Provincial Grand Chapter of Yorkshire West Riding

Provincial Lectures - DIY

The Domatic Lecture

Ref: WR0511

Stage Direction:

During this presentation the two Presenters will have to move around the temple as the story unfolds. When Companions take up the narration, they should stand at the behest of the appropriate Narrator. The lecture should begin with the lead Narrator introducing himself and his colleague.

THE INTRODUCTION

NARRATOR ONE

(Thank the M.E.Z. for the invitation to present the lecture and introduce 2nd Narrator) It should give you an insight into the legend behind the Royal Arch Ritual, and with the aid of the Officers of the Chapter, bring to life the characters involved. We will start with the building of King Solomon's Temple, followed by its fall, then have a brief autobiography of the key characters in the ritual, before ending with the 'Julian Legend' which forms the basis of the re-enactment contained in the Ceremony of Exultation. There are a lot of names and dates in this story, but as Chapter Masons, much of it will be familiar and hopefully it will flesh out the connection between the Chapter Ritual and the historical narrative that underpins it. You should also notice some glaring differences between the two, some appropriation of other facts into the story and some sheer invention. Similar to the way the great film makers of today use a little poetic license to dramatize the facts of history and make them live.

THE TEMPLE NARRATOR TWO The legend which forms a distinctive feature of the Royal Arch ritual is not the same everywhere. The Irish Royal Arch based their legend on the repairing of the Temple as narrated by Josiah. The Principal Officers are Josiah the King, Hilkiah the Priest and Shaphan the Scribe. The English Royal Arch ritual is based on the rebuilding of the Temple as narrated by Ezra. The legend is better understood if we take a glance at the troubled history of King Solomon's Temple. Solomon inherited the throne when the era of military campaign under Saul and David was over. His external policies were based on détente, the fostering of political and economic ties with neighbouring states. On a practical level, Solomon's closest and most rewarding alliance was with his father's associate, Hiram King of Tyre. The basis was economical rather than political. In bilateral trade the products of the two neighbouring states were complementary. The agricultural economy of the Israelite Kingdom had an exportable surplus of wheat and olive oil which Hiram needed. The Phoenician Kingdom could supply Solomon's building projects with timber (from the Lebanese mountains), minerals, skilled labour and technology. They were among the best builders and architects in the region.

NARRATOR ONE The building of the original Temple in Jerusalem, which was patterned after the Tabernacle in the wilderness, was started in the fourth year of Solomon's reign and completed in the eleventh year, about 950BC. King Solomon enclosed Mount Moriah within its walls, and by levelling and filling he created a platform for the Temple. The blocks of stone were quarried in the nearby hills and the cedar wood was supplied by Hiram, King of Tyre, from the Lebanese forests. The logs were transported to the coast, floated in rafts to the port of Joppa, and from there hauled up to Jerusalem. Hiram also delivered a large amount of the gold used in the Temple. However Hiram's most essential contribution was the skilled Phoenician artisans, architects, masons, carpenters and metal workers. Solomon paid in wheat and oil, but the deficit became so large the accounts had to be balanced by the cession to the Phoenicians of the Cabul district, a strip of territory containing twenty villages. The whole labour force involved in building the Temple and the Palace was said to number 80,000 on the building and another 10,000 on the cutting and transporting of the Timber; a massive number of people in those days, when populations were much lower than today.

NARRATOR TWO

The Temple faced eastward towards the rising sun. The tribal elders and notables from all over the country gathered in Jerusalem for the dedication ceremony. The beauty of the Temple and its superb craftsmanship made it one of the wonders of the ancient world and added to the lustre of Solomon's reign. In summary, the building of this magnificent structure over a seven year period and at considerable expense was of great significance to both Solomon and his nation. Its importance went far beyond its architecture. It gave tangible expression to the covenant God had made with David. Its existence made Jerusalem not only the capital city, but the Holy City. Creating great prestige on Solomon and his capital Jerusalem. Long after its final destruction, its memory would remain, for a scattered people, the symbol of their future return.

