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ShortStoriesfromtheRoyalArch,PeopleandObjectsByJohnCavanagh-22minutesJohnhaspreparedshortaccountsofnotablepersonalitiesconnectedtotheRoyalArchstoryfromMosestoEzraandJehoakintoZachariah.TherearealsoshortsectionsontheArkoftheCovenant,theRoyalArchcoloursandtheSacredAcacia.These may be presented altogether or in any combination and by one or a number ofpresenters.1. People

a) Mosesb) KingSolomonc) KingCyrusd) Zerubbabele) Joshuaf) Haggaig) KingHiramofTyreh) HiramAbif(ElfandSafety)i) Nehemiahj) Ezrak) Jehoakinl) BoaztheBarleyFarmerm) Jeremiahn) TubalCaino) Neduzaradanp) Nebuchadnezzarq) Zachariahr) Adoniram

2. Objects

a) TheArkoftheCovenantb) WhatareTheRoyalArchColours?c) TheSacredAcacia

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MosesMyNameisMoses,andIamanIsraelitebybirth.IlivedinEgypt,andIwasaPrince,butIhadtofleetoSaudiArabiaasIhadmurderedamanwhohadkilledoneofmyCountrymen.I became a shepherd, and itwas during this time that the Almighty spoke tome from aburningbush.Iwasafraid,butevenmoresowhentheAlmightytoldmetogoandasktheKingofEgypttoletGodspeoplego.TheKingofEgyptwasthemostpowerfulmanonEarth.TheAlmighty toldmetogo to the twelve tribesand tell themthat theirGodwas to leadthemoutofEgypt. I said to theAlmighty: “When Igo to thechildrenof Israelandsay tothem:TheGodofyourancestorshassentmetoyou",theywillsay:"Butwhatishisname?"SowhatcanItellthem?AndforthefirsttimesincethedawnoftimeitselftheNameoftheTrueandLivingGodMostHighwasrevealed.TheAlmightysaid:“TellthemIamthatIamhassentmetoyou".GodhadappearedtoAbraham,IsaacandJacobbuthadneverrevealedhisname.SoI ledthetwelvetribesoutofEgyptianbondageandintothewildernessonajourneytoleadthemtothePromisedLand.ItwouldbealongjourneybutwithGodonoursidewewerestrong.Wewerenolongerslaves,wewerefreeatlast.KingSolomonIamthesonofKingDavid,IamSolomon,andIgreetyouallwellItwasme,IbuilttheGreatTempleatJerusalemattherequestofmyfather.Hehimselfhadneitherthemoneynorthemanpowertobuildit.ButImadetheKingdomintoastrongNationandworkwasbegun.Iam not only famed for my Temple, but also my great wisdom. You may ask why? Twowomencamebeforeme,eachclaimingtobethemotherofababy.TheybothdecidedthatIshouldchoosetowhomthechildbelongedIconsideredthesituationandcalledforCaptainofmyGuard.Iraisedthechildaloft,toldhimtotakeouthissword,cutthechildintwoandgivehalfeachtothetwowomen;surelythatwasthefairestoption?Oneofthewomenscreamed:“Stop!Stop!Givethebabytoher,sheistherealMother”.“Sheisnot,”Isaid,"Youare!",foryouwouldratherlosethechildthanseeithurt."Youaretherealmother"Ihandedthechildbacktothiswoman.It isfromsituationslikethisthatthephrase"TheWisdomofSolomon"cameintobeing.My Templewas themostmagnificent edifice ever built, and how pleasing itwould havebeen,haditlasteduntilthisday,whentheMajestyoftheAlmightymighthavebeenseenbythewholeworldFreemasonryisafraternityofmen,whostriveforself-improvement,bybuildingthemselvesupfromroughashlarstoperfectstones,andhowfittingitis,thatourOrganisationisbasedaroundthearchitectureofmyperfectTemple.

