The Great Pyramid.

dates , B . C . —385 , 417 , 592 , 625 , 799 , 831 , 989 , 1047 , 1072 , 1115 , 1152 , 1191 , 1230 , and 1268 . Having spanned the dates given in the ascending passage , let us with reverence approach that Grand Gallery which marks the birth of our Saviour . The sudden transition we experience on emerging from the

confined area of the ascending passage is very palpable . With form erect , and while standing to gaze on the noble proportions of that wonderful gallery , with its glorious dispensation records , we feel inspired with solemn awe and reverence at the sight .

The dislodged Rampstone is the first object that calls for attention , being close within the north-west corner of the opening of the gallery , and discovers the mouth of what is called the " well , " that leads down to the subterranean chamber . Seeing that the well has no time-recording powers , we will not follow its course , but only allude to the fact that it is regarded as a symbol

of the grave and resurrection of our Saviour . That it accords with the date of our Saviour ' s death is evident , from the line that marks the thirty-three inches that is cut in the wall of the gallery , and is immediately over the centre of the well ' s mouth . Mr . Cassey describes this in very felicitous terms he says that , "On entering the Grand Gallery , we come upon a square sepulchral aperture , partly in its floor , from the bottom of which a passage

leads westerly , for a short space , to the edge of a dark , almost perpendicular , abyssmal shaft , which leads down , down , down , into the deep and dismal subterranean descending passage , just before it falls into the Hades ' chamber—or pit , which lies some 180 feet down in the living rock . Now , at an inch to a year , along the line of the floor of the Grand Gallery , this sepulchral chamber shows the date of Calvary in our Lord's life . "

Mr . Robert Menzies is still more explicit in his deductions upon the Messianic symbolism of the entrance of the Grand Gallery and the well mouth ; he states that three-and-thirty inch years therefore , or thereabouts , bring us right over against the mouth of the well—the type of His death , and His glorious resurrection , too ; while the long lofty Grand Gallery shows

the dominating rule , in the world , of the blessed religion which He established thereby , overspanned above by the thirty-six roof-stones , of His months of ministry on earth , and defined by the floor length inches , as to its exact period to be . The horizontal passage that starts from the Grand Gallery , and which leads to the Queen's chamber , is 1 , 517-9 inches , and is

upon a level with the well mouth . It is believed to symbolise the divine institution of the Sabbath , from the fact that one-seventh portion of its length is one-half greater in depth than the rest . This Sabbatical indication in the horizontal passage is duplicated in the Queen's chamber , and appears to form the principal teaching of its interior ; this passage and chamber is

regarded by some as typical of the Jewish dispensation , and strictly bears upon the history of the House of Judah ; but , as we fail clearly to define that history in the figures which the measuring-rod brings out , let us leave it for the present and return to the Grand Gallery , there to try and spell out the important lessons which this grand dispensation-recording passage

places before our wondering eyes . For a moment let us take our stand upon the threshold of the north-end , or beginning , of the Grand Gallery ; and looking up a distance of 339 inches we are able to count the 36 roof stones , that not only point to the months of our Lord's ministry , but also point to the cubical commensurability of the gallery . The walls of white limestone

with their seven overlappings and beautifully-executed masonry , will at once rivet the attention , and seem to impress the mind with the thought that they set forth that Sabbatic sign which the Divine Architect declared should be the sign between Himself and His people Israel throughout all their

generations . Finely-worked blocks of stone , called " Ramps , " at stated distances , flank the walls up each side of the floor plane ; but , as it is not within our province now to treat upon the why and wherefore of these important details , we will proceed at once to take the measure of the gallery along the floor line , from the north end to the great step .

This yields us exactly 1 , 813 inches . The question at once comes , what is the interpretation of this three foot step ? Does it fix the date of some important event ? One answer to this appears to be , that in the year 1813 the British Government passed an Act of Parliament , brought forward by Wilberforce , which opened the doors of India for the spread of the Gospel ,

and from this dates the great Missionary enterprise . Doubtless this was a grand " step " towards the final termination of the Gospel dispensation ; but we very much doubt if it would not be an easy matter also to prove that our national policy , on the continent , was at this period placing us on a higher platform both in the sight of heaven and the various nations of Europe

thereby duplicating the testimony of this important step . Is this step to intercept the floor-line measure ? Shall wo , with the strictest mathematical accuracy determine the length of the gallery , through that step ? If so , we can compute the distance , and take the floor-line dimensions , as definitely as though the step did not exist . The angle , therefore , of the gallery floor-line

