The Great Pyramid And Freemasonry.

Hebrew family . It is a question whether we should lay down the measuring rod and continue the downward course for the remaining 3 , 461 inches beyond the junction of tho ascending passage , or proceed up that passage in tbe direction of the Grand Gallery , and so into the interior of the building . The only reason for not continuing the

course of the downward passage is , that up to the present no satisfactory time-recording dates have been established . From the intersection of the two passages downwards the only interpretation offered

with regard to its pointing is , that " it is held to symbolise man ' s departure from God and righteousness , down to the pit of perdition , ' this subterranean chamber having a finished roof and walls , but an unfinished floor .

Holding ourselves free from any theory as to its true meaning , on account of being unable to spell out its historic pointing , let ns direct our attention to the junction of tho two passages that gives the date of the birth of Moses , regarding the point of intersection of tbe ascending passage as the space that covers the thirty-three years

when " he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh ' s daughter . " The floor plane of the ascending passage yields 1 , 542 inches and a fraction before ifc opens out into the Grand Gallery . The important events in the history of the children of Israel , from the time that Moses led his people out of Egypt up to the time of the birth of our

Lord and Saviour Jesns Christ , are marked by fourteen vertical blocks of stone , that form the sides of this ascending passage . Their various lengths register the following dates : B . C . 1268 ; 1230 ; 11913 1152 ; 1115 ; 1072 ; 1047 ; 989 ; 831 ; 799 j 625 ; 592 ; 417 ; 385 . Leaving these important dates that are recorded without " any letter ,

character , or figure , " but only by the joints of the blocks of stone in the ascending passage , let us with reverence approach that GRAND GALLERY which marks the birth of our Lord . The relief experienced on the sudden transition from the confined area of the ascending passage is very palpable . With form erect ,

and while standing to gaze upon the noble proportions of that wonderful Gallery with its glorious dispensation records , ifc is no wonder that we should feel inspired with " solemn awe and reverence " at

the sight . The first object that attracts our attention on our approach to the Grand Gallery is a dislodged Eampstone close within the northwest corner of the Gallery , and which discloses what is called fche " well" mouth that leads down to the subterranean vault .

The " well' not having any time-recording powers we will not follow its course , but only allude to fche facfc that ifc is regarded as a symbol of the grave and resurrection of our Blessed Saviour . That it accords with the date of our Lord's death is evident from the fact that from the opening of the Gallery , thirty-tbree inches brings us

immediately over the centre of the mouth of the well . Mr . Casey very graphically describes this feature of the Gallery : 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 abysmal shaft , which leads down—down—down into the deep and dismal subterranean descending passage jnst before ifc 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 , the sepulchral chamber shows the date of Calvary in our Lord ' s life .

Mr . Eobert Menzies is still more explicit in his deductions from the Messianic symbolism of the entrance of the Grand Gallery and the well mouth . He states that " thirfcy-three inch years brings 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 domination 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 . " We will now j ust give a passing glance at the horizontal passage that

starts to the south from the Grand Gallery , and which leads to the Queen ' s Chamber . This is 1 , 517 * 9 inches in length and is upon a level with the well month . It is believed to typify 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 . The Sabbatical

indication in this passage is duplicated in the Queen's Chamber , and appears to form the principal teaching of its interior . This passage and chamber are regarded by some as typical of the Jewish dispensation , and as bearing npon tbe history of the House of Jndah ; but as we fail to define those features we will return to the Grand Gallery ,

and there try to gather the important lessons which this grand dispensation-recording passage places before onr wondering eyes . For a moment let us take onr stand npon the threshold of the north end , or beginning of the Grand Gallery , which we will suppose to have been illuminated for the occasion , and looking up a distance of

339 inches we are then able to count the thirty-six roof stones , that not only point to the months of our Lord ' s ministry , but also to the cubical commensurability of tho Grand Gallery . The walls of white limestone , with there seven overlappings and beautifully executed masonry , at once rivet fcho attention ancl impress the mind with the tnat

tnougnt tbey set iorth that Sabbatic sign which the G . A . O . T . U . declared should be " the sign" between Himself and His people Israel " throughout all their generations . " Another important feature that strikes the eye is the finely worked blocks of stone called ,: EAMPS . " These ramps flank the wall up each

side of the floor plane of the Grand Gallery ; but as it is not within our province to inquire as to the use or meaning of these Eampstonea , let us proceed to take the measure of tho Gallery , along the floor plane , from the north end f the GREAT STEP . This yields exactly 1 , 813 inches . We then come to the Step , which is 36 inches , or ono

British yard , in height and is perpendicular , while the top of ifc reaches forward towards the south in the direction of the Antechamber and the King ' s Chamber , and passes beyond the end of the Grand

Gallery . The top of this step is 61 inches , or the British yard and the sacred cubit united , an identity of the Pyramid with the British standard measure . The question has been asked whether this Great Step unfolds any particular event iu the Israolituh history ; and if

The Great Pyramid And Freemasonry.