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KingCyrusThethingthatIamrememberedformostisthatinthefirstyearofmyreignIwaswillingtoletthepeopleIhadacquiredinBabylondisperse,andeventoassistthemtoreturntotheirnative landswithmywrittenconsentandsupport. Ievenencouragedthe Jews to rebuildtheirHolyTempletotheirGod;Heisn’tmyGodIthinkthatIamsmarterthanmost,andIsawBabylonovercrowdedwithbeggarsandrefuseinthestreetsandIsawanopportunityfor these people to be better employed elsewhere; you see Babylon is full of peoples ofotherlandsthatmypredecessorshadcapturedandenslaved.Isawtheirmistakesandgavethe returning peoples of many lands tasks to fulfil; thereby my empire would be moreproductive.Butfriendlyterritoriesinthewesternborderswouldbeasaferpropositionasadefenceagainst theeverwatchful jealousyofEgypt.DidtheirGod inspiremeto issuemyfamousproclamation,wellthatwouldbetelling,buttotheJewsImusthavebeeninspiredby God. It was a miracle, a prophecy come true, a dream realised. They now had thefreedomtoreturntoJerusalemandtorebuildtheirTemple.HowcouldIbeanyotherthanGodsservantdoingHiswill?

ZerubbabelIamaBodyguardofKingDariuswhoruledafterKingCyrus.TwoCompanionsand Iwerethinkingwhatwasthestrongest:wine,theKing,orwomen.WeplacedthisquestionundertheKingspillowforhimtofindonawakening.Thishedid,andsummonedustothegreathall.TheKingaskeduseachtodiscusstheanswersforalloftheRoyalCourttohear,andhewould decide on the wisest answer. My first companion spoke for wine: “Wine is thestrongest,asitmakesallmenerr;itmakesthemindoftheKingandthebeggarthesame.Itmakes allmen forget their friends anddraw their swords against eachother. Thismakeswinethestrongest”TheotherspokefortheKing:“Menonlyhavepoweroveranimals,buttheKinghaspowerovermen.MenwillkillfortheKing,anddieforhim.ThismakestheKingthestrongest”.Ispokeforwomen:"Kingsarebornofwomen,andsoarethewinemakers.Women have the power to make men forget their friends, and their family, and theirCountry. But of all of these, is not the truth the strongest. Truth endures and is strongforever; it chooses neither side and has no partiality, and everyone approves its deeds.Blessedbe theGodof truth.All thepeople shouted: “Great is truth, strongestof all”All:Truth,yestruth,wewanttruth.TheKingsaidtome:“AskwhatyouwillandIshallgiveittoyou”. IaskedthathefulfilsKingCyrus’sproclamationandreturnsalltheexileshome,andhelpsthemtorebuildtheTemple.TheKingarose,andkissedme,andcommandedthistobedone. I sank tomyknees, lookedto theheavensandsaid: "Blessedareyouwhohavegivenmewisdom; I give thanks O Lord of our ancestors “What is your name?” the KingaskedmeIsaid:“MynameisZerubabul”.

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JoshuaYoucalledmeJoshua,WRONG,WRONG,WRONG

YoukeepcallingmeJoshuawhenmynameisJeshuaPeoplethereforeconfusemewiththeJoshuaofMosestimeandthat’salongtimeago.

But I suppose over time people do mispronounce names I'm the head of Ninth PriestlyOrder,andaLevite,thereforeIdonothavetofightordoalotofworkIamagreatthinker.

TheLeviteswerethereligiousmenchargedwithdoingtheLordswork.TheywerereallythethirteenthtribeoftheIsraelites.

IwasthefirstHighPriestofthereconstructedTempleatJerusalem.HaggaiIamHaggai,and Iwasoneof thosecaptiveswhoreturnedfromBabylonand Ibeganmyministriesaboutsixteenyearsafterthereturn.TheLordspoketomeandsaid:

“MyPeople,whyshouldyoubelivinginwellbuilthouses,whilemytempleliesinruins”.

The building of the second Temple had been stopped for fifteen years, and along withothersweexhortedthepeopleandrousedthemfromtheirlethargy,andinducedthemtotakeadvantageofthefavourableopportunitythathadariseninthechangeofpolicyofthePersianGovernment.

