Papers On The Great Pyramid.

prominence given to events which would fail to interest people of another race . Indeed it is of this people only that we have direct evidence that their artificers and skilled workmen engaged in a particular work were free , for we are told that " of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen . " * Now tbe era from which the foundation of the Temple was reckoned was that of the Exodus , and the next era that we find in general use among Hie scattered families of

Israel is that of the Captivity of the Ten Tribes in the clays of Hosea . Mr . Bosanquet p laces this event in- the 3 ear 696 B . C ., while Great Pyramid reckoning gives 690 B . C . Now the year of the invasion , 693 B . C ., was 729 years after the entrance under Joshua , while the first year of Hosea was the 729 th year before our Lord began to manifest forth His power in the thirtieth year of His life . Such a coincidence could not have failed to impress Christian Israelites of the Captivity , for the period of 729 years lends itself vary easdy to that love of symbolism which is said still to characterise the use of figures in the East , for 9 x 9 X 9 = 729 , and thus afforded au easy means of keeping the number in mind .

Here , however , it is to be noted that it is quite possible an earlier date than 690 B . C . was adopted as the era of the Captivity of Israel , and one which would lend itself even more closely to this 9 x 9 x 9 reckoning . Thirty years before Shalmaneser comp leted tbe deportation of the ten tribes , their captivity had commenced in the days of Pekah , who conspired against Pekahiah and warred against Judah . Pekah succeeded to the throne in 729 B . C ., and it was at this time that Tiglath-Pileser , King of Assyria , "tookljonand . Abel-beth-maachahancl Janoahand Kedeshand Hazorand Gilead

, , , , , , ancl Gatdee , all the land of Naphthali , and carried them captive to Assyria . " This was really tbe first blow that fell on Israel , and Dr . Oliver therefore misapplies this term by using it with reference to the invasion of Shalmaneser . Having now shown why I believe the question of dates to be one with which traditions may have readdy been connected , the difficulty which is next to be met is as to the errors which have crept into the received reckoning . Are'they the result of ignorance

or falsification ? I am not prepared to answer this definitely . So far as I can learn there appears to have been a wilful falsification of dates during the dark ages ; but whether this be so or not , the corruption of the text of Josephus—for it is hard to believe that he inserted six or eight different reckonings himself—together with the prevalence of corrupt traditions elevated to the dignity of history , will sufficiently account for the adoption of the conventional dates , for convinced as all may ultimately become of their incorrectness , there can be no doubt that they were the best which could be used to make an apparent agreement with so-called history .

If then through the prevalence of error on this subject Truth has been compelled to hide for a time its head , and to seek refuge from the world until such time as light shoidd shine in the darkness , and the facts of History be revealed , we ought to search for evidences of that truth among the Sons of Light . I must now bring tins series of papers to a close , and I shall be . well content if anything I have written awakens an interest in the heart of but one Brother who may be

able to pursue the inquiry further than I am , and to assist others in that work which ought to be clear to all Masons , the pursuit of Truth for Truth ' s sake . xi ^ f < r > s . Ac , / W $ V ROWBOTTOM . Alfnton , June 1 st , 1 S 7 S . tef GRAND \? - \ HLODGE H \ £ i-LlBRARY--i */