The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-09

Tho Suggestion TO Rebuild solomon's
Temple.

The suggestion coming not long
ago from Boston. chat the Free
masons of the world should unite In
rebuilding the Temple OF Solomon at
Jerusalem. moves the Illustrated Lon
don News to wonder whether the ORR
sinators OF the scheme have counted
the cost
OF course the interest of the Ma
mons In due to the belief that their
order was founded by King Solomon
and that he was It's first Grand Mast
er. But that claim would perhaps
not seem very weighty to the Mos
Iems. to whom the site of the great
temple now belongs.
II h now occupied by the Harem-
Esh-shcreef. ''the noble sanctuary"
To the Moslem this place Is only less
sacred than Mecca and Medina. for It
u = believed to cover the rock which
!. y regarded by them a. the centre Of
the earth, the spot from which Ma
homss startef when he visited Hsav-
en- 81
Aside from the difncuity Of per-
suading the Moslem world to yield
one Of the most sacred spots to the
\ Boston Freemasons. there would seem
20 be something too stupendous even
fos bean fed audacity In the idea OF
building another Solomn's temple,
Jusk by way of showing what the
suggestion involves. II may be re-
marked that Solomon had $4,000 men
out cutting timber for his new
Z church.
They were divided into ten shifts
Ton thousand went to Mount Leban-
on for one month and were two
months at home. There were 10000
men who carried the stones and there
! were $4,000 stono cutters In the
mountains. These men had $500
foremen. stonecutters quarried
enormous blocks several cubits each
vsy. for the foundations. and fitted
them together before they were TAX
en- to Jerusalem. In this work they
were aided by workmen sent by Hir-
Pn. King or Tyre.
The Temple was divided into two
portions--the main building. "the
House of God." and the subsidiary
buildings by which II was surrounded
The main building was rectangular
IN shape--s0 cubits long. 20 cubits
nbr0ad and 30 cubits high. taking the
cubic feet respectively. The walls of
tho nrst story were between and
40 feet thick; those Of the second
2 - feet. OF the third story Ia
feet and Of the fourth story. feet.
On three sides. north. west aud
15outh. the Temple was surrounded by
sads building In three stories con-
tanning side chambers. The height
of each story. from noor to ceiling
We Z Ia feet The number OF side
chambers h s1ven by Esekiel a. 80
or - for each story. They were
bmalI. used for the storage Of Tenn
pie furniture. etc. The Temple was
surrounded by q court-the inner
: court. This was surrounded by q wall
Of three courses of hewn stone sur
mounted by q course Of cedar beams.
The entire citadel was enclosed by
Ine great court. In front of the Tenn
pie stood the two pillars made by HI
ram Of Tyre and called Jachin
(meaning ito establish') and Boax
Gin strength'). They were about IS
feet high. hollow and of brass four
nngers thick.
- Round about them was network
SXDterwoven with small palms made Of
brass. 20 which we hung 500 pome-
sranates In two rowss They were
made hollow that they might be used
as receptacles for documents. etc.
such columns were quite common in
tho temples of Baal.
DNear the columns was the Moltea
seq. so named on account Of Its size
IL was rs feet In diameter and Just
islf as high. IL was said to have been
capable OF containing 1000 baths"
OF 1000 gallons. 1t was made OF
At~ or copper captured by David
fybm Tibhath and Chun. cities of Ha-
darczar. King Of Zobah. The brim
was wrought like to the brim of
cup with flowers OF lilies;" that is.
curved outward like lily or a lotus
flower. IL stood on twelve oxen over
&c sized. three turned to each corn
~ OF the heavens and all looking out
ward. IL was a hand breadth thick,
about fodr inches. How the "sea"
was f,lled or emptied Is not stated.