The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-02
The Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle.
The description Of the tabernacle is
philosophically accurate. 1t proceeds
from within outwardly. The heart of all
is shown first and at once. 1t Is the ark.
This is the throne of the Invisible. for
whom the whole structure is reared He
seats himself between the wings of the
Cherubim, and his feet are thought of as
resting on the lid of the ark, the FURNISH
ed plate of gold commonly called the
mercy seat, and on which the blood of
the Paschal lamb is sprinkied-mercy is
at his feeti In the ark are the stone ia
bles of the law. 1t signifies that his
throne is set upon law. Justice and mer-
cy are it's pillars. Such an ineffable
throne-room must needs be screened from
vulgar gaze. So next comes the mystic
VEIL shot with threads of gold and broid-
cred with angel forms 1t signifies the
unapproachableness of God. Just outside
of this shrine. the squareness of which
signifies perfection, stands the golden al
tar of incense (prayer). indicating the
nearest possible point of daily approach
to God. On one side Is the golden table
of showbread, on which are placed the
fruits of human labor as a type of dedi-
cation to the service of God. Here it is
as If Jehovah came forth from the inner
shrine of unapproachable retirement to
banquet with his people. 1t Is the symbol
of communion and fellowship. On the
other side stands the golden candlestick.
its sevenfold branches indicating the per-
feet illumination of the Spirit. In the
outer court stands the altar of burnt Of
fering, which signifies that there is no
entrance to the holy place Of ilumina-
ton and communion without a sacrifice.
u a. L. hnIx,
altar, not so much by way of comparison
as by way of warning. Standing where
1t did in the court. It was more exposed
to contact from the people than, for ex-
ample the altar of incense. They need
ed a reminder OF its holiness. Finally,
the outermost article of tabernacle fur
niture was the laver of brass, which, of
course. signified the cleansing with which
acceptable worship and successful service
must certainly begin, and was in itself
an adumbration Of New Testament bap-
tism.
These splendidly significant objects
from one to the other of which the wor-
shipper advanced. either in person or by
proxy of the officiating priest-were sur
rounded by a curtain wall scarcely high
er than a tall mans stature, and COM
monty supposed to measure $50 feet by 7S
feet. The second court Is usually esti-
mated at Is by Is feet in turn divided by
the veil so as to leave the holy Of holes
fifteen feet square.
Israel had been six months Industrious
ly collecting the material and making the
tabernacle. 1t was none too long time
to get up such a building, with its pro-
fusion of curious. costly, and elaborate
workmanship. Every skilled art and ar
tisan knoWn in that day was employed
| 1t was easily the most elaborate and
| beautiful symbolism in the world, anc
aptly called the mother of all cathedrals
| 1t was finished and dedicated at the pre-
| else date, in order that 1t might be ready
| for the celebration of the greatest relig
| ious function of the nation-the Feast Of
| the Passover. The ceremony of dedica
ton is exceedingly simple, but at th'
same time appropriate and significant
| The orderliness and precision are superb
| On the first day of the first month thu
| tabernacle is to be erected. Then each
article is to be set in it's respective place
with nice precision, from the ark to tn
laveP. Then the oil, rare and sacred
compounded according to the apotheca
rvs art, is to be used for consecratini