New temple

A hugely ambitious plan to build a massive temple in Jerusalem has been drawn up in an attempt to unite Freemasons - and possibly religions.

Called the Unity of Light, the enormous building is the brainchild of an American mason Charles Mashburn Jr.

He wants the disparate arms of Freemasonry to unite, prompting integration of the wider religious communities.

Mr Mashburn hopes to erect the structure in an area where the stone was mined for King Solomon's temple in 965 BC

It is that first Jewish temple that Freemasons use as a reference for many of their ceremonies and rituals.

Mr Mashburn thought it fitting to erect the new temple in that place as a rallying call for all peoples to unite.

His vision, for which he has drawn up detailed plans, is estimated to cost over 300 million dollars.

He is hoping that a masonic movement might be started to raise the cash to help finance the four-storey building.

The temple complex would include rooms to practise all orders of freemasonry as well as a museum, library, shop and associated offices and storage space.

The total floor space of the Universal Temple of Freemasonry (UTF) would be over 471,000 square feet.

Mr Mashburn said: "The concept is to create universal temple of Freemasonry through the design of a visual and physical creation of progressive architecture.

"This architectural design and concept would use Freemason symbolism and will become a new symbol of Freemasonry for the 21st century.

"The Universal Temple of Freemasonry will be situated in Jerusalem.

"The selection of Jerusalem as the location site is significant to Freemasonry throughout the world.

"King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem became the symbolic birthplace of Freemasonry.
"The proposed UTF site is outside the wall of the Holy City and is situated across from the Damascus Gate.

"In the history of Jerusalem, the Damascus Gate was the entry point where the religious pilgrims would enter the Holy City.

"The site is located between the Armistice Lines of 1957, which divides the different regions and religions of Jerusalem.

"This area is known as the "No-Man's Land". It is a land buffer between the different social, political, and religious persons and is considered by people in Jerusalem to be a site of a neutral nature.

"The site was also selected because of the discovery of King Solomon's Quarry in 1854 in a cave system beneath the Damascus Gate and the Old City of Jerusalem.

"The construction of the UTF in Jerusalem will influence the surrounding cultures through Masonic unity. The UTF will be the new unifying symbol for all Masons around the world.

"The lodge will explore the knowledge and growth of brotherly unity in religion, philosophy, and morality within Freemasonry.

"The primary outcome of the creation of The Universal Temple of Freemasonry is to unite the different orders of Freemasonry through the design of a visual and physical creation of progressive architecture.

"The secondary outcome is to have this architecture and new idea influence better relations in the region."

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