Iamrememberedformyfourpropheciesdeliveredoverthreemonthstourgethepeopletorebuild the Temple. Iwas a strong supporter of theOfficials of this time, specifically theGovernor,andmycolleagueJeshua.KingHiramofTyreI am King Hiram of Tyre. The city of Tyre grew from a satellite of Sidon into the mostimportantofPhoeniciancities,andbecamepartofa large tradingempire,a sortofearlyCashandCarry.IalliedmyselfwithKingSolomonofIsrael,ashewastheupcomingpowerofthe region, and I hadmuch love for his Father KingDavid, but chiefly I saw it as a greatbusinessopportunity,abitliketheDragonsDen

Throughmy alliancewith Solomon, I ensuredmyself access to themajor trade routes toEgypt,ArabiaandMesopotamia.SolomonandIjoinedforcesinstartingatraderouteovertheRedSea,connectingthe IsraeliteharbourofEzion-Geberwitha landcalledOphir.WebothgrewrichthroughthistradeandIsentSolomonarchitects,workmenandcedarwoodtobuildtheFirstTempleinJerusalem,notfreethough,butinexchangeforgoodssuchasoliveoilandbushelsofwheat.

Most importantly though I'm associatedwithmasonry having sentmymaster craftsmen,Hiram Abif, to serve as the construction foreman in the building of the first Temple inJerusalem.Somebelieve thatweare the samepersonbecauseweshareanameandarebothfromTyre.Butthisisnotso,HiramAbifshouldberecognisedasthecunningmansent

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by me, King Hiram, to help build the temple. And as for me, I am the finest builder’smerchantandlaboursupplieroftheMiddleEast.HiramAbifElfandSafety(Elfenters,carryingaHealthandSafetyboard,andwearinganElfshat)Whoawhoawhoa,holdonamoment,wedon’twantanymoreaccidentsonthissite(Walks around the Lodge and places the Health and Safety board against the SeniorWarden’spedestal,andthenstandsinsilence)Narrator:What'swiththehat?(pointingtothehat)Elf(pointingtoboard)andSafetyTutGreetings to you all.Wellwhat a job I’ve got; you see I’m aman skilled in bronzework,silver,gold,andiron,woodandtextiles,finelineninblue,purple,andcrimson;there'snoend tomy talents. I'm an ancientmaster builder, although I turn upwhen I promise to,givenamonthortwoeitherwayduetothelackoftransport.MyfatherhaspassedawayandIcareformymotherinthecityofTyrewherewelive.WearefromthetribeofNaphtali,andIamloyaltomyKingHiram.Itwashewhoaskedmetocome to Jerusalem to assistwith thebuilding of this newTemple. I'm known inMasoniccirclesasthePrincipleArchitectofKingSolomon’sTemple,butmyspecialcontributionwasthetwogreatpillarsat theentrance,whichwerecast inclaybanks in theplainof JordanbetweenSuccothandZeredathah.They say I'm filled with wisdom and understanding, but it seems tome that I've landedmyselfwithonehellofajob,andIcanonlyhopeforsuchabonusasbefitsthequalityofmywork.Anyway,I’llleavemyhardhathereasI'veameetingintheTempleatnoon,andwiththequalityofmyworkmanship,nothingisgoingtohitmeonthehead!Nehemiah(Enterscarryingawaiter’stray,andwithawhiteclothoverhisarm)AdrinkkindSir?AdrinkSir?Perhapslater?IamawaiterattheroyalpalacetothePersianKing,Artaxerxes.IhaveheardthatafterthebuildingofthetemplebyZerubabul,thepeoplewerestillpersecutedbytheirenemies,andtheywereunable to rebuild thecitywalls. In timesofworryandtroublemy first impulsealwaysistopray,soIspentfourmonthsinprayerbeforemakingarequesttotheKingtoletmegotoJerusalem.TheKing,hearingofmyconcerns,immediatelysentmewithasuitableguard,anda royal lettergivingmeassistanceand fullpowersasGovernor, to rebuild thecitywalls. Isufferedaccusationsoftreasonous intentionsagainsttheKing,who instructedtherebuildingtobestopped.Butthebuilderswiththeirtrowelinhandandswordattheirside finished the city walls in fifty-two days before the Kings command arrived. AfterreturningbacktoBabylonIagaintravelledbacktoJerusalemWithincreasedpowersfromthe King, I helped erected the city gates, repaired the houses of the city, and I tookmeasures to increase the number of the inhabitantswithin thewalls, so that they couldadequately defend themselves. I then completed the repairs of the Temple and devoted

