Part 5 (1/2)
Q. Where did they work? A. At the building of King Solomon's Temple, and many other Masonic edifices.
Q. How long did they work? A. Six days.
Q. Did they not work on the Seventh? A. They did not.
Q. Why so? A. Because in six days G.o.d created the heavens and the earth, and rested on the seventh day; the seventh day, therefore, our ancient brethren consecrated as a day of rest from their labors; thereby enjoying more frequent opportunities to contemplate the glorious works of creation, and adore their great Creator.
Q. Did you ever return to the sanctum sanctorum, or holy of holies, of King Solomon's Temple? A. I did.
Q. By what way? A. Through a long porch, or alley.
Q. Did anything particular strike your attention on your return? A.
There did; viz.: Two large columns, or pillars, one on the left hand, and the other on the right.
Q. What was the name of the one on the left hand? A. BOAZ, to denote strength.
Q. What was the name of the one on the right hand? A. JACHIN, denoting establishment.
Q. What do they collectively allude to? A. A pa.s.sage in Scripture, wherein G.o.d has declared in his word, ”In strength shall this house be established.”
Q. What were their dimensions? A. Eighteen cubits in height, twelve in circ.u.mference, and four in diameter.
Q. Were they adorned with anything? A. They were; with two large chapiters, one on each.
Q. Were they ornamented with anything? A. They were; with wreaths of net work, lily work, and pomegranates.
Q. What do they denote? A. Unity, Peace, and Plenty.
Q. Why so? A. Net work, from its connection, denotes union; lily work, from its whiteness and purity, denotes peace; and pomegranates, from the exuberance of its seed, denotes plenty.
Q. Were those columns adorned with anything further? A. They were; viz.: Two large globes, or b.a.l.l.s, one on each.
Q. Did they contain anything? A. They did; viz.; All the maps and charts of the celestial and terrestrial bodies.
Q. Why are they said to be so extensive? A. To denote the universality of Masonry, and that a Mason's charity ought to be equally extensive.
Q. What was their composition? A. Molten, or cast bra.s.s.
Q. Who cast them? A. Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff.
Q. Where were they cast? A. On the banks of the river Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zaradatha, where King Solomon ordered these and all other holy vessels to be cast.
Q. Were they cast solid or hollow? A. Hollow.
Q. What was their thickness? A. Four inches, or a hand's breadth.
Q. Why were they cast hollow? A. The better to withstand inundations or conflagrations; were the archives of Masonry, and contained the const.i.tution, rolls, and records.
Q. What did you next come to? A. A long, winding staircase, with three, five, seven steps, or more.