We read (2 Chron ii. 13.) HIRAM King of Tyre (called there Hiram) in his Letters to King SOLOMON, says, I have sent a cunning Man, le Huram Abhi, not to be translated according to the vulgar Greek and Latin, Huram my Father, as if this Architect was King HIRAM's Father; for his Descriptions, ver. 14, refutes it, and the Original plainly imports, Huram of my Father's viz. the Chief Master-Mason of my Father, King ABIBALUS; (who enlarg'd and beautify'd the city of Tyre, as ancient Histories informs us, whereby the Tyrians at this time were most expert in Masonry) tho' some think HIRAM the King might call HIRAM the Architect Father, as learned and skillful Men were wont to be call'd of old Times, or as Joseph was call'd the Father of Pharoah; and as the same Hiram is call'd Solomon's FATHER, (2 Chron. iv. 16) where 'tis said Shelomoh lammelech Abhif Churam ghanash Did Huram, his Father, make to King Solomon. But the Difficulty is over at once, by allowing the Word Abif to be the Surname of Hiram the Mason, called also (chapt. ii. 13) Hiram Abi, as here Hiram Abif; for being so amply describ'd (chap. ii. 14), we may easily suppose his Surname would not be conceal'd: And this Reading makes the Sense plain and compleat, viz that Hiram, King of Tyre, sent to King Solomon, his Namesake HIRAM ABIF, the Prince of Architects, describ'd (1 Kings vii. 14) to be a Widow's Son of the Tribe of Naphtali. . . This more sumptuous, splendid, beautiful and glorious Edifice, attracted soon the inquisitive Artists of all Nations to spend some time at Jerusalem, and survey its peculiar Excellencies, as much as was allow'd to the Gentiles; whereby they soon discover'd, that all the World, with their joint Skill, came far short of the Israelites, in the Wisdom and Dexterity of Architecture, when the wise King SOLOMON was GRAND MASTER of the Lodge at Jerusalem, and the learned King HIRAM was GRAND MASTER of the Lodge at Tyre, and the inspired HIRAM ABIF was Master of Work, and Masonry was under the immediate Care and Direction of Heaven, when the Noble and the Wise thought it is their Honour to be assisting to the ingenious Masters and Craftsmen, and when the Temple of the TRUE GOD became the Wonder of all Travellers, by which, as by the most perfect Pattern, they corrected the Architecture of their own Country upon their Return.