , " SQTTABE . " In old Greek Avriters " Square " is occasionally % ¦ metaphorical expression meaning " perfect . " Thereis a passage somewhere in Monsieur Victor Cousin ,, which Mr . G . H . Lewis in his " Biographical History of Philosoph" has translated thus : — "This

y , expres sion square , is a metaphorical expression meaning-¦ perfect ; an expression which , though now becometrivial , had , at the birth of mathematical science ,, something noble and elevated in it , and is found inmost elevated compositions of poetry . Simonidesspeaks of a man , square as to his feet , his hands , and

his mind ; meaning an accomplished man ; and themetaphor is also used by Aristotle . "—From Bro . Purton Cooper ' s Masonic Note Boole .

COH-STAH-TISrOPIiE . Although we have referred to the matter in an article , we think it useful for the purposes of local history to note that in 1765 a lodge was founded by the Grand Mother Lodge of Marseilles , under the name of StJean d'Eccose de la Parfaite Union . Its

, early W . M . ' s were Thorou and Bonnin , merchants . It was reputed to be alive in 1801 , but Ave consider this doubtful . There are noAV two lodges of the Grand Orient of Prance—one l'Btoile du Bosphere , the older , but more than one such lodge has died outin this century .

TOEK EMBLEMS . The jewel at p . 462 puts me in mind that many of the York and other emblems of the last century have passed from Masonic use . Was there any difference between the two Grand Lodges in the use of emblems ? —R . C .