The Great Pyramid.

THE GREAT PYRAMID .

BY BRO . JOHN CHAPMAN , F . R . M . S ., P . PBOV . G . D . DEVON .

. ( Continued from page 134 . ) THE SCIENTIFIC LESSONS . THE subject matter that will form the symbolism of the Great Pyramid , viz ., the Scientific , the Historic , and the Prophetic , will be the several topics on which we now propose to dilate . Let us take them in the order

here given . We will , therefore , proceed with the first examination of the scientific revelations delineated in the symbolism of the Great Pyramid . Before entering , however , into the precincts of this wonderful building , we must premise , for the information of the student , that all the measurements in connection with our researches will be indicated by the Great Pyramid

Inch ( unless otherwise stated ) , which is scarcely half a hair ' s breadth longer or one 1 , 000 th part larger than our British standard inch . To some this may appear a very unimportant quantity ; but it would become a very serious item , if regarded as a factor in computing the sun ' s distance from the earth . For the benefit of the general reader , it may perhaps be as well to explain

the manner in which the building registers the Pyramid inch . On the wall of the ante-chamber , with its five divisions , we shall find a projecting " boss , " a flat bas-relief one inch thick and five inches broad . The thickness of this " boss " being one-fifth its breadth , and that breadth being divided into five

sections determines the inch unit . But the inspired architect , m order to remove all doubt as to the length of the inch , has duplicated the proof , and repeated the evidence by fixing the boss on the granite leaf , just one inch away from the centre .

The geographical position of the Great Pyramid is a remarkable feature , worthy of note . "In the midst of the land of Egypt , " and "in the border thereof . " This description may excite , in the sceptic , a feeling repugnant to our wishes ; a minute examination of the locality in which the Great Pyramid is situate will , however , go to prove the severe beauty of Isaiah ' s

statement . What is known as the Delta land , of Lower Egypt , forms the sector of a circle . This open fan-shaped land , with the Great Pyramid erected on its southern apex , gives a peculiar distinctiveness to its position . Whether the soil carried down by the Nile , in its course , has changed the

land surface of the Delta of Egypt , or not , during the past 4 , 06 b years , it is not in our province here to determine , but it certainly appears remarkably appropriate that a Delta-shaped monument , like the Great Pyramid , should have been erected on the southern apex of land distinguished by the same particular form as that which characterised the building .

Again , let a lino be drawn through the centre of the Delta of Egypt , due north and south , and on its southern apex will be found the Great Pyramid , establishing its identity with the "Pillar" named by Isaiah . On this subject we may , however , give the testimony of one of the first Hebraists of the day , Dr . Moses Margoliouth , who , after pointing out the mistake of our

translators in rendering the word "Matzaybhah , " "Pillar , " concludes by stating that " we consider Professor Piazzi Smyth justified in his considering the word 'Matzaybhah , ' in Isaiah xix 19 , to mean a Pyramid . " In connection with this fact , is it not also very singular , to say the least , that this , the largest pile of masonry in the world , should be erected not only in

the centre of the habitable land portion of the globe , but on a meridian where there is more land surface and less sea than in any other meridian ? No wonder that it should be regarded " as essentially marked by nature as a prime meridian for all nations measuring their longtitude from , or for that modern cynosure , ' the unification of longitude . ' "

The happy choice of the architect in his selection of a site for this great symbolic monument , on the northern edge of the Gheza Hill , on the border of the Lybian desert , is manifest to every Pyramid student . The amount of labour expended in reducing some hundreds of acres of the hill's crest in order to obtain a solid rock-bed foundation for such an immense building ,

that covers of itself some thirteen and a half acres , and is computed to have weighed over five million tons , will indicate the magnitude of this stupendous work . The completion of the levelling of the crest of the hill brings us to the first scientific lesson—namely , the ground plan of the Great Pyramid , with its square base , giving four truly oriented sides , facing due north , south , east , and west .

The orientation of this delta-shaped building is not an accidental pointing marked by the uncertainty of the magnetic needle ; but fixed with astronomical certainty . It has been tested by the most advanced mathematical instruments , and the result is , that it has been pronounced to be the nearest masonified approach to exact orientation extant .

The base-side length of the Great Pyramid is , 9 , 131-05 inches : divide hy 25 , and we then reduce the number into 365-242 cubits , which will faithfully represent the days in a solar year ; and if the base-sides are added together , the fractional parts will supply the extra day for what is generally known as " leap year . "

The squaring of the circle is a mathematical problem that has taxed the efforts of the most advanced scholars Europe has produced , and yet the Great Pyramid , in the most definite form , solves this problem , and , in order to fully establish the matter beyond doubt , repeats the solution . The

discovery was first made by Mr . John Taylor , who mathematically proved that the Great Pyramid , in its original condition , was when its sides were continued to " the summit , in a point , —that its central , vertical height then was , to twice the breadth of its square base , as nearly as can be expressed by good monumental work , as the diameter to the circumference of a circle . "

The Great Pyramid.

This solution of the celebrated problem is not to be found in any other building in the world , and to confirm the mathematical fact , the architect duplicated the evidence , by the construction of the " area " form of the problem in the compartments of the interior , which in each case gives the same result .

