MUSIC OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE. THE disentombing of Assyrian sculptures and the deciphering of Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions, have opened new fields of investigation in almost every department of knowledge. Among the branches of science which have shared in these discoveries that of music has been benefited largely. The accounts of ancient musical instruments were vague, and our ideas, especially of Hebrew music, were confused, till recently sculptures and paintings have been brought to light which delineate the musical instruments of the early Oriental nations, and in a number of cases veritable specimens have been disentombed. Such, for example, is an Egyptian harp found in Thebes, with its strings yet perfect enough to vibrate again, after a silence of three thousand years. The more recent investigations prove that the parent of all known musical science was Assyria. From the Assyrians, the Hebrews and the Egyptians, and, indeed, all eastern nations, derived their knowledge of music. The unvailed monuments show that in the time of Sennacherib music was a highly cultured art, and must have existed through generations. This polished nation used a harp of twenty-one strings, the frame of which was four feet high, which accompanied minstrel songs, or was borne in the dance. The lyre or tortoise shell, the double pipe, the trumpet, drum and bell were Even of the bagpipe representations have been discovered, though none of stringed instruments, like the violin, played with the bow. common. In all delineations of social or worshiping assemblies, musical instruments very like our modern ones have a prominent place. The Hebrew music, at the time of the exodus, was purely Egyptian; but it was much modified subsequently by association with Asiatic nations. In the temple of Jerusalem, according to the Talmud, stood a powerful organ, consisting of a wind-chest with ten holes. containing ten pipes, each pipe capable of emitting ten different sounds by means of finger holes, so that a hundred sounds could be produced by it. It was provided with two pairs of bellows and ten keys, so that it could be played with the fingers. According to the rabbis, it could be heard a great distance from the temple. NEEDY POOR. And dying men like music heard his feet (Continued from p. 356.) TEMPLE. 375 TEMPLE OF HEROD. to Vitruvius, the situations of the temples were regulated chiefly by the nature and characteristics of the various divinities. Thus the Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, who were considered by the inhabitants of many cities as their protecting deities, were erected on spots sufficiently elevated to enable them to overlook the whole town, or, at least the principle part of it. Minerva, the tutelary deity of Athens, had her seat on the Acropolis. In like manner the temple of Solomon was built on Mount Moriah. TEMPLE. An edifice erected for religious purposes. As the grand symbols of Freemasonry are a temple and its ornaments, and to construct temples was the business of the original Masons, some remarks upon these structures cannot but be instructive. The word temple is derived form the Latin Templum, and this word templum seems to have been derived from the old Latin verb, Templari, to contemplate. The ancient augurs undoubtedly applied the name templa to those parts of the heavens which were marked out for observation TEMPLE OF HEROD THE of the flight of birds. Temples, origi- GREAT. This temple far exceeded both nally, were all open; and hence most of its predecessors in magnificence and likely came their name. These struc- perfection. It was surrounded with four tures are among the most ancient courts, rising above each other like monuments. They were the first built, terraces. The lower court was 500 cubits and the most noticeable of public edi- square, on three sides surrounded by a fices. As soon as a nation had acquired double, and on the fourth by a triple any degree of civilization the people row of columns, and was called the consecrated particular spots to the wor- "Court of the Gentiles," because indiship of their deities. In the earliest viduals of all nations were admitted into instances they contented themselves with it indiscriminately. A high wall separerecting altars of earth or ashes in the ated the court of the women, 135 cubits open air, and sometimes resorted, for the square, in which the Jewish females purposes of worship, to the depths of assembled to perform their devotions, solitary woods. At length they acquired from the court of the Gentiles. From the practice of building cells or chapels the court of the women fifteen steps led within the enclosure of which they to the court of the temple, which was placed the image of their divinities, and enclosed by a colonnade, and divided by assembled to offer up their suppli- trellis-work, into the court of Jewish cations, thanksgivings, and sacrifices. men and the court of the priests. In These were chiefly formed like their the middle of this enclosure stood the own dwellings. The Troglodytes adored temple, of white marble, richly gilt, 100 gods in grottoes; the people, who lived cubits long and wide, and 60 cubits in cabins, erected temples like cabins in high, with a porch 100 cubits wide, and shape. Clemens, Alexandrinus, and three galleries, like the first temple, Eusebius refer the origin of temples to which it resembled in the interior, except sepulchers; and this notion has been that the most holy place was empty, and illustrated and confirmed from a variety the height of Herod's Temple was double of testimonies. At the time when the the height of Solomon's. The fame of Greeks surpassed all other people in the this magnificent temple, which was arts introduced among them from Phoe- destroyed by the Romans, and its