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

SUPPLEMENTAL ENCYCLOPAEDIAmeans of which he succeeded in conquering the insular part,too. This mole has in the course of time been transformedby alluvial deposits into a peninsula. But otherwise theremains which are left of this magnificent city are few andutterly insignificant. Its renowned manufactures are entirelydead, its commerce totally gone and a miserable villagestraggles along the site where once stood the richeststorehouses and the most splendid palaces.UrThe country of Terah, and the birthplace of Abraham.It is usually called "Ur of the Chaldees," and islocated, with strong probability, in the northwest part ofMesopotamia. The city of Orfah, to .which the Jews makepilgrimages as the birthplace of Abraham, is a flourishingtown of 30,000 inhabitants, seventy-eight miles southwestof Diarbekir. Some, however, place Ur in Lower Chaldea,Warka.at extensive ruins now calledVenuspleasure.The goddess of love, gracefulness, beauty andSaid to have sprung from the sea.Wilderness of Paran A large tract of desert countrylying south of Palestine, and west of the valley El-Arabah,which runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba. Itwas in and near this desert region that the Israelites wanderedthirty-eight years. It extended on the south to withinthree days' journey of Sinai, if not to Sinai itself. On thenorth it included the deserts of Kadesh and Zin. Tn thedovrt of Kadesh was situated the city of Kadesh- Barnea,which was said to lie in the "uttermost border of Edom,"and was probably situated very near the great valley ofEl-Arabah, south of the Dead Sea. Kadesh was twicevisited by the Israelites in their wanderings;once afterthey left Mount Sinai, and again thirty-eight years after.At the first visit the mission and return of the twelve spu-*--took place, the rebellion of the people, and their presumptuouseffort to enter Canaan by the pass Zephath, immediatelynorth of Kadesh. At their second visit occurred204