The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar ... - Lodge Prudentia

SUPPLEMENTAL ENCYCLOPAEDIAthe daughter of the prophet Mohammed.They ruled from909 till 1171, chiefly at Cairo, and at the period of theirwidest sway ruled all north Africa, with Syria and Palestine.*Feasts The Jews have established several festivals, ordays of rest and worship, to perpetuate the memory of greatevents wrought in their early history: the Sabbath commemoratedthe creation of the world; the Passover, thedeparture out of Egypt, because, the night before theirdeparture, the destroying angel, who slew the first-bornof the Egyptians, passed over the houses of the Hebrewswithout entering them, they being marked by the blood ofthe lamb; the Pentecost, celebrated the fiftieth day afterthe sixteenth day of Nisan, which was the second day of thefeast of the Passover. The Hebrews call it the "feast ofweeks," because it was kept seven weeks after the Passover.It was instituted, first, to oblige the Israelites to repair tothe temple of the Lord, and there acknowledge his dominionover their country and their labors, by offering to Him thefirstfruits of all their harvests. Secondly, to commemorate,and to render thanks to God for the law given from MountSinai, on the fiftieth day after their coming out of Egypt.The Tabernacle was instituted in memory of the forty years'wanderings of the Israelites in the desert, and also as aseason of gratitude and thanksgiving for the gatheringin of the harvest; whence it is also called the Feast of theHarvest. At the three great feasts of the year, the Passover,Pentecost, and that of Tabernacles, all the males ofthe nation were required to visit the temple. The otherfestivals were the Feast of Trumpets for New Moon}, Purim,Dedication, the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee.The Hebrews were a hospitable people, and were wont towelcome their guests with a feast and dismiss them with another.The returning prodigal was thus welcomed. Manyjoyful domestic events were observed with feasting birthdays,marriages, sheep-shearing and harvesting. During177