All kinds of interesting and unusual items can be found in our Masonic Halls around the Irish Constitution. On a visit to our Crumlin Road Hall in Belfast recently, on a walk around the First floor, I found a very curious certificate hanging in the anti-room entrance to the Royal Arch Room. The certificate is a very striking view of three trees, with a forest in the background surrounded on all four sides with an inscription in Jewish writing. Under the trees is a very lightly written inscription in English which reads as follows :-
The Tree Fund of the Kerem Kayemath Kayemeth Reafforests the Hills of the Land of Israel in memory of Theodor Herzi founder of the Zionist Organisation. Another reading of The Tree Fund translates as the Plant a Tree Programme, a nonprofit organisation founded in 1901 to purchase land in Israel.
Below are another two texts in English. The first reads – Planted 5 Trees in The Freemasons Forest in honour of Crumlin Road Royal Arch & Craft Masonic Classes of Instruction. And for those interested The Masonic Forest is located in Cedars Valley in the Hills above Jerusalem and the second reads Planted by Worshipful Brother Harold Ross on the occasion of the Masonic pilgrimage to the Holy Land – Jerusalem / Israel / July 1959. The late Right Worshipful Brother Harold Ross clearly organised the planting of these trees back in 1959 when he was a relatively young Master / Past Master in his Lodge in The Crumlin Road Hall. He went on to have a very busy Masonic career in Ireland and ended up as the Representative of The Grand Lodge of Israel at The Grand Lodge of Ireland.
So Brethren / Companions, I am curious if anyone can translate the Jewish writing around the perimeter and if anyone has any more information on The Masonic Forest in the hills above Jerusalem. And finally, have a look on the walls in your own Hall and see if you can spot anything unusual hanging on your walls.
Robert Bashford