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myselftorectifyingmanygraveevils.AftercompletingmytasksinJerusalemIreturnedtomypostwiththeKingofPersiaAdrinkSir?EzraI am a priest and a skilled teacher in the Laws of Moses, and a trained teacher in thestatutesandregulationsofthelaw.Bymyownrequest,IwascommissionedbythePersianKing,Artaxerxes, togo to Jerusalemcarrying richgiftsandofferings for theserviceof theTemple.My returning party comprised of nearly two thousand people, including priests,juniorpriests,andservants,andafterajourneyofnearlyfourmonthswereachedthesafetyofJerusalem.Whenthere, Ire-establishedtheLawofMosesamongstthepeople.ButthepeoplestillhadatendencytowanderawayfromthewordsofGod.Iwasappalledbecauseof the people’s sin andwas deeply shaken, I toremy clothing and hair andwent to theTemple and fell on my knees to the Lord in prayer. Whilst in Jerusalem, I was activelyengagedwithNehemiahwhowas then the Civil Governor. I collected the ancient SacredBooksofhispeopleandthenpreparedandcirculatedcopiesoftheHolyScriptures.IstarteduptheservicesofreligiousgroupsoutsidetheTemplecalledSynagogues.AfterallthishardworkIreturnedagaintoBabylontolivetheremainderofmydaysJehoakinItwasIwholedyouwhenwewereledintocaptivitybytheevilKingNebuchadnezzar,KingofBabylon.Ihadreignedforthreemonthswhenthistookplace.IamthesonofJehoakim.My father was killed by Nebuchadnezzar and I his son, Jeconiah, took his place and Ichangedmy name to Jehoakin in honour of him. I became your King. Iwas 18 years oldwhenweweretakenintocaptivityandIwasthelastKingofJudah.When Nebuchadnezzar died, his son releasedme. I had spent 37 years in exile andwasinvitedbyhimtositatanhonourableplacearoundhistableabovetheotherKingsinexile.Inever returned to Jerusalem. My life is a good illustration of the philosophy “Duringprosperityamanmustneverforgetthepossibilityofmisfortuneand,inadversity,mustnotdespair of prosperitys return”. The black and white or lightness and darkness of thechequeredpavementinyourlodgesservesasagraphicreminderofthis.BoaztheBarleyFarmerInthedaysthattheJudgesruled,aroundthreethousandBC,beforeIsraelhadaKing,therewasagreatfamine.TherelivedinBethlehem,whichwasinJudah,amannamedElimelech,hiswifeNaomi,andtwosons,andtheymovedtothelandofMoab.Things went well until Elimelech died, leaving his widow and two sons to fend forthemselves.TheboysbothmarriedlocalMoabitishwomen.Afterabouttenyearstheboysalso died, leaving Naomi in a foreign country with no husband or sons, and with twodaughters-in-lawtocarefor.NewscamethatthelandofJudahhadbeenblessedwithabumperharvest,andsoNaomidecided to return home, taking her daughters-in-law with her. During the journey shedecidedthattheywouldhavebetterchancesofre-marriagebackwiththeirownfamiliesinMoab,wheretheprospectofararemixedraceweddingwouldbemuchreducedShesaid:

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"Gohome,mydaughters,andmaytheLordbeaskindtoyouasyouhavebeentome"Shekissedthembothandsaidgoodbye.Thetwowomenweredistraught,andbeggedtostaywithNaomi.Aftermuchpersuasion,onewenthome,buttheothersaid:

"Entreatmenottoleavethee,ortoreturnfromfollowingthee,forwitherthougoestIwill go, andwhereyou lodgest Iwill lodge, yourpeople shallbemypeople, andyourGodmyGod,whereyoudiest,Iwilldie,andthereIwillbeburied"

So they returned to Judahat the timeof thebarleyharvest. Tomakeendsmeet the girlwentintothefieldsandaskedthesupervisorifshecouldpickupthegraintheworkershadleftontheground.Hegaveherpermission,andsoshecollectedthegrainwhichhadbeenleft.Aftergleaningallmorningsherestedunderatreetoeathermeagremiddaymeal.Theownerofthefieldreturnedandsawher,anddiscoveredthatshehadbeentheresinceearlydawn collecting what little she could. There seems to be no doubt that the owner wassmittenwithher.Heheapedmanyprivilegesuponher, takingher tohave lunchwithhisworkers, and then having herworkwith the rest of hisworkforce,with instructions thatwhatevershewantedshecouldhave.ExtrabundlesofcornwereevenpreparedforhertotakehomeAs it's not yetpast the9pmwatershed I'm reluctant to relate the steamydetailsof theirrelationship,sufficetosayyoucanreadit laterforyourselvesinthebookofRuth,butit'sveryrarelyreadoutinchurches.Nosurprisethen,thattheownerofthefieldmarriedtheforeigngirl.TheyhadasonwhomtheycalledObed,whohadasoncalled Jesse,whohadeightsons,oneofwhomwascalledDavid.HebecameKingofIsrael,andhadasoncalledSolomonwhofollowedhimasKingSolomonbuiltafamousTemple,ofwhichmagnificentstructuretherewasnothingmore remarkable, or thatmoreparticularly captured theattention, than thetwo great pillars which were placed at the porchway or entrance. That on the left wasnamedafterthegreatgrandfatherofDavid,aPrince,andaRuler,inIsrael.

Isthattheendofthestory?Wellno,becauseSolomonhadason,whohadason,whohadason,whohadason,whohadason,whohadason,andtwentyfivegenerationslatercamealongaboycalledJoseph,wholovedagirlcalledMary,andtheylivedinNazarethTheyhadasoncalledJesus,JesusofNazareth,whomsomesayistheSonofGod.

Is that theendof thestory?Wellno,becauseabout twoandahalf thousandyearsafterthat land owner saw that girl sitting under that tree eating her lunch, a Masonicbrotherhoodwas formed, and they adopted aword as a form of recognition. Aword sohighlyprizedthattheynevermentioneditbyname,butalwaysbylettersorsyllables.Thisword isusedallover theworld,evenat thismomentsomewherewithinour timezone itmaybereferredtoinanswertothequestion,"Whenceisthiswordderived?"-FTLHPATPOEOKST

ItwillbeusedinaboutfivehourstimeinthemaritimeprovincesofCanada,Newfoundland,Quebec, Nova Scotia, in the New England states of America, in Maine, New Brunswick,Philadelphia, Boston,New York,Washington, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, theIslandsoftheCaribbean,inBrazil,Uruguay,andArgentina

ItwillcrosstheAndestoChile, itwillcrossthebiblebeltofAmerica journeyingthegreatstatesofOhio,Minnesota,Colorado,throughthegreatMasonicstateofUtahtoCalifornia.ItwillcrossthegreatplainsofCanada,callingatOntario,Manitoba,Saskatchewan,Alberta,andwillsweepacrosstheRockymountainstoBritishColumbia.

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Neverceasingonitsjourney,astheearthturnsonitsaxis,itstartsacrossthemightyPacificOcean,callingatislandsonitswayuntilitreachestheeastcoastofAsia,havingalightedinBrisbane inAustralia, onto the famous cricket citiesofMelbourne, Sydney, andAdelaide,andacrosstheoutbacktoPerthonthewestcoast.ToSingapore,Malaysia,countriesoftheoldBritishEmpireacrossIndia,toAfrica,Egypt,andthemiddleeast,toTurkey,Poland,andthen theBaltic statesof Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania ThroughFinland, Sweden,Norway,Denmark,andtheBeneluxcountriesHavingcrossedsouthernEurope,Austria,Switzerland,Italy, and Spain, just twenty four hours after it started its journey it arrives back in theUnitedKingdomtobeginitsworldwidejourneyonceagain,neverstopping.