THE FALL

NARRATOR ONE The glory of the beautiful Temple was of brief duration, for after King Solomon's death, ten tribes under Jeroboam broke away to form the independent kingdom of Israel, but Judah and Benjamin remained faithful to the line of David, and held the mountain stronghold of Jerusalem, which was of great strategic importance, as it commanded the trade routes between two warring countries Syria and Egypt. As a result, Palestine was ravaged by both sides for a period of four hundred years. The Temple was initially sacked and re-built three times. It was first sacked in 927 BC, when Solomon's son, Rehoboam succeeded him as King. He reigned from 922 to 915 BC. In the fifth year of his reign, Shishak, King of Egypt, invaded his kingdom, sacked Jerusalem and carried away all the gold from the Temple, but not the famous brass work. In 722 BC the independent Kingdom of Israel became an Assyrian province, the ten tribes being taken into captivity. At Jerusalem, Hezekiah secured peace by paying tribute, and he, to some extent, restored the Temple worship and eighty years later Josiah repaired the Temple and refurnished it with gold vessels. Josiah was unfortunately killed by the Egyptians during a war with Assyria. It was sacked for a second time in 586 BC, when the Babylonian army under King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and assaulted the City of Jerusalem. After a siege that lasted over a year, and left the inhabitants starving and dispirited, the city fell, and its King, Zedekiah, the last King of the line of David, was captured, as he tried to escape across the plains of Jericho. Nebuchadnezzar's revenge was merciless; all the nobles of Judah were executed. King Zedekiah, in chains, was forced to watch the slaughter of all his sons. It was the last sight he ever saw, with the image of horror still burning in his brain. Zedekiah's eyes were put out and he was taken, blind and helpless, as a captive into Babylon. It was sacked for a third time only two years later in 588BC, and the Temple vessels, both gold and brass, were carried away to Babylon. This time the two defending tribes were also carried away into captivity, but General Nebuzarraden left the poorer sort, and those that voluntarily yielded, in the country of Judaea, commanding them to till the land.

NARRATOR TWO

Assyria was now nearing its end. Cyrus (550-530B.C.), who conquered it in 538BC and occupied Babylon, invited the two tribes to return and to rebuild the city and the Temple. He supplied them with treasure and materials and promised to restore the golden vessels carried away by Nebuchadnezzar. The walls of Jerusalem as well as those of the Temple had to be rebuilt, but while the work was in progress, Cyrus died, and his successor, Cambyses, influenced by the surrounding nations hostile to the Jews, stopped the work. Darius who succeeded Cambyses, agreed to complete the work and accordingly Zerubbabel, accompanied by Joshua the Priest, returned to Jerusalem to carry out the undertaking, the Jews being comforted and encouraged by Haggai the prophet. Accordingly, as a matter of History, Zerubbabel, Joshua and Haggai were associated only at the time of the resumption of work under Darius, and not in the days of Cyrus a hundred years earlier. An ancient letter, written by Aristeas, a visitor to Palestine from Egypt, has left us a vivid description of the Temple's appearance at the beginning: "When we arrived in the land of the Jews we saw the city situated in the middle of the whole of Judea on the top of a mountain of considerable altitude. On the summit the Temple had been built with all its splendour. It was surrounded by three walls more than 70 cubits (35. 5metres) high... The temple faces east and its back is towards the west The whole of the floor is paved with stones, and slopes down to the appointed places, that water may be conveyed to wash away the blood from sacrifices, for many thousands of beasts are sacrificed there on the feast days. And there is an incredible supply of water, because an abundant natural spring gushes up from within the temple area" The rebuilt Temple had a tragic history. It was plundered, profaned, re-dedicated (165 BC) by Judas Maccabeus, again profaned, again plundered, and finally pulled down to the very foundations by Herod the Great, in order that he might rebuild on a grander scale as a memorial to himself. The Herodian Temple was the magnificent structure that existed at the time of Jesus Christ. This Temple was completely destroyed by the Roman Legions in 70 AD, exactly as Jesus Christ prophesied nearly 40 years earlier. Since then there has been no Temple in Jerusalem. .

HISTORICAL CHARACTERS

NARRATOR ONE (Moves to dais near to the three Principals)

Companions, during the explanation of the Holy Royal Arch and its history you will have heard mention of a number of historical characters. We now give a brief account of what is known about some of them. Zerubbabel and Haggai were contemporaries who lived in the reign of the great Persian King, Darius, whilst Joshua came later into the picture and was more a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah. Each of the principals will now introduce themselves and tell us a little about their characters. Zerubbabel, perhaps you could begin.

(CHAPTER MEMBERS READ THE SHORT BIOGRAPHIES FROM THEIR PLACES) Stage Direction:

Zerubbabel is a self-made King, who could have been the Great King Darius' right hand man - but decided through love of his country to risk all and ask for his people's release, under his command, to return to the own country. He is very proud of his achievements and the delivery of the biography should reflect that.

ZERUBBABEL I am Zerubbabel the son of Pedaiax, descendant of David, and the captivity representative of the ancient Royal Line and Prince of Judah. When the house of Judah was held in exile in Persia, it was ruled by King Darius. I was one of the King's three bodyguards. Darius gave a test of wisdom to each of us, to which I replied, 'Wine is strong, the King is stronger, women are strongest, truth conquers over all' The King was so pleased by my reply, praising truth above all, that, as a reward he permitted me to ask for anything that I wished. Instead of choosing riches or land or position, I begged Darius to fulfil an old decree of an earlier Persian Monarch, King Cyrus. Cyrus had promised to release the Jews from their captivity and allow them to return home to Israel and rebuild the Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem. Darius granted my request, made me King over the Jews and gave me the responsibility for the reconstruction of the temple. When the tribes returned to

Jerusalem, I Zerubbabel was at the head of his people, and being armed with powers from the King, made active preparations for the rebuilding of the Temple. It was begun around 520BC and stood for 350 years until it was overrun by the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanies in 170BC. I and the other two bodyguards can be seen with Darius in a carving at Rosslyn Chapel near to Zerubbabel's maxim which is inscribed above the southern aisle. The inscription reads, 'Forte est vinum.fortior; est Rex. Fortiores; sunt mulieres. Super; omnia vincet veritas.' Wine is strong, the King is stronger, women are strongest, truth conquers over all'

NARRATOR ONE The next Principal to give us a short autobiography is Haggai. (Introduce Haggai) Stage Direction:

Haggai is a rather sad character, who never achieved the greatness of his contemporaries and the biography should be delivered with pathos

HAGGAI I was Haggai and I was tenth in order of the Minor Prophets and was the first of those who prophesied after the return from captivity. Not much is known of my personal history, and so brief was my prophecy, and so deficient was it in poetic element and prophetic style and language, it appears to be rather the outline of the messages I delivered, rather than their complete form. I was a strong supporter of the officials of my time; specifically, Zerubbabel (look at Z) and Joshua the High Priest (look at J). I had many qualities but was identified as a motivator, edifier, encourager and one who could stimulate enthusiasm. The book which bears my name is very short. The few passages which speak of me refer simply to the occasion I had to deliver a divine message in Jerusalem, the prophecy was delivered 520BC, and it urged the rebuilding of the Temple. It was addressed to Zerubbabel, as an ancestor of the Messiah, in the line of David. Here are my four Prophetical utterances: • The first urges the Jews to resume work of rebuilding the Temple and three years later work was started on the Temple.

• In the second utterance, I foretold that the new House, which then appears so poor in comparison with the former Temple of Solomon, will one day be incomparably glorious. • In the third utterance I declared that as long as God's House is not rebuilt, the life of the Jews would be tainted, but that divine blessing will reward their renewed zeal. • The last utterance, I tell of the divine favour which the Approaching overthrow of the heathen nations, will be bestowed on Zerubbabel.

