john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
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FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARful" ceiling.The o<strong>the</strong>r coverings or curtains were<strong>of</strong> goats' hair <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> skins <strong>of</strong> rams <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r animalscolored red. The t^o sides <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> westernend were formed <strong>of</strong> boards <strong>of</strong> shittim wood, overlaidwith thin plates <strong>of</strong> gold, <strong>and</strong> fixed in solid socketsor vases <strong>of</strong> silver. It was surrounded by acourt, <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> which were made <strong>of</strong> fine twinedlinen, attached to pillars bound with b<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> silver<strong>and</strong> set in sockets v <strong>of</strong> brass. The length <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> courtwas 150 feet, its breadth 75 feet, <strong>and</strong> its height 7^feet. The tabernacle in all its structure was arrangedfor convenient packing, transportation <strong>and</strong>setting up; but never<strong>the</strong>less, in size, in beauty <strong>of</strong>workmanship, <strong>and</strong> in costliness <strong>of</strong> material, was amagnificent structure for <strong>the</strong> wilderness. This tabernaclewas carried by <strong>the</strong> Israelites in all <strong>the</strong>irw<strong>and</strong>erings.During <strong>the</strong>ir march through <strong>the</strong> wilderness <strong>the</strong>twelve tribes had between <strong>the</strong>m four principal banners,or st<strong>and</strong>ards, to which reference is made in <strong>the</strong>Book <strong>of</strong> Numbers, chapter ii. "Every man <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>:children <strong>of</strong> Israel shall pitch by his own st<strong>and</strong>ard."But as to what were <strong>the</strong> devices on <strong>the</strong> banners orwhat were <strong>the</strong>ir various colors, <strong>the</strong> Bible is absolutelysilent. To <strong>the</strong> inventive genius <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Talmudistswe are indebted 'for all that we know or pr<strong>of</strong>essto know on this subject. Wherever <strong>the</strong> Israeliteshalted <strong>the</strong>y encamped with three tribes on each side<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tabernacle. The tribes <strong>of</strong> Judah, Issachar<strong>and</strong> Zebulun on <strong>the</strong> east side under <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong>Judah; Reuben, Simeon <strong>and</strong> Gad on <strong>the</strong> south sideunder <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong> Reuben; Ephraim, Manasseh<strong>and</strong> Benjamin on <strong>the</strong> west side under <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard<strong>of</strong> Ephraim; Dan, Asher <strong>and</strong> Naphtali on <strong>the</strong>29