An in-depth study of KST would consume many days Instead, lets us - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

 An in-depth study of KST would consume many days  Instead, lets us focus on one of the most outstanding features of the temple  The two pillars. Boaz and Jachin, which guarded the entrance to the Temple

 Few things in Masonry are less understood than the two pillars in the porch of King Solomon’s Temple  We talk about them a lot but the DETAILS are not well known

 The first thing that attracts our attention is two columns or pillars, representing those which were placed on the porch of King Solomon’s Temple, one on the right hand and one on the left. The one on the left hand was named BOAZ and denoted strength; the one on the right hand was named JACHIN and denoted establishment. Collectively they allude to a passage of scripture wherein God hath said, “In strength, shall this mine house be established.”

 These two pillars are basically the same in every lodge in the Masonic world, representing the same message (or are they?)  In US lodges, the earliest description (from the 1700’s) show both Wardens seated in the West, facing the Master.  The two pillars were generally near them, next to the inner door, forming a portal and all candidates pass between them for each degree.

 However, location is not uniform in the US jurisdictions  The majority of lodges place them as we do  But, in my travels, I have observed that the two pillars might be located anywhere in lodge room

 In George Washington Lodge Number 22 AF&AM in Alexandria, VA  The two pillars are found on one side of the Junior Warden’s station in the south  Perhaps to add strength to our Masonic thoughts that it was their first JW who originally fashioned them

 In England, and in many other countries abroad, the two pillars are usually displayed in front of the Master’s chair, and some place the pillars in the center of the lodge.  In some portions of the world, they are not represented at all.

 From our ritual we learn that: “Those columns were eighteen cubits in height, twelve in circumference and four in diameter, and were adorned with two chapiters, one on each, five cubits in height…”  Lets examine the dimensions and geometry

For a circle with radius = r Area = π r 2 r Circumference = 2 π r And d = 2 r So if C = 12, we solve for d 2 π r = 12 2 r = 12/ π D= 3.8197 (not 4, so math is off!)

We know that D= 3.8197 4 And height = 18

 What is a cubit?  Cubit = approx 20 inches  Therefore columns were  18 x 20/12 = 30 feet high  5.3 feet in diameter

 These two pillars are discussed in the Masonic Bible that we provide to new masons  Interesting to note that there is no image of these pillars in our masonic bible

 Many different images of what those pillars looked like  Why?

 Present design is an interpretation of the columns  Composite  Hollow  Globes

 It is believed that the pillars were cast in the clayey grounds in the banks of the river Jordan between Succoth and Zurudathal  Where is this?

 Those columns were of molten or cast brass. They were cast by Hiram, the widow’s son, in the clayey grounds on the banks of the river Jordan, between Succoth and Zurudathal where King Solomon ordered these and all the holy vessels of the temple to be cast.  They were a hands breadth, or four inches in thickness, and were cast hollow to preserve, from inundations and conflagrations, the rolls and records contained within them, which were supposed to be the archives of Masonry.

 It is believed that the pillars were cast hollow and were a handbreadth, or four inches in thickness  Commonly conceived that the two pillars were cast in one piece  From a foundry viewpoint, hard to believe  Single brass casting would weigh 27 tons  Need to move about 50 miles from origin to destination

 Some images show columns in sections  Stone pillars were made like this  Maybe our ancient brethren used this technique?

 Casting bronze was not an easy task  If we break the column down into smaller sections, say 10, each one would be about 3 feet high and weight about 2.7 tons. More believable, but…  Archelogists have stated disbelief that people of the Bronze Age could make a casting weighing over a ton.

X

 Metallic ores (copper, tin, lead, antimony, arsenic)  Fuel (wood, charcoal, seeds, dry dung, brush)  Blast Air (bellows, wind human breath)  Tools (for handling molten metal, for sculpting molds)  Furnace (to melt the ores, mix ready to pour)  Pure copper melts at 1,083 °C [ 1,981 °F]  Molds (constructed to required shape)

 Many more questions beg answers  Where did they get the large quantity of ore?  Where did they get the HUGE quantity of fuel needed?  How did they smelt it?  How did they make the molds?  How did they get the molten metal into molds?  How did they get the finished product to the site?  How did they erect the pillars?  Archeologists have found nothing near the supposed sight to indicate that bronze was smelted there  You will have to decide for yourself.

 …these were ornamented with three rows of work- network, lily work, and pomegranates.  The network, from the closeness of its connections, denoted unity;  the lily work, from its whiteness and purity, denoted peace;  and the pomegranate, from the exuberance of its seed, denoted plenty.

 They were further adorned with two globes, or spherical bodies, on the surfaces of which were represented the countries, the seas and the various parts of the earth, the face of the heavens, the planetary orbits and other important particulars.  They were thus extensive to denote the universality of Masonry and to teach us that a Masons charity should be equally extensive.

 A modern addition  The ancient world believed the world to be flat

 The actual details of the pillars is not important  This is just an interesting history and engineering lesson  What they represent to all masons is what is important to remember

 Never forget, my brother, the lessons of these two pillars  They guard the entrance to our lodge room  Stop and ponder a while next time you are in their presence at all they represent  Let your mind become subjective and captive to all they represent

 Solomen’s Temple, by WB Harvey Lovewell  The Pillars of the Porch, by Bro. William B. Bragdon  Those Mysterious Pillars: Boaz and Jachin, by WB William M Larson  The Two Pillars, by John Schroeder, GL VA  Two Pillars, MSA Short Talk