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Article THE HISTORICAL DEGREES; ← Page 5 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Historical Degrees;
i " broad sash of four colours—yellow , ' purple , blue , and scarlet , and worn from the left shoulder to the right hip . In the prophecy of Zeehariah there is an account of the splendid and significant emblem used in this degree , presented in a vision which will abundantly reward an attentive examination : the principal object that met the eyes of the prophet was " ' a candlestick all of gold , with a bowl on the top of it and seven lamps . ' The image is evidently taken from the candlestick in the tahernacle . This
candlestick is the scriptural symbol of the universal church . Prince of tlie Tabernoocle , which is the twenty-third degree , is intended to illustrate the directions for constructing the tabernacle which Moses built for God by his express command , partly to be a palace of his presence as the King of Israel , and partly to be the locality of that most solemn Avorship which the people were to pay to him . This w as a movable chapel , if we may so call it , so contrived as to be taken to pieces and put together at pleasure , for tlie eoiiArenience of carrying it from place to place , during the wanderings of the Israelites
in the wilderness for forty years . This movable fabric , which may properly be called the sacred tent , was nevertheless built Avith
extraordinary magnificence and at a prodigious expense ^ that it might be in some measure suitable to the dignity of the King whose palace it was , and to the value of those spiritual and eternal blessings of which it . was designed as a type or emblem . The value of the gold and silver alone , used for the work , amounted , according to Bishop Cumberland ' s estimate , in English money , to £ 182 , 588 . The immense sum
required for its completion Avas raised by presents and voluntary contributions and by a poll-tax of half a shekel for every male Israelite above tAventy years old , Avliich tax . amounted to the sum of . £ 3-5 , 359 7 s . ( id . sterling . The Lodge is called a " hierarchy , " and its officers are a Most Powerful Chief Prince , representing Moses , and three Wardens Avliose style is . Powerful , and who respectively represent Aaron , Bezaleel , and A . holiab . The badge is white , lined with scarlet and bordered with green ; in the centre is embroidered a
representation of the tabernacle ; the flap is sky-blue . The twenty-third and tAventy-fourth degrees , it will be seen , have been biased upon the official duties of the priests . In the former we find the ark , altar , and golden candlestick , the Wardens are styled High Priests , wdiile the presiding officer lias the title of
Grand Sovereign 9 acrificor . The assembly is termed a " hierarchy . " In the latter degree there are three Wardens , placed in the south , west ant I north . The officers represent Moses the lawgiver ; Aaron the high priest ; Bczalcel . and AhoHab , the cunning artists under whose direction the tabernacle was constructed . The candidate represents Elea ^ ai' who succeeded Aaron in the priesthood . Tlie . Brother who is admitted to the degree of High Priesthood is thus addressed : — .
u The station you are called , upon to fulfil U important , not only as it respects the correct practice of our rites and ceremonies , and the internal economy of the chapter over which you are called upon to preside ; but the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Historical Degrees;
i " broad sash of four colours—yellow , ' purple , blue , and scarlet , and worn from the left shoulder to the right hip . In the prophecy of Zeehariah there is an account of the splendid and significant emblem used in this degree , presented in a vision which will abundantly reward an attentive examination : the principal object that met the eyes of the prophet was " ' a candlestick all of gold , with a bowl on the top of it and seven lamps . ' The image is evidently taken from the candlestick in the tahernacle . This
candlestick is the scriptural symbol of the universal church . Prince of tlie Tabernoocle , which is the twenty-third degree , is intended to illustrate the directions for constructing the tabernacle which Moses built for God by his express command , partly to be a palace of his presence as the King of Israel , and partly to be the locality of that most solemn Avorship which the people were to pay to him . This w as a movable chapel , if we may so call it , so contrived as to be taken to pieces and put together at pleasure , for tlie eoiiArenience of carrying it from place to place , during the wanderings of the Israelites
in the wilderness for forty years . This movable fabric , which may properly be called the sacred tent , was nevertheless built Avith
extraordinary magnificence and at a prodigious expense ^ that it might be in some measure suitable to the dignity of the King whose palace it was , and to the value of those spiritual and eternal blessings of which it . was designed as a type or emblem . The value of the gold and silver alone , used for the work , amounted , according to Bishop Cumberland ' s estimate , in English money , to £ 182 , 588 . The immense sum
required for its completion Avas raised by presents and voluntary contributions and by a poll-tax of half a shekel for every male Israelite above tAventy years old , Avliich tax . amounted to the sum of . £ 3-5 , 359 7 s . ( id . sterling . The Lodge is called a " hierarchy , " and its officers are a Most Powerful Chief Prince , representing Moses , and three Wardens Avliose style is . Powerful , and who respectively represent Aaron , Bezaleel , and A . holiab . The badge is white , lined with scarlet and bordered with green ; in the centre is embroidered a
representation of the tabernacle ; the flap is sky-blue . The twenty-third and tAventy-fourth degrees , it will be seen , have been biased upon the official duties of the priests . In the former we find the ark , altar , and golden candlestick , the Wardens are styled High Priests , wdiile the presiding officer lias the title of
Grand Sovereign 9 acrificor . The assembly is termed a " hierarchy . " In the latter degree there are three Wardens , placed in the south , west ant I north . The officers represent Moses the lawgiver ; Aaron the high priest ; Bczalcel . and AhoHab , the cunning artists under whose direction the tabernacle was constructed . The candidate represents Elea ^ ai' who succeeded Aaron in the priesthood . Tlie . Brother who is admitted to the degree of High Priesthood is thus addressed : — .
u The station you are called , upon to fulfil U important , not only as it respects the correct practice of our rites and ceremonies , and the internal economy of the chapter over which you are called upon to preside ; but the