carried through to the intersection of the impending wall , will give us 1 , 881-4 inches . This is fixed by Dr . C . Piazzi Smyth , after the most careful measurement , with the most perfect set of mathematical instruments at his command , and also after taking the testimony of the most experienced students of the Great Pyramid . We have passed this date , therefore the

measurement must be directed up and over the step , before we reach the point immediately under the impeding wall , which takes it out of the perpendicular four inches , so that the year 1878 has marked the termination of the roof stones . Has this latter date been marked by anything special in

the history of the world in general , or this nation in particular ? Will the events harmonise with that date ? The events should be fresh in our memories , being of such recent date ; it will therefore be readily admitted by the impartial , that the machinations of that great colossal military despotism , Russia , during the late war , were directed towards the conquest

The Great Pyramid.

of Turkey ; and in that struggle , Europe felt that she was in danger , as well as Turkey , if the march of the victorious troops of the Czar were not intercepted . Mark the distinguished position this country took at this important crisis ! The troops from our Indian Empire landed in Europe , ready to march into action ; the navy of this country took up its position between

Russia and her long-coveted prize—Constantinople . The final blow this colossal power received was at Berlin , when , in the Council Chamber of Europe , her Imperial Majesty , our beloved Queen , sent her Prime Minister ( Earl Beaconsfield ) to drive the Russian troops back again across the Danube and establish a powerful military state between Russia and her intended victim .

Lord Beaconsfield accomplished this , and also demanded of the newlyconstituted States that God ' s chosen people , the tribe of Judah ( of which he was a distinguished member ) should not be ground down any longer under the iron heel of the oppressor , but that they should enjoy the common rights of citizenship . After having dictated the terms of their emancipation , and

when all the negociations were complete , he took from his pocket the "Anglo-Turkish Convention , " which ceded to this country the important island of Cyprus , and also handed over to us the protectorate of that land God had promised our forefathers , Abraham , Isaac , and Israel , and their seed for ever .

Surely these are distinctive events , and so remarkable , too , that the world may well be amazed at the bloodless victories obtained in that memorable year , that is indicated by the termination of the roof pointing of the Grand Gallery , in 1878 .

The late Mr . Robert Menzies says , " The Bible , fully studied , shows that He ( Jehovah ) intended that first dispensation to last only for a time ; a time , too , which may terminate very much sooner tha . n most men expect , and shown by the southern wall impending . " Is it necessary to recount the remarkable victories that have attended our armies in Afghanistan and Africa

during recent years ? Is it not now a matter of history , both the magical possession of our " scientific frontier" in India , and the conquest of Africa , which did not close before the last hope of the Napoleonic dynasty had perished ? These are great events indeed , and still we have before us the IMPENDING wall . Ominous name indeed , IMPENDING ! ( To be continued . )

It is becoming a fashion in these days to abuse the Brother who has recourse to the ballot box to express his likes and dislikes . Such conduct is called un-Masonic , and is said to breed suspicion and to foster a spirit of disunion . We have heard much of this recently , and we feel bound in common justice to

say a word for the much-abused Brother . His conduct , however much it may be abhorred by right thinking Masons , i . e ., the friends of the pilled candidate , is , after all , strictly Masonic . The ballot box is constitutional , a white ball is constitutional , and a black ball is constitutional , and the Brother who says nothing but puts his black ball in the box , relying on its secrecy , is

exercising his strict Masonic right . His motive for so doing may be a bad one , but he is not accountable to the rest of the Lodge for it , and , until it is strictly proved to the contrary , we are bound by our obligation to assume he has very good and justifiable reasons , and we are inclined to think if the black ball were used a good deal more frequently than it is , it would be a good thing for Freemasonry . —" Indian Masonic Review . "

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ROYAL Masonic Institution for Girls , ST . JOHN'S HILL , BATTERSEA RISE , S . W . INSTITUTED 1788 . , Chief Patroness : HER MAJESTY THE GiUEEN . Grand Patron and President : His Royal Highness THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . Grand Patroness : Her Royal Highness THE PRINCESS OF WALES . The 108 th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY , THE 13 TH MAY 1896 , THE RT . HON . THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , in the Chair . Brethren willing to act as Stewards on this important occasion are most earnestly solicited to send in their names to the Secretary as early as convenient . Stewards are greatly needed , and their services will be very gratefully received . —————F . K . W . HEDGES , Secretary . Offices—5 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .