A visit to King Solomon's Temple
 

Bro. Tejinder Singh Rawal

Lodge Corinth ( UGLE)

Nagpur, India
 

Let us go back in history to the year 965 BCE when Solomon succeeded David as 
King of the United Israelite Kingdom of the Twelve Tribes. A year later Solomon 
ordered the start of preparations for the construction of the First Temple. 
Hiram, King of Tyre, a good friend of both he and his father, had already 
volunteered to help him with the temple construction. Hiram, King of Tyre, was 
the son of Abibal, and the contemporary of both David and Solomon. David during 
his reign had asked Hiram for cedars, carpenters, and masons; and they had built 
David a house. Nearly forty years afterward, when Solomon ascended the throne, 
and began to prepare for the building of the Temple, he sent to the old friend 
of his father for the same kind of assistance. The two kings sealed their 
agreement with prayers together on Mount Moriah, and the construction of the 
great Temple began.

Let me now  take you to a visit to the temple.

As you reach the Temple, you notice the two pillars on the porch way. The left 
pillar is named Boaz and the right one is called Jachin. The pillars are more 
than eight meters high, and are made of brass. They are huge and weigh about 40 
tonnes each. The pillars have been built by the legendry Master Hiram Abif, the 
widow's son, who was a great artificer in brass and other metals. 

You cross the two pillars and enter. You come across winding stairs. As you 
enter you notice that the stairs have a set of three steps, followed by a set of 
five steps, and finally a set of seven steps. Thus there are fifteen steps. This 
odd number of steps is not without purpose. The purpose is that you are supposed 
to start with your left foot, so that when you reach the entrance of the temple, 
you step out there with your left foot. A convention which has not lost any 
significance with the passage of time.

The first three steps allude to the three great lights of freemasonry, viz., the 
Square, the Compass and the Volume of Sacred Laws. It also allude to the three 
lesser rights of freemasonry, viz., the Sun, the Moon and the Master of the 
Lodge.

The next five steps allude to the five senses of men. Reminding us to exercise 
due control over the senses. It also alludes to the five architectural orders, 
viz., Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. Each Order had its 
specialization and you could see the workmanship of each of such Order in the 
Temple. They also allude to the five points of fellowship.

The last set of seven steps allude to the seven liberal arts and sciences, viz., 
grammar, logic,rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music and astrology. It reminds 
you that you are expected to keep improving your skills in these seven 
disciplines. Grammar, so that you can express yourself properly. Logic, in order 
that you can distinguish good from bad, and can take a reasoned decision when 
faced with a dilemma. Rhetoric, because it beautifies your language, arithmetic, 
because a Mason needs to be calculative in his action, geometry, because the 
whole science of Temple construction depends upon geometry, music, so that when 
you shift from labour to refreshment, you are able to appreciate the beauty of 
life, which is best expressed in terms of music, and astrology , because it 
helps you know the day, and night, to know when to begin the work, and when to 
stop, to understand the seasons and to know the total area of jurisdiction of 
the Great Architect of the Universe.

As you reach the outer door, you find that the door is half open, but is close 
tyled by the Junior Warden, who demands a password. After due satisfaction, you 
are allowed to enter. There is one more door to be crossed, credentials to be 
established again, and the password to be given again to the Senior Warden who 
lets you in the Middle Chamber.

As you enter, you see great light emanating from the letter G which is hanging 
at the Eastern side. The light is so intense that you find it difficult to see 
any other thing. As your eyes slowly get accustomed to the dazzling light, you 
notice King Solomon standing on the East together with Hiram, the King of 
Tyre,and Hiram Abif holding the registers in their hands. They inspect the 
register and calculate the wages due to you. The wages are paid to you in the 
form of corn, oil and wine. Corn to feed you, wine to help you charge your 
energies, and the oil to apply on your body. 

Having taken your wages, you salute King Solomon, and withdraw from the Lodge, 
with a promise to return again whenever summoned.