Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00034)

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The description is conformable to the arrangement of Eastern palaces. The
building stood in the middle of a great oblong square, which was surrounded
by an enclosing wall, against which the houses and offices of those attached
to the court were built. The building itself was oblong, consisting of two
square courts, flanking a large oblong hall which formed the center, and was
one hundred cubits long, by fifty broad. This was properly the house of the
forest of Lebanon, being the part where were the cedar pillars of this hall.
In front was the porch of judgment, which was appropriated to the
transaction of public business. On the one side of this great hall was the
king's house; and on the other the harem or royal apartments for Pharaoh's
daughter (Es 2:3,9). This arrangement of the palace accords with the
Oriental style of building, according to which a great mansion always
consists of three divisions, or separate houses--all connected by doors and
passages--the men dwelling at one extremity, the women of the family at the
other, while public rooms occupy the central part of the building.

      10. the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones--Enormous
stones, corresponding exactly with the dimensions given, are found in
Jerusalem at this day. Not only the walls from the foundation to the roof
beams were built of large hewn stones, but the spacious court around the
palace was also paved with great square stones.

      12. for the inner court of the house of the Lord--should be, as in the
inner court of the house of the Lord; the meaning is, that in this palace,
as in the temple, rows of hewed stones and the cedar beams formed the
enclosing wall.

      1Ki 7:13-51. HIRAM'S WORKS.

http://www.thengodsaid.com/jfb/jfb11007.htm

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This section is taken freely from Mackey's Symbolism as written in Chapter
XXXI of "The History of the...
URL

ROYAL MASTER (Second Section)

As the first light of day comes from the East, we are taught to look to the
East for enlightenment. The step symbolizes reverence toward the Alter. We
alternate steps as we pass through the degrees, up to, and including the
Royal Master degree. It is believed this has an allusion to the path of the
Sun crossing the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, between the two signs of
the zodiac, Capricorn and Cancer, in a zig-zag motion. When the two
hemispheres are laid out end-to-end, with two parallel lines on the sides,
it forms an oblong square or the shape of a Lodge. In the sign, Alpha is the
first, and Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, equivalent to the
beginning and the end of anything. Alpha and Omega are adapted as a symbol
of Deity. This passage was at one time read from the Apocalypse during the
circumambulations, but is now read from the book of Revelations. The
equilateral triangle represents our three Grand Masters at this point in the
ritual. The broken triangle represents the allegory of life. Some must go,
and other must remain and carry on. The number seven was sacred in Hebrew
scriptures and ceremonies. The seventh day was the Sabbath day; Solomon was
seven years in the building of the Temple; there are usually seven sabbatic
years; seven days usually constituted the feast periods; and seven
represents completeness. In the Temple, twelve loaves of bread (shewbread)
were always kept upon a table in the sanctuary (representing the twelve
tribes of Israel). It was a symbol of the bread of eternal life by which we
are brought into the presence of God. The principal article of furniture in
the Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem, was the Ark of the Covenant. It was
surmounted by the Cherubim and between the wings of these fabled characters
was the Shekinah, or perpetual cloud, from which the bathkol issued when
consulted by the High Priest

http://rsm-mi.org/lessons.html

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RITUALISM AND SYMBOLISM


51. When was King Solomon's Temple Erected?

It was started about 972 B.C.

52. Who was Hiram of Tyre?

He was King of Tyre, a friend and ally of King David. At Solomon's request
he furnished assistance in the construction of the Temple.

53. Who was Hiram Abif?

He was a talented workman, skilled in metals, wood, stone and linen; and was
sent by King Hiram to help in the erection and adornment of King Solomon's
Temple.

......................

58. What is an oblong square?

A rectangle with its length greater than its breadth, or, as applied to the
shape of a Lodge Room, the east-west dimension being greater. In ancient
times, the world was supposed to be shaped like an oblong square,
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Symbolically, this is the form of the
Lodge Room.

http://pagrandlodge.com/programs/masedu/qa/51-67.html

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The field of white in the DeMolay flag symbolizes purity and the cleanness
of thought, word, and deed. It reminds the DeMolay of the words of the
psalmist who prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, oh God."