nicia, Syria, and Egypt, they devoted religious significance with Jews and much time, care and expense to the Christians, render it more interesting to building of temples. No country has us than any other building of antiquity. surpassed, or perhaps equaled, them in Each of these temples holds an important this respect; the Romans alone success-place in the symbolism and instructions fully rivaled them, and they took the of Freemasonry, and furnishes the traGreek structures for models. According ditions for a large number of degrees. TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 376 TESSELLATED PAVEMENT. TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. When | builders of that age. It was begun on Solomon had matured his design of a the 2d day of the month Zif, correspondtemple to be consecrated to the Most ing with the 21st of April, in the year High, he found it impossible to carry that of the world 2992, or 1012 years before design into execution without foreign the Christian era, and was completed in assistance. The Hebrew nation, con- little more than seven years, on the 8th stantly struggling for its material exist- day of the month Bul, or the 23d of ence, and just rising to the condition of October, in the year 2999, during which a civilized people, had made little pro- period no sound of axe, hammer, or ficiency in science and architecture, and other metallic tool, was heard, everyespecially the ornamental arts. There thing having been cut and prepared in were few artificers and no architects in the quarries or on Mount Lebanon, and Judea. Solomon, consequently, applied brought, properly carved, marked and to Hiram, King of Tyre, for assistance, numbered, to Jerusalem, where they and that monarch sent him a company were fitted in by means of wooden of Tyrian architects, under the superin- mauls. So of Freemasonry, it has tendence of Hiram Abif, by whom the always been the boast that its members temple was erected. It was an oblong perfect the work of edification by quiet stone building, 150 feet in length, and and orderly methods, "without the 105 in width. On three sides were cor- hammer of contention, the axe of diviridors, rising above each other to the sion, or any tool of mischief." The height of three stories, and containing excellency of the Craft in the days of rooms, in which were preserved the holy our Grand Master Solomon was so great, utensils and treasures. The fourth, or that, although the materials were prefront side, was open, and was orna- pared so far off, when they were put mented with a portico ten cubits in together at Jerusalem, each piece fitted width, supported by two brazen pillars with such exactness that it appeared Jachin and Boaz. The interior was di- more like the work of the Great Archivided into most the holy place, or oracle, tect of the Universe than of human 20 cubits long, which contained the ark hands. The temple retained its pristine of the covenant, and was separated by a splendor but thirty-three years, when it curtain, or vail, from the sanctuary or was plundered by Shishak, King of holy place, in which were the golden Egypt. After this period it underwent candlestick, the table of the shew-bread, sundry profanations and pillages, and and the altar of incense. The walls of was at length utterly destroyed by both apartments, and the roof and ceil- Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, a. M. ing of the most holy place, were overlaid 3416, B. c. 588, and the inhabitants of with wood-work, skillfully carved. None Jerusalem carried as captives to Babylon. but the High-Priest was permitted to enter the latter, and only the priests, devoted to the temple service, the former. The temple was surrounded by an inner court, which contained the altar of burnt offering, the brazen sea and lavers, and such instruments and utensils as were used in the sacrifices, which, as well as the prayers, were offered here. Colonnades, with brazen gates, separated this court of the priests from the outer court, which was likewise surrounded by a wall. This celebrated temple certainly reflected honor on the TEMPLE OF ZERUBBABEL. This edifice was built on the site of the first temple, under the direction of Zerubbabel, B. c. 535-15. It was considerably larger than the former one, but very inferior to it in beauty and splendor. TESSELLATED PAVEMENT. The word tessellated is derived from the word tessella, diminutive of tessera. The pavement which is thus designated is of rich Mosaic work, made of curious square marbles, bricks or tiles, in shape and disposition resembling dice. Various ancient specimens of these have been, TETRACTYS. 377 TRESSURE. from time to time, exhumed in Italy, | down upon the Trestle-Board by the and other countries of Europe. The master-workman, so should we, both tessellated pavement, in the symbolism operative and speculative, endeavor to of Freemasonry, is significant of the erect our spiritual building in accordvaried experiences and vicissitudes of ance with the designs laid down by human life. the Supreme Architect." What is here TETRACTYS. A Greek word-tetrak-masonically designated the "Trestletus-meaning four. It was a Pythago- | Board," artists, poets, and philosophers rean symbol represented by a delta formed by points, so arranged that each of the three sides consisted of four. The point, or Monad, represented God; the two points, or duad, matter; the three, the worlds which were formed by the action of the one, or Monad, upon the duad; and the four points referred to the divine reason and those sciences which are the revelations of it. On this symbol the initiate into the Pythagorean mysteries was sworn. This word is nearly related to the Hebrew Tetragrammaton; probably derived from it. THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. Faith, Hope and Charity are thus