NARRATOR ONE And finally, to Joshua (Introduce Joshua) Stage Direction:

Joshua is middling man, who was in the right place at the right time and did well - see the penultimate paragraph and the delivery of the biography should be build to this paragraph. then sadly recount the fact that history then forgot him.

JOSHUA

I am Joshua, or more correctly, Joshua, the son of Josedech (or Jehozadak), born during the captivity at Babylon. For me, Israel was the Promised Land. I was a Levite appointed by Hezekiah to distribute offerings in the priestly cities and became the First High Priest after the return under Zerubbabel. I was the ancestor of fourteen future High Priests. I came into the story later than Zerubbabel and Haggai and was a fellow worker with Ezra and Nehemiah and assisted with the reformation under Nehemiah. Like them I am an anachronism in your ritual. My first care on reaching Jerusalem was to restore the daily worship on Mount Moriah, including the sacrifices prescribed by Moses and Aaron so long ago. It is written of me, that I discharged all his important duties with ability and faithfulness at a time of extreme difficulty and in the face of many perils. Nothing was heard of me in history after the dedication of the new Temple, and it is assumed I died in Jerusalem.

NARRATOR TWO (Moving to the centre of the Temple). Ezra and Nehemiah are an anachronism in our ritual, inasmuch as Ezra arrived in Jerusalem 58 years after the completion of the Temple, Nehemiah following him 14 years later setting to work to rebuild the walls of the city. Perhaps they will tell us a little about their personal history, Scribe Ezra. (Introduce Ezra)

EZRA I am Ezra, born in Babylon, and the son of Seraiah (scribe to David). I am a man of great piety and learning. I am a great scholar and teacher, and all these qualities make me an outstanding figure among my brethren. I went to Jerusalem in 457 BC to carry offerings for the service of the Temple. Having re-established the Law of Moses among the people I returned to Babylon, but returned some thirteen years later, becoming actively engaged with Nehemiah in carrying out important works after the return. I became a high-ranking officer in the land of Israel with powers to appoint Judges and Officers of the law, and to levy monetary fines, impose banishment and even impose the death penalty. In later life I returned to Babylon for a second time and died there about 432 BC.

NARRATOR TWO And now Nehemiah. (Introduce Nehemiah)

NEHAMIAH I am Nehemiah, the son of Hachalia, and apparently from the tribe of Judah. I became a noble in the service of the King of Persia and was subsequently sent to Jerusalem in 445 BC as governor, to protect the welfare of the children of Israel and to organise the rebuilding of the city walls and fortification of that desolate city. With the aid of Ezra I took a census of the people, had the Law publicly read, celebrated the Feast of the Tabernacle, and kept the Day of Atonement. It is written of me that I was an illustrious patriot, a judicious statesman and a loyal, brave and generous man. It is assumed that I died in Persia

THE VAULT

NARRATOR ONE Having looked at the history of King Solomon's Temple, which forms the backdrop of the Exaltation Ceremony and introduced the Three Principals, we will now move forward in time to look at 'The Julian Legend' circa 360AD, from which the story of the three Sojourners is said have originated. There are several versions of the "Julian Legend," but they are all concerned with the Emperor Julian's attempt to rebuild what would have been the fourth Temple of the Israelites in Jerusalem. That failed because of earthquakes, fire and falling stones. The vaulted crypt, which is part of the legend, is legendary itself. But there are several vaults on the site of King Solomon's Temple, and one of them may have been under the Sanctum Sanctorum. The vault has become symbolised as "an entrance through the grave into eternal life". We will look at two versions, one written by Ammianus Marcellinus and the other written by Philostorgius. Probably the oldest legend was written by Ammianus Marcellinus (325-393AD). ) There are several other versions, Ammianius was a Pagan Historian, who was as much an enemy of Christians, as an admirer of Julian. He was the last great Historian to write in Latin. He wrote a History of the Roman Empire in 31 books. His work as a whole is extremely valuable, being a clear, comprehensive and impartial account of events by a contemporary of honesty, independent judgment and wide reading.

