Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00044)

Very interesting.  

But in these descriptions, the word "square" refers solely to a plaza, space 
or opening between buildings or roads which may either be oblong or square 
mathematically (or geometrically).  However the use of the words "oblong 
square" as a compound to describe the shape of a rectangular piece of paper 
or palm leaf or plaque that is written on, cannot have the form of an oblong 
square -- which is a contradiction in terms.  Such a rectangular shape may be 
either square or oblong, but not both at the same time.  


In a message dated 05/03/00 10:20:12 AM, blafoun@azstarnet.com writes:

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>The description is conformable to the arrangement of Eastern palaces. The
>
>building stood in the middle of a great oblong square, which was surrounded
>
>by an enclosing wall, against which the houses and offices of those attached
>
>to the court were built. The building itself was oblong, consisting of
>two
>
>square courts, flanking a large oblong hall which formed the center, and
>was
>
>one hundred cubits long, by fifty broad. This was properly the house of
>the
>
>forest of Lebanon, being the part where were the cedar pillars of this
>hall.
>
>In front was the porch of judgment, which was appropriated to the
>
>transaction of public business. On the one side of this great hall was
>the
>
>king's house; and on the other the harem or royal apartments for Pharaoh's
>
>daughter (Es 2:3,9). This arrangement of the palace accords with the
>
>Oriental style of building, according to which a great mansion always
>
>consists of three divisions, or separate houses--all connected by doors
>and
>
>passages--the men dwelling at one extremity, the women of the family at
>the
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>other, while public rooms occupy the central part of the building.
>
>
>
>      10. the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones--Enormous
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>stones, corresponding exactly with the dimensions given, are found in
>
>Jerusalem at this day. Not only the walls from the foundation to the roof
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>beams were built of large hewn stones, but the spacious court around the
>
>palace was also paved with great square stones.
>
>
>
>      12. for the inner court of the house of the Lord--should be, as in
>the
>
>inner court of the house of the Lord; the meaning is, that in this palace,
>
>as in the temple, rows of hewed stones and the cedar beams formed the
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>enclosing wall.
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>
>
>      1Ki 7:13-51. HIRAM'S WORKS.
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>
>
>http://www.thengodsaid.com/jfb/jfb11007.htm
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>This section is taken freely from Mackey's Symbolism as written in Chapter
>
>XXXI of "The History of the...
>
>URL
>
>
>
>ROYAL MASTER (Second Section)
>
>
>
>As the first light of day comes from the East, we are taught to look to
>the
>
>East for enlightenment. The step symbolizes reverence toward the Alter.
>We
>
>alternate steps as we pass through the degrees, up to, and including the
>
>Royal Master degree. It is believed this has an allusion to the path of
>the
>
>Sun crossing the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, between the two signs
>of
>
>the zodiac, Capricorn and Cancer, in a zig-zag motion. When the two
>
>hemispheres are laid out end-to-end, with two parallel lines on the sides,
>
>it forms an oblong square or the shape of a Lodge. In the sign, Alpha is
>the
>
>first, and Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, equivalent to
>the
>
>beginning and the end of anything. Alpha and Omega are adapted as a symbol
>
>of Deity. This passage was at one time read from the Apocalypse during
>the
>
>circumambulations, but is now read from the book of Revelations. The
>
>equilateral triangle represents our three Grand Masters at this point in
>the
>
>ritual. The broken triangle represents the allegory of life. Some must
>go,
>
>and other must remain and carry on. The number seven was sacred in Hebrew
>
>scriptures and ceremonies. The seventh day was the Sabbath day; Solomon
>was
>
>seven years in the building of the Temple; there are usually seven sabbatic
>
>years; seven days usually constituted the feast periods; and seven
>