named, and are said to constitute the chief rounds of the Masonic ladder, by the aid of which the good Mason expects at last to ascend to the perfect Lodge above. These virtues are enforced in various parts of the rituals, and enlarged upon in the first lecture of Craft Masonry. The great duties of man to God, his neighbor and himself, are the precepts most strongly enforced; hence the points to direct the steps of the aspirant to higher honors are Faith, Hope and Charity. TILER. An officer of the Lodge, whose duty is to guard and keep the doors of the Lodge. The name is derived from operative Masonry. A Tiler is one who covers the roof of a building with tiles. So the guardian or sentinel of a Lodge is said to tile or cover the Lodge from all inspection or intrusion on the part of the uninitiated. TRESTLE-BOARD. "As the operative Mason erects his temporal building in accordance with the designs laid denominate the Ideal. All things that exist, save God, are created by the ideal, or are reflections of it. The visible creation is God's ideal, wrought out in material forms; and all the works of man are copies of ideal types which he discovers traced on the Trestle-Board of his soul. Every nation exists according to an ideal which is reflected in its life, its institutions, and manners; and the life of man, as an individual, is high or low, as his ideals of life are high or low; or, in other words, it is fashioned after the designs that are traced on the moral Trestle-Board. Societies, also, are constructed from the ideal. If a society have no ideal, it can have no influence, and can exist but for a brief period, because it has no ability to arouse the enthusiasm, or command the respect and allegiance of men. The Masonic society has been able to adapt itself to various and changing circumstances of mankind, with facility, because its ideals of society, of benevolence and virtue, rose higher, and shone brighter, as the ages rolled away. It is part of its mission to keep the minds of its adepts fixed intently upon the designs pictured upon the Trestle-Board, or to speak more correctly, to establish a perpetual communion between man and the world of glorious ideals. TRESSURE, TRESCHUR, or TRESHEUR. In Heraldry, a subordinary, generally reckoned as a diminutive of the Orle. It may be single, double or triple; but is mostly, perhaps invariably, borne double, and fleury-counterfleury. paled it is always to be omitted on the side next to the line of empalement. When em U. one measures the apple that is held in the palm of the hand? The "upright posture" also has an important moral significance for the intelligent Mason. As it reminds him of his relationship to the celestial powers, and that he is of the Divinity, and with a life which will endure forever, he is admonished thereby, that he should live in a manner worthy of so illustrious an origin, and so glorious a destiny. UPRIGHT. Every Freemason remembers the instructions given him in the Lodge at the time of his reception, in regard to the "upright posture." "God created man to be upright," i. e., to stand erect. This is the peculiar prerogative of man. All the outward endowed with some of the attributes forms and features of the sentient world, whether human or brutal, are erected by the nature, disposition or spirit of each race and each individual. The nature of beasts and reptiles is earthly. Prone to the earth, they move horizontally, with downward gaze, or crawl in the dust. To them the ideal world is closed. The glory of the heavens, the grandeur of nature, the beauty of flowers, the wonderful harmonies of sight and sound, which so inspire and elevate man, are unknown to them. Their gaze is downward, and their life is extinguished in the dust. Man, on the contrary, stands erect, and his eyes sweep through the immense regions of space which stretch above his head. His mind, endowed with a divine energy, reaches to the most distant star, and measures it, in weight and size, as accurately as URIM AND THUMMIM. Hebrew words, signifying Light and Perfection or Truth. They were a kind of ornament placed in the breast-plate of the HighPriest, by means of which he gave oracular answers to the people. Critics and commentators are not agreed as to what these attributes of the breast-plate were, or the mode in which the divine will was communicated to the HighPriest by means of them. Some exegetical writers have given positive explanations of them, but they are not satisfactory. The breast-plate was undoubtedly of Egyptian origin. For a more full explanation, see BREASTPLATE. V. VAILS. Attributes of the decorations [ VAULT. Vaults are found in every and furniture of a Chapter of Royal Arch country of the world as well as in Judea, Masons, which is intended to be a copy and were used for secret purposes. of the ancient Jewish Tabernacle. The Thus Stephens, speaking of some ruins Tarbernacle had vails of purple, scarlet, in Yucatan, says "The only way of blue and white-colors adopted by Free- | descending was to tie a rope around the masonry; each one having its symbolical signification. VAILS, MASTERS OF. In a Royal Arch Chapter there are three officers who bear this title. Their duty is to guard the blue, purple and white vails, and each one is armed with a sword, and carries a banner of a color corresponding to that of the vail before which he is stationed. The Royal Arch Captain acts as Master of the white vail. body, and be lowered by the Indians. In this way I was let down, and almost before my head had passed through the hole, my feet touched the top of a heap of rubbish, high directly under the hole, and falling off at the sides. Clambering down it I found myself in a round chamber, so filled with rubbish that I could not stand upright. With a candle in my hand, I crawled all round on my hands and knees. The chamber |