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Article THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON AS A SYMBOL OF FKE... ← Page 9 of 15 →
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The Temple Of Solomon As A Symbol Of Fke...
the Celts , the Egyptians and the Greeks , however much they may have differed in the ritual and the objects of their polytheistic worship—all were possessed of priests and temples . The Jews first constructed their tabernacle or portable temple , and then , when time
and opportunity permitted , transferred their monotheistic worship to that more permanent edifice which is now the subject of our contemplation . The mosque of the Mohammedan , and the church or the chapel of the Christian , are but embodiments of the same idea of temple worship in a simpler form .
The adaptation , therefore , of the material temple to a science of symbolism , would be an easy , and by no means a novel task , to both the Jewish and the Tyrian mind . Doubtless , at its original conception , the idea was rude and unembellished , to be perfected and
polished only by future aggregations of succeeding intellects . And yet no biblical scholar will venture to deny that there was , in the mode of building , and in all the circumstances connected with the construction of . King Solomon ' s Temple , an apparent design to establish a foundation for symbolism .
I propose now to illustrate , by a few examples , the method m which the speculative Masons have appropriated this design of King Solomon to their own use . To construct his earthly temple , the operative Mason followed the
architectural designs laid down on the trestle-board , or tracing-board , or book of plans of the architect . By these he hewed and squared his materials ; by these he raised his walls ; by these he constructed his arches ; and by these , strength and durability , combined with grace and beauty , were bestowed upon the edifice which he was con- * .
structmg . The trestle-board becomes , therefore , one of our elementary symbols . Eor , in the Masonic ritual , the speculative Mason is reminded that , as the operative artist erects his temporal building in accordance with the rules and designs laid down on the trestle-board of the
master workman , so should he erect that spiritual building of which the material is a type , in obedience to the rules and designs , the precepts and commands laid down by the Great Architect of the Universe in those great books of nature and revelation which constitute the spiritual trestle-board of every IVeenmson . The trestle-board is then the symbol of the natural and moral law .
Amid the cool and silence , he knelt down , And ottered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication . "—Bryant . '" ' Theologians have always given a spiritual imp lication to the Temple of Solomon , referring it to the mysteries of the Christian dispensation . For this , consult all the biblical commentators . But I may particularly mention on this subject ,
Bunyan's "Solomon ' s Temple Spiritualized , " and a rare work in folio , by Samuel Lee , Fellow of Wadham College , Oxford , published at London in 1659 , and entitled " Orbis Miraculuui , or the Temple of Solomon portrayed by Scripture Light . " A copy of this scarce work , which treats very learnedly of " the spiritual mysteries of the gospel veiled under the Temple , " I have lately been , by good fortune , enabled to add to my library .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Temple Of Solomon As A Symbol Of Fke...
the Celts , the Egyptians and the Greeks , however much they may have differed in the ritual and the objects of their polytheistic worship—all were possessed of priests and temples . The Jews first constructed their tabernacle or portable temple , and then , when time
and opportunity permitted , transferred their monotheistic worship to that more permanent edifice which is now the subject of our contemplation . The mosque of the Mohammedan , and the church or the chapel of the Christian , are but embodiments of the same idea of temple worship in a simpler form .
The adaptation , therefore , of the material temple to a science of symbolism , would be an easy , and by no means a novel task , to both the Jewish and the Tyrian mind . Doubtless , at its original conception , the idea was rude and unembellished , to be perfected and
polished only by future aggregations of succeeding intellects . And yet no biblical scholar will venture to deny that there was , in the mode of building , and in all the circumstances connected with the construction of . King Solomon ' s Temple , an apparent design to establish a foundation for symbolism .
I propose now to illustrate , by a few examples , the method m which the speculative Masons have appropriated this design of King Solomon to their own use . To construct his earthly temple , the operative Mason followed the
architectural designs laid down on the trestle-board , or tracing-board , or book of plans of the architect . By these he hewed and squared his materials ; by these he raised his walls ; by these he constructed his arches ; and by these , strength and durability , combined with grace and beauty , were bestowed upon the edifice which he was con- * .
structmg . The trestle-board becomes , therefore , one of our elementary symbols . Eor , in the Masonic ritual , the speculative Mason is reminded that , as the operative artist erects his temporal building in accordance with the rules and designs laid down on the trestle-board of the
master workman , so should he erect that spiritual building of which the material is a type , in obedience to the rules and designs , the precepts and commands laid down by the Great Architect of the Universe in those great books of nature and revelation which constitute the spiritual trestle-board of every IVeenmson . The trestle-board is then the symbol of the natural and moral law .
Amid the cool and silence , he knelt down , And ottered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication . "—Bryant . '" ' Theologians have always given a spiritual imp lication to the Temple of Solomon , referring it to the mysteries of the Christian dispensation . For this , consult all the biblical commentators . But I may particularly mention on this subject ,
Bunyan's "Solomon ' s Temple Spiritualized , " and a rare work in folio , by Samuel Lee , Fellow of Wadham College , Oxford , published at London in 1659 , and entitled " Orbis Miraculuui , or the Temple of Solomon portrayed by Scripture Light . " A copy of this scarce work , which treats very learnedly of " the spiritual mysteries of the gospel veiled under the Temple , " I have lately been , by good fortune , enabled to add to my library .