TO BE READ BY THE PRINCIPAL SOJOURNER He wrote, "Julian, called the Apostate because he abandoned the Christian religion, having formed a plan to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, to refute the prophecy of Daniel and Jesus Christ, collected the most excellent workmen from all parts, and gave the superintendence of this great work to Alypius, his best friend. While working on the foundations, a stone from the first row became dislodged, and uncovered the opening to a cavern hewn in the rock. A workman was lowered, attached to a cord, and when he was in the cavern, he felt water half-way up to his legs. He explored with his hands in all directions, and upon a column which rose just above the water, he found a Book wrapped in very fine linen. He took it and gave the signal to be drawn up.

All who saw the book were surprised it had not been spoilt. But the astonishment was even greater, particularly among the Pagans and Jews, when having opened it, they read first of all, in large letters, the words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God". Later, terrible balls of flame, coming from the foundations, made the place inaccessible, having several times scorched the Workmen: So, as this element (fire) continually repulsed them, the work was abandoned".

NARRATOR ONE The Book of Law discovered in the vault was not the Bible. The scroll of sacred writings was the Torah, the written Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

NARRATOR TWO Another History of the Church, containing the Julian legend was produced by Philostorgius, a Greek historian (born 364 AD). That work is now lost, but an epitome of it was made by Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople in 853 AD. This became the basis of yet another lengthy version in Latin, in the Ecclesiastical History, by Nicephorus Callistus in the early 14th Century. Finally, in 1659, Samuel Lee published his Orbis Miraculum giving what was probably the first English version of the Legend, citing Nicephorus Callistus as his source. The following is an extract:

TO BE READ BY THE FIRST ASSISTANT SOJOURNER "When the foundations were a laying, as I have said, there was a stone among the rest, to which the bottom of the foundation was fastened, that slipped from its place, and discovered the mouth of a cave which had been cut in the rock. Now when they could not see to the bottom by reason of its depth, the Overseers of the building being desirous to have certain knowledge they tied a long rope to one of the labourers and let him down" He being come to the bottom, found water in it, that took him up to the mid ankles, and searching every part of that hollow place, he found it to be four square, as far as he could conjecture by feeling. Then returning toward the mouth of it, he hit upon a certain little pillar, not much higher than the water, and lighting with his hand upon it, found a book lying there wrapped up in a piece of thin and clean linen.

Having taken it into his hands, he signified by the rope that they should draw him up. When he was pulled up, he shows the book, which struck them with admiration, especially seeming so fresh and untouched as it did, being found in so dark and obscure a hole. The book being unfolded, did amaze not only the Jews, but the Grecians also, holding forth even at the beginning of it in great letters (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God) To speak plainly, that Scripture did manifestly contain the whole Gospel, which the Divine tongue of the Virgin Disciple had declared. This together with the other miracles, which at that time were proclaimed from Heaven, did demonstrate that not any word of our Lord should fall to the ground, which had foretold the utter desolation both of City and Temple. For the truth of this story, I am not bound to undertake: yet this I may safely say, that the main substance thereof concerning the miraculous fire, causing the work to cease, is true, being attested by grave and sober Authors that lived not far from the times wherein it was acted.”

NARRATOR ONE What about the sojourners themselves?

TO BE READ BY THE SECOND ASSISTANT SOJOURNER (IN A SAD VOICE.) The Three Sojourners are not heard of outside Masonic Legendary history. According to that history we were three very pious Jews who remained longer at Babylon than our compatriots and only arrived in Jerusalem whilst the excavations were being made for the foundations of the Temple – The rest you know!

NARRATOR ONE Companions that completes the lecture. We hope you found it interesting and informative, and have learned a little more about, the building of King Solomon’s temple, it’s fall, the characters involved in its history and Royal Arch Masonry in particular!

3800 wds, 25 – 30 mins