Inmanylanguagesthequestionisalwaysasked,"Whenceisthiswordderived?"

TofindtherealanswerwemustgobacktothatfamilyinNazarethandtracethetwentyfivegenerations back to Solomon, toDavid, to Jesse, toObed, and toObedsmother, the girlunder the treeeatinghermeagre lunch,withher fewgrainsof corn, and facing the landowner.Shedidn'tknowhewaskindandconsiderate,thoughtful,generous,compassionate,benevolent,gentleandfriendly.Shedidn'tknowhewouldgivehisnametotheLHPATPOE O K S T. She didn't know he would be remembered daily some three thousand yearshence.Shedidn'tevenknowthathisnamewasB,O,A,Z,BO,AZ

JeremiahIamthoughtofasoneofthegreaterprophets,andwascalledtopropheticalofficeduringthereignofKingJosiah,andIproclaimedhisdeathasanationalcalamity.Duringthereignof Jehoakim, I was commanded to write my prophecies down and to read them to thepeople.

IreceivedamessagefromGodthatNebuchadnezzarwasonhiswaytocapturethecityofJerusalem and burn itwith fire. This enraged the rulers of Jerusalem and Iwas cast intoPrisonforpredictingthisnonsense.

Iwasstill inconfinementwhenNebuchadnezzararrived.He releasedmeandshowedmegreatkindnessallowingmetochoosetheplaceofmyresidence.ItravelledtoEgyptfortheremainderofmylifetryingtoturnthepeoplebacktowardsGod.

TubalCainGoodeveningeverybody;IamTubalCain,ametalworkerofgreatfameIamthebrotherofJabalandJubal,whoweretheoriginatorsofseveralindustriesandarts.ThenameCainhasbeentranslatedinmoderndaystoSmith;meaningworker.WearefromanareasoutheastoftheBlackSeaandfrommanyyearsbeforeDavidandSolomon,inthedayswhenprimitivemanusedtoolsofstoneorflinttoworknaturallyoccurringpiecesofgold,silver,copperandironintoweapons,toolsandornamentsforuseinwarorpeace.

ItwasIwhofirstutilizedfiretoliberatemetalsfromtheirores,andtherecamethatmagicmoment,somethousandsofyearsagoinMesopotamia,whencopperoresbearingtinweresmelted.Thisfirstalloyingofmetals launchedtheBronzeAge,agreatstepforwardintheascentofman.Thisearlymetallurgypromotedthefirstexplosionininternationaltrade,as

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bronze coinage formed a novel means of exchange, and the cradle of civilization in theEasternMediterraneanareathusspreadtoEurope.

ItisnotsurprisingthatnearlyalltheWorkingToolspresentedtousinourCraftDegreesareessentialtoolsinthefabricationofmetals.Onecannotimagineatoolengineerwithoutthebenefitofthepencilandtherule,andthesquareandthecompasses

NeduzaradanIamNeduzaradantheCaptainof theGuardof theArmyofKingNebuchadnezzar,KingofBabylonIamhisdeputyandnextinranktotheKing.

