Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-07-31
We Are Seven.

The "sacred number" seven plays a
conspicuous part in Masonry, theology,
history, astronomy and mythology.
Seven is required to make a perfect
lodge, with seven officers, and the sum-
nit of Ancient Craft Masonry is said to
be reached when the three lodge and
four chapter degrees are taken and the
august mysteries are discovered.
The first temple, or Temple of Solomon,
was seven years in building and the
second was built by Zerubbabel after
10x7 years captivity.
The theological ladder of the Entered
Apprentice has seven rounds, referring
to the four cardinal and three theological
virtues.
Among the ancients the mystical num-
Der seven was highly revered, because it
was derived from four, signifying the
natural, and three, the spiritual, world.
Pythagoreans deemed seven the perfect
number, because it was made up of three
and four-the triangle and the square
which are two perfect figures.
God added seven days to his promised
patience toward the old world; clean
beasts and birds were taken into the ark
by sevens. The ark rested in the seventh
month, and doves were sent out at inter-
walls of seven days.
The years of plenty and famine in
Egypt and their emblems were by
| sevens.
The seventh day was blessed and made
holy by the Creator, and the seventh
year was ordained a Sabbath of rest to
the land; the seventh time seventh year
was the jubilee.
The great feasts were observed for
Seven days.
Seven priests with seven trumpets sur
rounded Jericho for seven days, and
seven times seven on the seventh day.
In Revelations we find the seven
churches, seven candlesticks, seven stars,
seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thun-
ders, seven vials, seven plaques, seven
angels, seven-headed monster.
The Hebrew shabang (seven), says
Parkhurst, is sufficiency or fullness.
Seven in Scripture often signifies a
great, a complete number; l Samuel ii:
81 Job V: 10; Proverbs xiv: 1925
Isaiah iv: 1, etc. Wisdom has hewn
out her seven pillars. ."--Proverbs tx 1.
Jacob served seven years for Leah and
seven more for Rachel.
A leprous person, house or garment
was made clean by dipping or sprinkling
seven times-Leviticus xiv: 51-55.
Seven years was the period of repent
ance, and the prophet praised God seven
times day.
Samson kept his nuptials seven days,
seven locks were shaven from him and
he was bound by seven withes.
Forgiveness of brother is not to be
withheld, according to Christ's teaching,
"till seven times seven, but until seventy
times seven;" or, if he trespass sever
times day, and ask forgiveness, it is tC
be granted.
There were "seven Champions O.
Christendom," "seven Wise Men o.
Greece, tseven Wonders of the World
''seven sleepers," and Rome was called
the "seven-hilled city,"
Among the planets are the seven Plei-
AIDES and seven Hyades.
Seven affairs burned before the GOO
NIithras, and the Hindoos supposed thu
world to be inclosed within seven penin
sulas.
In the Persian mysteries were sever
caverns, in the Gothic seven obstruction
were called the 'road of the sever
stages.
The names of our seven week days
came from the seven deities of the Goths,
viz. The Sun Sunday, the Moon Mon.
day., Tuisco Tuesday, Wooden (Wednes-
day, Thor Thursday, Friga friday,
Seatur Saturday.
The subject is inexhaustible.-
| Masonic Home Journal.