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A temple has ever been an earthly symbol of Initiation because it is emblematic of the temple "not made with hands" but eternal in the heavens, the human body-temple, the abode of divinity within man himself. This temple is not perfected until his divine nature overcomes his lower nature and spirit reigns supreme in his life. To express the concept in more understandable terminology, man must build his own Christed body-temple and dwell therein.
The tabernacle in the wilderness, so important in the Old Testament and in the ritual of the Masonic Fraternity, is a perfect replica of the Atlantean Mystery Temple. The "blue print" for it was given to the present Fifth Root Race before the final destruction of Atlantis; and it served as a plan for all temples constructed later on the post-Atlantean continent.
Man's body-temple has three major divisions, namely, the head, the chest and the abdominal region. The Mystery Temple also was divided into three areas; the outer court, the inner court and the Holy of Holies — the outer court corresponding to the reproductive organs; the inner court to the vital organs; the Holy of Holies to the head.
The outer court contained the altar of burnt offerings. It was there that a candidate divested himself of all gross human passions. The inner court contained the laver of purification and the seven-branch candlestick. The former implied certain processes of transmutation which must take place in the life of an advanced candidate; the candlestick referred to the seven spiritual centers within his body that were to be awakened. In the Holy of Holies were the golden pots of manna and of incense. These represented the soul-body or golden wedding garment which surrounded his body. Between these two items of the furnishings were the tables of the law. As stated in a previous article, both Churchcraft and Templecraft had their origin in hidden teachings of the Bible. The tables of the law were symbolic of that secret teaching.
A threefold division is common to places of worship in both Churchcraft and Templecraft. The main section in churches, where the worshippers congregate, typifies the outer court; the choir loft, where a consecrated few are building and progressing through loving service, corresponds to the inner court; the pulpit, where enter those who are ordained and thus have become the elect, is comparable to the Holy of Holies. In Templecraft as practiced in King Solomon's Temple, the Apprentice Degree pertained to the outer court; the Fellowship Degree to the inner court; the Master's Degree to the Holy of Holies.
The supreme Mystery Temple, where the high spiritual work relative to this entire planet is performed, is located in etheric realms above the earth. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel depicts this hallowed place in his description of the fourfold Temple. In the New Testament St. John's description of the fourfold city also symbolizes the same blessed center. Exalted Ones who have chosen to be leaders and teachers of men are privileged to visit this etheric Temple and bring back something of its wonders. Such an advanced soul was David, King of Israel, whose destiny it was to begin preparation for the great work to be accomplished by his son, King Solomon of Jerusalem.
Esoterically, Jerusalem is the very heart of the earth — which is to say that, according to spiritual vision, it is the area chosen and consecrated by Wise Ones under the guidance of angelic leaders. Here it was that Melchizedek, the mystery priest who is an exalted member of the White Brotherhood and who brought to the Aryan world sacred wisdom from Atlantis before its final innundation, worked and taught. It was in Salem, the City of Peace (later Jerusalem), that he instituted by the Initiation of Abraham the observance of the Mysteries. This work was brought to its supreme culmination in the Lord's Supper, the Feast of Bread and Wine.
And here, upon a high eminence, Abraham passed the supreme test of the Rite of Detachment by his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Later, the holy site passed into the hands of the Jebusites. They called it the City of Jebu and instituted a Temple cult devoted to the Goddess Astarte. About 1000 B.C. David, after becoming King of Judah and Israel, was inspired to make the city his capital. He re-named it the City of David. Still later, his son Solomon was instrumental in the building of the great Temple on the holy ground of Abraham's testing.
Jerusalem, erected upon an elevation, is a center for the inflow and outflow of cosmic power, for it is not only the heart center of earth, but the home of the sons of Judah (Leo) and the "City of the Kings." It became the birthplace of the early Christian Mysteries, for which a foundation was laid by David and the building of Solomon's Temple. It will again become the home of the Christian Mysteries in preparation for the Lord's second coming.
