41 five noble orders of architecture; as well as to the five sacred treasures contained in the sanctum sanctorum ;* and the five extraordinary manifestations of the divinity which were wanting in the second temple.42 It also refers to the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our blessed Saviour.43 And the seven" But few there be that understand Q. My friend, if you pretend to be You can forthwith and rightly tell A. By letters four, and science five, A point, a line, a superfice, But solid is the last. 41 The ark of the covenant, the cherubim, the book of the law, the rod of Aaron, and the pot of manna. 42 The ark and mercy seat, the shekinah, the urim and thummim, the holy fire, and the spirit of prophecy. 43 The five senses, which were explained in the old lectures, have been expunged. Why? Our American Brethren retain them. "In Lecture 15, the degrees are numbered nine instead of seven. But it will be observed that two of them, viz., the Mark Master and Man are subsidiary to the degree of Fellowcraft; the former being the Master, and the latter the Wardens of the Lodge. An ancient Masonic regulation provided, that candidates for the third degree should wait seven days from the time of their being raised to the time of being entrusted with the secrets of a Master Mason, in commemoration of the mourning for H. A. B., and also of Joseph for his father Jacob. For these and other reasons the number seven has ever been held in high estimation amongst Masons. that make a Lodge perfect have an allusion to many important particulars." The eleventh step refers to the eleven treasury rooms, which formed the boundary or inclosure of the holy and most holy places." From hence the Brother, if properly qualified, entered into the proper chamber, to receive the rewards of his labour.47 It must, however, be observed, that our winding staircase is not a transcript of the flight of twelve steps which actually led from the court of the priests to the pillars of the porch. It was constructed in the wall geometrically, like those which lead to the towers of our churches, and was situated at the east end of the gallery which opened into the treasure chambers, 45 For instance, seven sabbatical years, the seven years of famine, the time of building the temple, the seven golden candlesticks, the seven wonders of the world, the seven planets, the seven prismatic colours, the seven liberal sciences, the seven doors and entrances into the inner court of the temple, corresponding with the seven degrees of Masonry instituted by King Solomon at the building of that stately edifice. 46 This number was also emblematical of the tribes of Israel, for when Joseph was sold by his brethren, there were only eleven remaining; and the number of Christ's apostles after the apostacy of Judas. The scientific references of these steps are too extensive for introduction here. 47 "He beheld it inscribed on every side with geometrical emblems and numerical combinations, and was instructed in the mysterious relations which they bear to the laws of the creation. In the centre, within a glorious irradiation, or blazing star, was inscribed the letter G, denoting the great and glorious science of symbolical and mystical geometry, as cultivated by our ancient and venerable Masters in every age and country. (See Hemming's Lectures, Second Degree.) 48 Or in Masonic language, "by a staircase contrived as a screw in the inner wall of the temple, which was called Cochleus.” the entrances to which were the doors and passages connected with the sanctuary towards the north and south of the body of the temple." The arch and These dimensions of the base summit, where the horizontal The walls of the moles are 49 It has been thought that the temple of Solomon was built upon a plan corresponding with the Egyptian temple of Edfou, which is thus described in the Egyptian Antiquities. "The entrance is composed of two pyramidal moles, sometimes called propylea by modern writers, each front of which is about one hundred and four feet long and thirty-seven feet wide at the base; the moles are about one hundred and fourteen feet high. diminish gradually from thence to the section is eighty-four feet by twenty. sculptured with immense figures in the best style of Egyptian art and between the moles is the grand entrance. This entrance conducts to a court surrounded with pillars. On each side of the larger sides there is a row of twelve pillars, which are placed at some distance from the side walls; and as the space between the tops of the pillars and the wall is roofed over, a covered portico is formed, which leads on each side to the doors of the staircases which are in the pyramidal moles. These staircases furnish access to the chambers of the propyla. There is also a row of four pillars, including the corner one, on each side of the doorway as we enter the court similarly covered over. From the entrance of the court to the porch of the temple, there is a gradual ascent by steps, so that the portico is about fifty-six feet above the lowest level of the court. It consists of eighteen pillars, six in a row; the intercolumniations of the central pillars, forming the doorway, being, as usual, the largest. After passing through this porch there is a doorway leading to the sekos or cell, which is divided into several apartments. The entrance passage has on each side a long chamber, and conducts into a large hypostile hall, supported by twelve pillars. After leaving this chamber we come to another long and narrow one, from which there are two small entrances to the side galleries, wherein we see flights of steps leading upwards to the roof of the sekos. Still further we see another small chamber with an apartment on each side of it probably for the use of the priests. From this last mentioned chamber we enter the holy recess itself (the sanctuary), an |