HesentmetoJerusalemtocapturethecityandthepeopleofstatureandinfluence.IwascommandedtoshowkindnesstotheprophetJeremiahwhohadpredictedourarrivalmuchtothedisgustoftheJewishleaders,whothrewhiminprison.IreturnedtoBabylonwithmycaptives and the treasures from the Temple, leaving themenial people behind to till theland.Fiveyearspassedand Iwasagain sentback to Jerusalemtocapture the restof thegreatandthegood.ThistimeIcarriedsome745peoplefromJerusalembacktoBabylon.NebuchadnezzarGoodeveningpeoplesofJerusalemI’mtheGreatKingNebuchadnezzarandIdonotgreetyouwell; infactIdon’tlikeyouatall.ThesooneryouaretakeninchainsbacktoBabylonthebetter.Soyou'vebuilt thisTempletoyourGod;he’snotmyGod,so I shall showthisTemplethecontemptitdeserves,andtakefromitwhateverIwant;tryandstopmeifyoucan. I have a vast army and miles of chains, and an overwhelming sense of hatred andjealousytoyouall.You’llhavemanyyearstowaitbeforeIgetinvolvedinyourstory.Yearsofjoy,yearsoftears,yearsofpain,yearsofhorror,andthenitgetsreallyroughforyou.Foryouneverquitelearntfrompastmistakes.SoI'mgoingtoletyouinonalittlesecretofmyown,forasyougoaboutyourbusiness,I'vebeenmakingplanstovisityou,alongwithmyvastarmy.Butthisisn’tgoingtobeasocialcallforteaandbiscuits.Suchisnotthecase;Idon’tlikethisTempleandallitstandsfor.Isuggestyouconsideritsfuture.AndasforyouIamgoingtotakeallthegreatandthegoodbackasslavestoBabylonandteachyouabouthardworkandpunishment,whilstleavingtherestofthisinarticulatemenialrabbletofarmthisdustyland.Wellwhathappened,didIcome?WellyourgreatprophetJeremiahforetoldofmyimminentarrival,andwhathappenedtohim?Youmadeupsomeridiculouscharge,andthrewhiminjail.ZachariahGoodEvening,you’veprobablyneverheardofme,MynameisZechariah,publicrelationsandteambuilding,andI’mhereasarepresentative,Irefer to him as the Big G ( pointing upwards ) it’s a bit informal but we have been inconversationforquiteawhile,youknowhimasGodAlmighty.

Heisn’tverypleasedwithyoulot.Notonlyhaveyoubeencheatinghimbyonlysacrificingoldand illanimalsanddiseasedcropsbut I’vebeensolddowntheriverespeciallybyyou(PointingtoZ)you’vetakenallthegloryandforgottenaboutme.Haveyouforgottenthatitwas IwhoencouragedthepeopletosupportyouandbuildtheTempleandIprophesised

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thatyouwouldputthelaststoneinplace.Butthefinalstabinthebackisthatyou’veleftmeoutofthehistoricalrecords.Haveyounoshame?Thankspal,I’llhelpyouagain.

ButIwillleaveyouwithwordswhichyoumightrememberandveryimportantwordstheyare.

“Hewhofaithfullyperformshisdutyinasubordinatestation(indicateshimself),isasjustlyentitled to esteem and respect as he (Points to Z) who is entrusted with supremeauthority?”

AdoniramI amAdoniram, and I am in chargeof the thirty thousandworkmenemployedproducingtimberforthebuildingwork.Tenthousandaresenteachmonthtoworkastreefellers.

No!Notthreefellas,treefellersYoujustcan’tgetthestaffthesedays.

TheTimberisharvestedfarawayintheforestsofLebanonandisfloateddownthecoasttotheportofJoppa.ThatwastheeasypartforthedockshereatJoppa,orJaffaasit'sknowntodayhadverysteepsides,andavastnumberofmenwereemployedtohaulthetimberupthebanks.Wedidn’thaveforklifttrucksinthosedays;everythingwasdonebyhandwithropeanddonkeys.ItwasdraggedupthebanksfortransportationtoJerusalemsomethirtyfivemilesaway.TheCedarfromLebanonwasaqualitytimber.WeuseditonthefloorandthelowerwallsoftheTemple,andconstructedtherooffromvastbeams.

Whenwe'vehauledtheselogstoJerusalem,wehavetotakebackvastpotsofoliveoilandwheat,whichSolomonisusingtopayforthetimber.Thistemplemustbecostingafortune.Allowmetoletyouintoalittlesecret:Idon’treallywanttobeinvolvedwithtimber,Iwanttobuildthistemple,andwhoknowsonedayifmydreammaycometrue.AnywayIwillgoandseehowmytreefellersaregettingon.

