The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-15
NUKBKRS.
vssssss Ns1svais In ssperssasisn, Hisssry,
sss Relisssn-rhres and seven In the Scrip
tsres-Twelve ana rhirsess, &s.

The Brahmins are believed 10 have In.
vented our numerals--1 to 10--prior to the
Christian era. and Arabians, who became
familiar with them about the year 900 A,
ID, introduced them into Spain, whence
they spread all over Europe. The origin
or primary meaning OF the names applied
to the first ten numbers Is not known. at
has been supposed that the titles OF the sim.
pie numbers were originally derived from
some concrete objects, and probably from
some parts OF the person." PROBES.
sor Goldstucker gives the following
theory OF the meaning Of the Arabic
numerals: One, he says, Is "hev;
two, diversity; three, "thst which
goes beyona"; four, "snd three,''
or some and three; Eve, "soming After /;
six, sand four" or. .9two and fourn
seven. "following"; eight, "two fours "
nine, "that which comes afterv: ten.
"two and eight" Thus II viii be
seen that only one and two have distinct
original meanings. Many savage tribes use
the term for hand to express five, and the
term for man to indicate twenty. Hum
boldt says that the Indians OF New Ora
NADIA use alta, "water," for one; bosa. can
enclosure" for two; mica, changeable,"
for three; and so on.
In olden times there was q devout and
widespread faith in the efficacy and occult
power OF certain numbers, which were
supposed 10 express the harmonies OF ma
ture. Divination by numbers came from
this belief. Rory OMore, in the we'll
known song, voices this superstition when
he declares that "there's luck in odd num-
bers.v
Every observant reader OF sacred his
tory has bad his attention arrested at times
-l..f H.. 4
use OF numbers. The Numbers three. four,
seven, ten, and twelve particularly have
had special significance attributed to
them. The number one, as being "the
first, the starting point, the parent, and
source OF all numbers" and the represent
tatlye OF unity, might naturally be sup
posed 10 possess some mystical slgDif-
canoe, yet there appears no evidence that it
was ever used i'm any such sense by either
the sacred or profane writers OF antiquity.
In no case does il appear that the number
was used in any other than its literal sense.
In the Hebrew "Cabala" two was said
TO be the imperfect number" Cornelius
Agrippa wrote that therefore on the Sc
cond day Of the creation the Almighty did
not pronounce the work Of His hands to
be good; and Rabbi Akkiva asserted that
that was because hades was made on the
evening OF the second day.
The number three has been named "the
number Of the Trinity" and is supposed
TO symbolic completeness. 1t is also
known as 1.-the number Of God" from
its frequent and peculiar use in the
Scriptures in connection with the divine
name. Bahr says Of it: at forms
in the progression OF numbers the first
conclusion for the one is first made
q number by being followed by the
two, and this becomes cancelled by the
number three, so that three is, in fact, the
first finished, true, and complete unity"
Every true unity comprises trinity, and
we have the familiar triads-beginning,
middle, and end; past, present, and flI-
ture; under, midst, and upper; and might
cite from many heather sources to show
the mystic significance that everywhere
attached to the number three.
When the world was created we find
land, water, and sky; sun, moon, and
stars. Jonah was three days In the whales
belly; Christ was three days in the tomb /;
Peter denied his master thrice; Abraham
entertained three angels; Samuel was
called three times; Daniel was thrown into
den with three lions for praying three
times daily; three young men were saved
unsinged from the flames Of the fiery fur
mace.
The number seven being the sum OF four
and three, has been, not unnaturally. sup
posed TO symbolic some mystical union OF
God with the world. 1t is the number
most frequently mentioned in sacred his
tory. The hebdomad, or period OF seven
DAYS, Is So associated with the record OF
creation that from the beginning seven
fold division OF time was recognized among
the ancient nations. The Passover feast
continued seven days; the feast OF Pente-
cost was held seven weeks aftet the day oil
wave offerings; the feast OF trumpets oc-
Cured in the seventh month; the seventh
year was set aside for peDitence and remis-
sion OF sin, and seven times seven years
brought round the year OF Jubilee, when
there was a general release from indebted
ness and certain other obligations, and
bondsmen were set free. From this Gus
tom originated the binding OF youth to q
seven years. apprenticeship.
There are seven days OF the week, seven
wonders OF the world, seven kings and
seven hills OF Rome, seven planets, seven
wise men, seven openings In the head,
seven main parts OF the body; the moon
has a quarter of seven days; the seventh
day in diseases is generally critical. The
ceremonial cleansing OF the leper required
that he be sprinkled seven times with blood
and seven times with oil; that he tarry out
side of his tent seven days, and that his
house be sprinkled seven times. Among
the Hebrews "to seven " meant to
swear : the Creator rested from HIS
labor on the seventh day; there are
seven petitions in the Lords prayer
the prophet said, Seven times day will
7 praise Thee; the Master enioined for
piyeness of offences seventy and seven
times: there are seven angels standing be-
fore the throne. For seven days seven
nriests with seven trumpets compassed
Jericho. and on the seventh day comprised
the civ seven times. The golden candle
stick had seven lamps; the seven churches
seyen stars, seven seals, seven trumpets.
seven thunders, and seven last plaques OF
the Apocalypse are OF similar mystlcai sig-
njfcance. The number seven was consld-
cred holy by the ancient Persians, the Him.
docs, and the early Germans. seventy Is
likewise OF frequent use, and among Tue
later philosophical Jews was thought 10
be full OF occult meaning.
The number ten completes the list OF
urinary numbers, and is made the basis oil
aIl further Enumeration. 1t is the number
az aritbmetical but not OF philosophical
completeness. Thus the deealogue, the
substance OF the whole law, is snoken OF
AZ "the ten words" ten elders consul
tuted an ancient Israelitish court; ten
nrinces represent the tribes OF Israel; Ten
VIRGINS 90 forth to meet the bridegroom,
and synagogue was ordered TO be bum
in every city having ten Jews. The origin
% the decimal system Is evidently from
the use OF the fingers OF both hands In
counting.