The metrology of the Great Pyramid is an important subject . It is written , " Just balances , just weighs , a just ephah , and a just hin , shall ye have . " Metrology has occupied the attention of the learned in all ages . Later efforts in connection with the subject are not in the least interesting . The efforts of French savants some ninety-six years ago , to set aside this and

other equally important systems , we have always regarded as inimical to human progress . We fully agree with Dr . C . Piazzi Smyth that the French metrical system ought never to be entertained by Great Britain . The Great Pyramid ' s divinely-appointed standard of measures will make man ' s works upon the earth harmonious with the scale on which God created the earth ,

or rather ordained it to be during the human period . It will also elucidate facts in every branch of science , while that of others only leads to error and confusion . Capacity , weight , linear , and surface measure are more accurately determined by the Great Pyramid than by any other source . The scientific features of the King's Chamber , by its position in the building ,

marks it out as specially adapted for registering the standard of measures , seeing that it is free from atmospheric change , and gives a mean temperature of 50 ° P . = 68 Fahr ., which is the mean temperature of all the man-inhabited parts of the earth's surface , and the most suitable for human development . The internal construction will form part of our future

consideration , as we proceed with the lessons it teaches on History and Prophecy . Within the King's Chamber is found the only piece of furniture ( if such it may be called ) that the building contains . It is known as the " Coffer , " and is regarded as a standard of weight , and capacity measure . Its interior capacity is four times that of the "British Quarter , " equal to

the " Hebrew Laver , " and the " Old baxon Chaldron , " being close upon 71 , 250 Pyramid inches . Its exterior is double the interior capacity . The length of its sides is , to its height , as the circumference of a circle is to its diameter , thereby " squaring the circle , " which is in harmony with the theorem of the external proportions of the Pyramid . The weight measure of the coffer is one ton , or twenty-five million Pyramid grains .

The diameter and circumference of the earth are plainly set forth in the Great Pyramid by the following facts : The built size of the Pyramid bears a remarkable proportion to the created size of the natural earth . A band of the width of the Great Pyramid base-breadth , encircling the earth , contains 100 , 000 , 000 , 000 square feet . Expressed in Pyramid inches , the equatorial

diameters , as given by Colonel Clarke , are 501 , 577 , 000 and 501 , 730 , 000 . From these we compute the equatorial circumference , by multiplying them by 3-14159 , & c , of the Great Pyramid . Reduce them to Pyramid feet , by dividing them by 12 , and next multiply by the Pyramid base-breadth , in

Pyramid feet , viz ., 760-921 ; we then obtain the following results : —the smaller equatorial diameter gives 99 , 919 , 000 , 000 , and the larger equatorial diameter 99 , 949 , 000 , 000 ; both of them , however , requiring a small addition , at present not known to science exactly , for the amount of matter , as in continents above the sea level .

The earth ' s mean density and temperature are recorded in the King ' s Chamber . The Great Pyramid being erected in a latitude of 30 ° , and in a temperature of one-fifth , it was essentially necessary that it should have the elevation which the inspired architect selected . Taking the barometric pressure of the King's Chamber at thirty Pyramid inches , and the

temperature as stated , we find the Coffer ' s 71 , 250 cubic Pyramid inches of capacity , filled with pure water , will give the earth-commensurable weight standard of the Great Pyramid . The limited space allotted to this paper precludes the working out of these figures , or of adducing proofs in favour of each proposition ; we must therefore refer the reader for these to " Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid , " fourth edition , 1880 .

The sun ' s mean distance from the earth is symbolised by the height of the Great Pyramid , for , if we multiply it by its own factor , the ninth power of ten —we get the sun ' s mean distance as = 91 , 840 , 000 British miles . The process hy which this fact is brought out establishes it upon a much firmer basis than the newly-computed results of the astronomical savants , who , with the

powerful aid of their several national resources and highest scientific skill , were commissioned to observe the late transit of Venus , in order to secure the sun's mean distance . The results of their efforts were , as prognosticated , uncertain . The objection of the sceptic to the theorems of the Pyramid student is— " Working by an accidental set of figures , which gives a certain

result , is no proof that the architect had a design in fixing the erection in harmony with these stated facts . " The answer to this objection ( and it is applicable to all the objections which have been urged against every important discovery connected with this inspired building ) is , that the design observable , and in late years observed again with exceeding scientific

refinement , in every angle and measurement in each and every part of the building , goes on to prove such a continued and connected series of cosmic truths—of an order far above the power of man to ascertain for himself in that day and for nearly 4 , 066 years afterwards—as infinitely removes it from the chapter of single accidents to which the sceptic would consign it .

Having noticed some of the leading features which the Great Pyramid presents to our view , in the scientific revelations of its inspired stones , and having pointed out its geographical position , viz ., in the centre of the circle , of which the coast of the Delta of Egypt forms an arc , we cannot therefore escape the conclusion that this is the " Pillar " " to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt , " and also " at the border thereof , " which is mentioned by Isaiah , and which is now being fully opened out to the comprehension of the