>represents completeness. In the Temple, twelve loaves of bread (shewbread)
>
>were always kept upon a table in the sanctuary (representing the twelve
>
>tribes of Israel). It was a symbol of the bread of eternal life by which
>we
>
>are brought into the presence of God. The principal article of furniture
>in
>
>the Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem, was the Ark of the Covenant. It was
>
>surmounted by the Cherubim and between the wings of these fabled characters
>
>was the Shekinah, or perpetual cloud, from which the bathkol issued when
>
>consulted by the High Priest
>
>
>
>http://rsm-mi.org/lessons.html
>
>
>
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>
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>RITUALISM AND SYMBOLISM
>
>
>
>
>
>51. When was King Solomon's Temple Erected?
>
>
>
>It was started about 972 B.C.
>
>
>
>52. Who was Hiram of Tyre?
>
>
>
>He was King of Tyre, a friend and ally of King David. At Solomon's request
>
>he furnished assistance in the construction of the Temple.
>
>
>
>53. Who was Hiram Abif?
>
>
>
>He was a talented workman, skilled in metals, wood, stone and linen; and
>was
>
>sent by King Hiram to help in the erection and adornment of King Solomon's
>
>Temple.
>
>
>
>......................
>
>
>
>58. What is an oblong square?
>
>
>
>A rectangle with its length greater than its breadth, or, as applied to
>the
>
>shape of a Lodge Room, the east-west dimension being greater. In ancient
>
>times, the world was supposed to be shaped like an oblong square,
>
>surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Symbolically, this is the form of the
>
>Lodge Room.
>
>
>
>http://pagrandlodge.com/programs/masedu/qa/51-67.html
>
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>
>The field of white in the DeMolay flag symbolizes purity and the cleanness
>
>of thought, word, and deed. It reminds the DeMolay of the words of the
>
>psalmist who prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, oh God."
>
>
>
>The three diverging red stripes, which pierce the field of white, represent
>
>the basic tenants and foundation of DeMolay. Those being: Love of God,
>Love
>
>of Home, and Love of Country. They diverge through the white to symbolize
>
>that these tenants should be spread throughout ones lifetime.
>
>
>
>The stripes converge into a field of red which takes the shape of an oblong
>
>square, or rectangle, which symbolizes DeMolay's ties to Freemasonry. 
>The
>
>red is emblematic of courage, and reminds the DeMolay of the many sacrifices
>
>our nation's youth has made in defending the liberties we enjoy as citizens.
>
>http://swdemolay.org/talks/flag/index.htm
>
>
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>
>Plzen Historical Underground
>
>
>
>The entry and stairs into the Underground
>
>
>
>Plzen's underground is an integral part of a structural historical
>
>development of Plzen, established 1295 at the confluence of rivers Mze,
>
>Radbuza, Uhlava and Uslava, in the middle of Plzen hollow.
>
>
>
>An important administrative centre of this region was originally the castle
>
>of the house of Premysl in Stary Plzenec, 15 km south of Plzen, declared
>by
>
>written documents back to 976.
>
>In the end of the 13th century Czech king Wenceslas II decided to move
>the
>
>centre of royal power in West Bohemia to the new king town New Plzen, as
>the
>
>town was called at that time. The new town was built in broad-minded style.
>
>Around an oblong square there were situated regular blocks of houses
>
>delimitated by a rectangular network of streets. The Gothic outlook of
>
>citizen houses was usually damaged by following reconstructions.
>
>http://www.zcu.cz/plzen/underground/underground.html
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>"The Earl's Palace forms three sides of an oblong square, and has, even
>its
>
>ruins, the air of an elegant yet massive structure, uniting, as was usual
>in
>
>the residence of feudal princes, the character of a palace and of a castle"
>
>
>
>Sir Walter Scott - "The Pirate"
>
>
>
>Directly opposite the remains of the Bishop's Palace, and a short distance
>
>from the St Magnus Cathedral stands the Earl's Palace.
>
>
>
>Hailed as "probably the finest example of French Renaissance architecture
>in
>
>Scotland", the Earl's Palace stands as a memorial to possibly the darkest
>
>and bleakest episodes of Orkney history - the iron grip of the Stewart
>
>earls.
>
>
>
>http://www.orkneyjar.com/earls.htm

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