THE LODGE FURNISHINGS AND REGALIA

The furniture, regalia and most of the furnishings were hand made. There were several good paintings and photographs, which were donated by various brethren. Each member had his own individual hand made chair, inscribed with his name.
A Nigerian Lodge presented a poignard, which is a French Naval Officers Dirk from the Napoleon era and five members of King Solomon's Lodge, Chester, presented a heavy maul, made of ivory which is still in use. A Masonic library was commenced, and several brethren donated masonic books.
A librarian was appointed each year.

TRACING BOARDS.

The Tracing Boards of the Lodge were drawn and coloured by W. Bro. I. R. De. W. Lash O.B.E., a Founder of the Lodge. These Boards were in use during numerous rehearsals prior to the Consecration of the Lodge, and were in use up to the year 2000 when dilapidation overtook them.  A new suite of Tracing Boards were kindly donated by a well known Brother of our sister Lodge Lydda.  (see the page on associated Lodges).



THE SECOND DEGREE TRACING BOARD.

Many Freemasons have heard this lecture but how many think about it afterwards? It is encouraging when Brethren do so and begin to check up on the accounts of the building of Solomon's Temple in the V.S.L. This enthusiasm and interest was surely strong enough in our Lodge when in Jerusalem. A party of members visited one of the fords of the river Jordan, described as the "passages". Many will have crossed the ford at Tel el Damieh, regarded as the most likely one for the incident of 'pronunciation'. You will not find Ephramites and Gileadites as such and on the occasion of this visit to the ford, they spent sometime trying to persuade the assembled Arabs to pronounce a 'Certain Word'. The result did not produce any defects in aspiration, only much laughter and a suggestion that the enquirers were "Majnun", Arabic meaning mad. The party of brethren also went to visit the clay ground of Succoth and Zeredatha which was full of interest. Down at the junctions of the rivers Jabok and Jordan is an area of particularly pure clay. To this day the Jerusalem potters journey down to collect loads for use in their trade. There are huge mounds, the remains of ancient brickfields, and of Hiram's furnaces. Professor Sir George Adam Smith, a great authority on the Holy Land, in his "Historical Geography", says that Solomon placed his brass or bronze foundries in this area.

THE ASHLARS.

The smooth and rough Ashlars were hewn under the supervision of the members of the Lodge, from the stone in the vast underground quarries which lie below the walled City of Jerusalem, adjacent to the Temple area. These are called the Royal Quarries of Solomon.
The position of the Ashlars in the Temple.
Many years ago most Lodges met in small rooms, often the spare room of a Hostelry, or sometimes adjoining the local Church. Because the rooms used were often small, it was essential that the floor space be kept as clear as possible for Perambulations. This necessitated the Ashlars being placed on the Wardens Pedestals, a practice that continues in most Lodges today. Except that is for the Lodge of King Solomon's Temple. Our Ashlars are placed on the floor in front of the Wardens Pedestals and are moved when required for use during our Ceremonies.

THE V.S.L.

The V.S.L. in use in our Lodge is of a considerable age (1787). It was presented to the Lodge by one of our Consecrating Officers, R. W. Bro. Colonel W. F. Wyley, V.D., D.L., Provincial Grand Master for Warwickshire. The V.S.L. that he presented to the Lodge was the family Bible and as his only son had been killed in the First World War, he felt that the best place for it was in the care of our Lodge.
Brethren are obviously aware that during the time that the Lodge is opened, the V.S.L. is open upon the Masters pedestal. What they may not be aware of is that it is not opened at random, but at a particular place that is relevant to the degree being worked.
In our Lodge it is opened in the First Degree at 1st Kings, Ch. VI., in the Second Degree at Psalm CXXXIII, and in the Third Degree at Ecclesiastes Ch. XII, Vs IVu.
PRESENTATION OF FURNITURE

Our heavy furniture of the Lodge was stored in the care of Bro. J. F. Docmac, in Jerusalem.
In 1956 a letter was received from the Secretary of the Golden Throne Lodge, 1346 (Sc. Const.), requesting the loan of the lodge furniture, to enable them to resume their meetings. Our Lodge readily agreed and the Golden Throne resumed meeting at the Petra Hotel in David Street, Jerusalem. In 1965 a resolution was carried, presenting the lodge furniture to the Golden Throne Lodge.

LOSS OF LODGE REGALIA

The Lodge regalia was damaged by flooding in 1952, at the Charing Cross Hotel. The Hotel granted £63.00 towards the cost of new regalia with the Lodge paying the remaining £25.00. New regalia was again purchased in 1987. Flooding again in 1991 at the Park Court Hotel, extensively damaged the Regalia. Full restitution was made by the Hotel.