[60] Rawlinson, in his _History of Phoenicia_, says the people "had for ages possessed the mason's art, it having been brought in very early days from Egypt." Sir C. Warren found on the foundation stones at Jerusalem Mason's marks in Phoenician letters (_A. Q. C._, ii, 125; iii, 68). [61] See essay on "A Masonic Built City," by S.R. Forbes, a study of the plan and building of Rome, _Ars Quatuor Coronatorum_, iv, 86. As there will be many references to the proceedings of the Coronatorum Lodge of Research, it will be convenient hereafter to use only its initials, _A. Q. C._, in behalf of brevity. For an account of the Collegia in early Christian times, see _Roman Life from Nero to Aurelius_, by Dill (bk. ii, chap. iii); also _De Collegia_, by Mommsen. There is an excellent article in Mackey's _Encyclopedia of Freemasonry_, and Gould, _His. Masonry_, vol. i, chap. i. [62] See _Masonic Character of Roman Villa at Morton_, by J.F. Crease (_A. Q. C._, iii, 38-59). [63] Their names were Claudius, Nicostratus, Simphorianus, Castorius, and Simplicius. Later their bodies were brought from Rome to Toulouse where they were placed in a chapel erected in their honor in the church of St. Sernin (_Martyrology_, by Du Saussay). They became patron saints of Masons in Germany, France, and England (_A. Q. C._, xii, 196). In a fresco on the walls of the church of St. Lawrence at Rotterdam, partially preserved, they are painted with compasses and trowel in hand. With them, however, is another figure, clad in oriental robe, also holding compasses, but with a royal, not a martyr's, crown. Is he Solomon? Who else can he be? The fresco dates from 1641, and was painted by F. Wounters (_A. Q. C._, xii, 202). Even so, those humble workmen, faithful to their faith, became saints of the church, and reign with Solomon! Once the fresco was whitewashed, but the coating fell off and they stood forth with compasses and trowel as before. [64] _History of Middle Ages_, Hallam, vol. ii, 547. Part II--History FREE-MASONS /# _The curious history of Freemasonry has unfortunately been treated only by its panegyrists or calumniators, both equally mendacious. I do not wish to pry into the mysteries of the craft; but it would be interesting to know more of their history during the period when they were literally architects. They are charged by an act of Parliament with fixing the price of their labor in their annual chapters, contrary to the statute of laborers, and such chapters were consequently prohibited. This is their first persecution; they have since undergone others, and are perhaps reserved for still more. It is remarkable, that Masons were never legally incorporated, like other traders; their bond of union being stronger than any charter._ --HENRY HALLAM, _The Middle Ages_ #/ CHAPTER I _Free-Masons_ I