TheArkoftheCovenantIntheJewishreligiontherearemanysacredpeopleandsacredplacesbutveryfewsacredobjects.ThemostsacredobjectwastheArkoftheCovenant.Awoodenchest4feetlongand2feet6incheswide,coveredontopbyaslaboverlaidingoldwithtwocherubim,whichwerewingedlionswithhumanheads.ItcontainedthetabletsoftheTenCommandmentshandedtoMosesbyGod.IttravelledwiththeIsraelitesthroughoutthe40yearsinthewildernessandwasplacedinthemiddleofthecampsurroundedbyatentortabernacle.ItremainedwiththeIsraelitesuntilKingSolomonbuilttheTempleatJerusalemin930BCtohouseitintheHolyofHolies.There itremainedindarkness,visitedbutonceayearbytheHighPrieston“YomKippur”theholiestdayoftheyear.In587BCtheBabylonianscapturedJerusalemanddestroyedtheTemple.Atthatpointthemost sacred object of the Israelites disappears from history. When our Companionsreturned from captivity and the sojourners found the Holy of Holies whilst building thesecondTemple,theArkwasnotthere.NeitherisitmentionedintheSacredbooksofEzraandNehemiah.Sowherediditgo?Nobodyknows!

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The most likely answer is that the Babylonians melted it down for the gold when theydestroyed the Temple, as they were not sensitive to historic items of the realms theycaptured.Butthereareseverallegendsastoitslocation.OnelegendhasitthatKingSolomon’sson,bytheQueenofSheba,stoletheArkandtookitbacktoEthiopiawhereitisclaimedtoresttoday.ThebookofMaccabeesintheApocryphaclaimstheprophetJeremiahhiditalongwiththetentandthealtarofincenseinacave,somewhereontheWestBankortheDeadSea,thewhereaboutsknownonlytoGod.WhatareTheRoyalArchColours?We hear each year at the Installation Convocation, the explanation of the robes of thePrincipalsandthesignificanceofthecolours.Butwheredothecolourscomefrom?

Forthisweneedtotravelbacksome3500yearstothetimeofourGrandMasterMoses.TheBookofExodustellsthestoryofthetimetheLordspoketoMosesandtoldhimhowthe Jews were to live. He also taught them how to pray. He gave instruction in how amovingTempletohisglorywastobebuiltandthusthetabernaclewasformed.

TheLordgaveMoses instruction inthecolourstobeused inthefabricoftheTabernacle.ThesecolourswereRed,PurpleandBlueorBlue,PurpleandScarletdependingonwhichversionoftheBibleyouread.Thesecoloursweresaidtorepresenttheelements.Redforfire,PurplefortheseaasthebloodofshellfishdyesitandBlueforthesky.TheLordchoseBezaliel and Aholiab, other names in our ritual, to prepare and sew the cloth for thetabernacle. The Lord also gave instruction on what the High Priest should wear and thecolourofthisrobewastobeblue.ThisshowswhythecoloursfortherobesofourPrincipalsaresoimportantanditalsoshowsjusthowoldsomeofourpracticesdatefrom.

SowhenyouwearthoserobesremembertheserobesrepresentoneofthemostHolyitemsoftheIsraelitesandwearthemwithpride.

TheSacredAcaciaTheAcaciabelongstoalargefamilyofplantsandtheAcaciaweknowinMasonrystillgrowsinLebanon.TotheJewishpeopleitisasacredwoodusedtobuildtheArcoftheCovenantandmuchofthefurniturethatadornedKingSolomon’sTemple.

WeMasonshaveappropriatedtheAcaciaasasymboltoteachdivinetruthforallagestofollow.TheAcaciaisasymbolofimmortalityofthesoul.TheHebrewpeopleplantedasprigofAcaciaattheheadofagraveofadepartedfriend.ManyotherpeoplessubstitutedtheAcaciainplaceofotherplants,astheybelievedittobeincorruptibleandnotliabletoattackfromanimalsorinsects,implyingtheincorruptiblenatureofthesoul.ThesprigofAcaciatoaMasonismeanttoremindhimbyit’severgreenandunchangingnature,ofthatbetterandspiritualpartwithinuswhichisanemanationfromTheTrueAndLivingGodMostHighandcanneverdie.