Being the Mecca for Initiates of Old and New Testament times, Jerusalem has been the arena of activity for all biblical prophets with the exception of Amos and Hosea. Within its environs most of the Book of the Old Testament were conceived if not actually written. It was the scene of a large part of the MaMaster's work; and also that of His immediately followers and disciples, many of whom lived during the period of their training in communities located close to points of particularly high vibration. Such a point was the Mount of Olives where David passed one of his tests of regeneration.
And in this potently charged area occurred the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus who indicated many times over His recognition of the spiritual influences pervading Jerusalem and its environs, and their importance in the lives and development of His followers. Thus, in Luke 18:31 we read: "Then he took unto him the twelve and said unto them, Behold, we go to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished."
St. Augustine wrote in the third century A.O., "We ascend thy ways that be in our hearts and sing a song of degrees; we glow inwardly with thy fire, with thy good fire, as we go because we go upward to the peace of Jerusalem."
So much for the site whereon was builded the first Temple.
Young King Solomon, tried and purified and full of wisdom, set about· construction of the new Temple to be dedicated to Jehovah, the archetypal pattern of which he received from his father David. David himself could not do this work because he was a man of war and Jehovah's Temple was to be one of everlasting peace — the peace signified by the name Jerusalem and as the watchword of Israel. So far were the builders to observe this ideal of peace that they were to use no iron in the structure. "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house." Peace reigned therein, even during its building, and the men worked in silence.
At the time of dedication these were the words of the Lord (manifestation of spiritual law): "I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually" — I Kings 9:3. To the rhythms of heavenly music and the chanting of Temple choirs, Solomon placed a golden key in the door of the Holy of Holies: "Open wide the doorway of the Holy of Holies, that the King of Glory may go in to His rest."
Solomon saw four Angels standing before him. One had the face of a man, one was like unto an ox, another to a lion, and the fourth to an eagle. This is an allusion to the four Recording Angels who guard the destiny of the children of earth. Their work with Solomon involved their manifestations through the four streams of spiritual force designated as Fire, Air, Water and Earth, the essence of elements which brought forth the universe as man knows it.
These four Angels gave to Solomon a ring engraved with the four powerful letters that spelled the ineffable Name set upon the ring's seal in the form of a five pointed star — symbol of white magic or the possession of spiritual power. This ring shone and flashed with light such as was never before seen of man, and gave to its possessor great power over all created things. So Solomon's wisdom embraced not only things of earth and the affairs of men, but also an inner knowledge about the beasts of the field and the birds of the air.
Furthermore, he had knowledge regarding demons and spectres of the night. Through his power as an Initiate, he understood and could control denizens of the upper and nether realms, superphysical' and elemental manifestations of life. The forty-nine paths of wisdom were open to him, so legends state. Forty-nine (4 plus 9) give the number thirteen, the number of Initiation of the then approaching Christian Era. Solomon often turned the vicious powers of demons to the service of men. He controlled nature spirits and could send them to the furthermost confines of earth at will. And he delivered many persons from the bondage of obsession by evil creatures. He taught His disciples and those who came to him in quest of spiritual truths how to perform such seeming miracles, and numerous other constructive works.
The spacious Temple, all white and gold, was surrounded and permeated by celestial light of surpassing brilliance. The spiritual excellency of the masters who assembled therein was great indeed — so great that one among them was caught up in a swirl of glory to partake of the joys of heaven.
This same ceremony is observed in a most impressive manner in one of the degrees of the Scottish Rite, although many Masons have no concept of its real meaning. In fact, it is understood by only a few Masters who have followed faithfully in the footsteps of that true Initiate, Albert Pike. A Master so exalted is worthy to receive "wages" which enable him "to travel in foreign countries." In other words, his personality, transmuted and uplifted, has been united with spirit; the lower and higher selves have become one; the lover is united with his beloved for all eternity. Thus prepared, an exalted Master ascends to partake of the soul joys of realms located in the ethers above the City of Jerusalem.
King Solomon commemorated this mystic Rite in his exquisite Song of Songs with the triumphant chant "My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feedeth among the lilies."
— Corinne Heline
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