The three diverging red stripes, which pierce the field of white, represent
the basic tenants and foundation of DeMolay. Those being: Love of God, Love
of Home, and Love of Country. They diverge through the white to symbolize
that these tenants should be spread throughout ones lifetime.

The stripes converge into a field of red which takes the shape of an oblong
square, or rectangle, which symbolizes DeMolay's ties to Freemasonry.  The
red is emblematic of courage, and reminds the DeMolay of the many sacrifices
our nation's youth has made in defending the liberties we enjoy as citizens.
http://swdemolay.org/talks/flag/index.htm

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Plzen Historical Underground

The entry and stairs into the Underground

Plzen's underground is an integral part of a structural historical
development of Plzen, established 1295 at the confluence of rivers Mze,
Radbuza, Uhlava and Uslava, in the middle of Plzen hollow.

An important administrative centre of this region was originally the castle
of the house of Premysl in Stary Plzenec, 15 km south of Plzen, declared by
written documents back to 976.
In the end of the 13th century Czech king Wenceslas II decided to move the
centre of royal power in West Bohemia to the new king town New Plzen, as the
town was called at that time. The new town was built in broad-minded style.
Around an oblong square there were situated regular blocks of houses
delimitated by a rectangular network of streets. The Gothic outlook of
citizen houses was usually damaged by following reconstructions.
http://www.zcu.cz/plzen/underground/underground.html
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"The Earl's Palace forms three sides of an oblong square, and has, even its
ruins, the air of an elegant yet massive structure, uniting, as was usual in
the residence of feudal princes, the character of a palace and of a castle"

Sir Walter Scott - "The Pirate"

Directly opposite the remains of the Bishop's Palace, and a short distance
from the St Magnus Cathedral stands the Earl's Palace.

Hailed as "probably the finest example of French Renaissance architecture in
Scotland", the Earl's Palace stands as a memorial to possibly the darkest
and bleakest episodes of Orkney history - the iron grip of the Stewart
earls.

http://www.orkneyjar.com/earls.htm

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Lansingburgh
Images of America

by Don Rittner

Lansingburgh, New York

An area of hills, forests, and river plains, Lansingburgh is the oldest
settled region and the first chartered village in New York's Rensselaer
County. Its rich history began with Abraham Jacob Lansing, who, in 1763,
established the area that encompasses Lansingburgh on the eastern banks of
the historic Hudson River as a 5,000-acre farm. Eight years later, Lansing
laid out his land into a square of 2 by 1.5 miles, with 288 building lots,
streets, alleys, and an oblong square village green in the center. The
influx of New England entrepreneurs transformed Lansingburgh into a thriving
village. During the 19th century, industries in oilcloth, brush making,
valves, knit goods, beer, crackers and biscuits, scales, and shirts and
collars flourished. Lansingburgh businesses became world famous and
continued to be so even after the village was made part of the city of Troy
in 1900.
http://www.bhny.com/NY_68.html
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The minko stood up again and said that in that great multitude there might
be some whose feelings in regard to the disposition of the bones of their
dead friends would not permit them to pile them with the dead nation. Then
they all shouted aloud, "It is good, it is satisfactory."

Men were then appointed to select an appropriate place for the mound to be
erected on, and to direct the work while in progress. They selected a level
piece of sandy land, not far from the middle creek; laid it off in an oblong
square and raised the foundation by piling up earth which they dug up some
distance to the north of the foundation. It was raised and made level as
high as a man's head and beat down very hard. It was then floored with
cypress bark before the work of placing the sacks of bones commenced, The
people gladly brought forward and deposited their bones until there were
none left. The bones, of themselves, had built up an immense mound. They
brought the cypress bark, which was neatly placed on, till the bone sacks
were all closely covered in, as dry as a tent. While the tool carriers were
working with the bark, women and children and all
http://www.isd.net/mboucher/choctaw/Chocorig.htm

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SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS: THE GRAND BOULEVARDS

Place de la République
This large, oblong square, laid out by Haussmann from 1856 to 1865, is
dominated by a matronly, Stalin-size statue symbolizing The Republic (1883).
Transit stop: Métro: République.

http://dest-excite.previewtravel.com/DestGuides/0,1208,EXC_23_1_6_3066,00.ht
ml

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