the identity of the Anglo-Saxon people with Ephraim Israel ia admitted , what does this thirty-six inch step point to ? One answer to this question is , that in that year ( A . D . 1813 ) the British Govern , ment passed an Act of Parliament , brought forward by Wilberforce , which opened " the gates of India" for the spread of the Gospel , so

thafc from that date is marked the great missionary enterprise of this country . Doubtless this was a great step towards fche final termina . tion of the Gospel dispensation , bufc it would nofc be a very difficult matter to prove , in addition to this fact , thafc the national policy of Great Brifcian was , at this period , being placed on a higher platform ,

both in the sight of heaven and the various nations of the world , thereby duplicating the testimony of thia important step , if such should be its teaching . Our primary object is to gauge the length of the Grand Gallery , and the difficulty raised by this Step is , whether we should take the

floor-line throngh the Step , or measure up to the front of it , and along the top , to the end of the Gallery . We cannot settle this question with any amount of certainty at present , therefore we propose leaving it to be solved by the events of the near future . As there is an amount of uncertainty about the floor-line

measurement of the Gallery , let us take that of the base of the walls , and see what it yields . The angle of the Gallery floor-line , carried throngh to the intersection of the impending wall at the south end of the Grand Gallery , gives 1 , 881 * 4 inches . This has been computed by the most diligent and careful observation . The historical conclusion to

be drawn from this fact goes to prove thafc fche surface " Greafc Step ' measurement is an important factor in computing the time-reoording area of the Grand Gallery , ere we retire from beneath the impending wall that symbolically closes the present dispensation . The ominous character of this wall is , that it is an impending wall ,

being out of the perpendicular four inches . The late Mr . Menzies says that " the Bible , fully studied , shows that he ( Jehovah ) in . tended that this dispensation is only to last for a time ; a time , too , which may terminate much sooner than most men expect , and is shown by the southern wall impending . " It certainly will not be

considered a stretch of the imagination if we claim for tbe impending wall the finger-post thafc points to a gradual change in the closing of dispensation . If such be its true indication , and the four years being the period for the final termination of the dispensation , then we cannot be too careful in trying to understand the true meaning of the

history-recording space of this wonderful part of the Great Pyramid . Failing to recognise , however , the exact meaning of the dispensation record of the Grand Gallery ( as to its duration ) , let us direct our attention to the narrowest passage of the building , which is only 44 inches in height , and . therefore , is the most excruciating portion of

the whole structure . Is this the symbol of Daniel ' s " time of trouble such as never was since the beginning of the world , " and referred to by our Lord in St . Matthew , and subsequently confirmed by the Apocalyptic statement as to the events of the latter-day trouble ? If so , the duration of that awful period is indicated by 52 inches . Some

have foolishly regarded this period referred fc ) as "the end of the world , " while others have marked it as the harbinger of the Millennium . I think we shall be justified in regarding it as " the time of the end , " so far as the present dispensation is concerned . Leaving tbe passage wiCh its straitened area , we come to THE ANTE

CHAMBER , which is replete with interest in the various branches of cosmic and ethical truth , but which we shall not have time at present to examine . The only time-recording passage we have not yet reached is the one thafc connects the Ante-Ohamber with the Kinsr's Chamber . This

last-named passage is exactly four cubits , or 100 inches in length . The confined area teaches us thafc in approaching the grand central , or King ' s Chamber , with its sacred standard of weights and measures , and other important truths , " thafc the head and knee must bend with submission while approaching with reverential awe " thafc magnificent }

apartment which contains so much that elucidates the intention of the Inspired Architect , and thafc also proves the exquisite skill of the wonderful craftsmen of those days , under the direction of " The Grand Master Masons . " Having endeavoured to establish the inspired character of tho

Great Pyramid , with regard to the triple testimony it renders to SCIENCE , HISTORY AND PROPHECY , may we not commend it to your notice as a divinely-erected monument , as " A WITNESS TO THE LORD

OF HOSTS IN THESE LATTER DAYS . Let us therefore accept its teaching as an important link thafc connects us with fche Builders of the remote past , seeing that the lessons we gather from its inspired truths are in perfect harmony with the known plans of the G . A . O . T . U .

May we , therefore , strive to emulate the efforts of the Inspired Architect of the Great Pyramid by developing the sacred truths he tabulated , and so erecting a lasting monument to the glory of fche Most High ; ; * i order fchac our works may be appreciated by future

generations , and thafc tho voice Jof thanksgiving may ascend from every lip , swelling into one universal song of praise , thafc shall reach to fcho utmost bounds of the human family , proclaiming that ' * THE LORD GOD OJINIPONENT REIGNETH . " The Lecturer resumed hia seat amidst applause and a vote of thanks was unanimously given .

The Fifteen Sections will be worked in fche Chiswick Lodge of Instruction , No . 2012 , at fche Windsor Castle Hotel , King Street , Hammersmith , on this ( Saturday )

evening , opening * afc GSO p . m ., Brother Preceptor E . Ayling . P . M . 975 , as the Worshipfnl Master . The attendance ^ of Craftsmen is respeebful y requested . Masonic clothing will be worn .