YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5496, 28 June 1879, Page 5

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The second lecture of the winter series was delivered last night by the Eev. 3. S. Hil] —subject, "The Tabernacle." Mr. J. L. Wilson occupied the chair. The proceedings were opened with the nsual devotional exercises. The lecture was illustrated by a number of very elegant colored drawings by Miss Lsachman. Notwithstanding the fact that the weather was most inclement the lecture-hall was well-filled. The Rev. Mr Hill, npon presenting himself to the audience, was very warmly received. He said that unless people knew a good deal about the Tabernacle, as deecribedin the Bible, theycould understand but httle of many of the most important passages of the New Testament. The men who made the Tabernacle were men filled with the Spirit of God—of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. The difficulties connected with the subject arose from misinterpretation, or, to speak more correctly, from tho number a D d variety of interpretation. There was some danger to the lecturer treating such a subject lest he should become mystic or fantastical. He should, therefore, approach such a subject with humility. The illustrations represented : (1) A full plan of the Jewish encampment, with the Tabernacle in the centre, with its various coverings and surrounded by its outer court. These coverings were of bine and purple cloth interwoven with gold. The material of these coverings were a fine-turned linen, goat's hair, red ramskine, and badger-skins. 2) Boards covered with gold, enclosing the Holy Place and th.j Holy of Holies (30 cubits >y 10)- The outer court was 100 cubits by 50. (3) The brazen altar, on which sacrifice was offered the " laver" containing water; (4) the golden candlestick; (5) the table of "shewbread"; (6) the golden altar of incense. These also had the covering of blue and purple cloth. . Inside of all was the mercy-seat, between cherubim, the veil of the temple covering the ark aud the mercyseat. (7) The priest, in his white robe of "atonement," white gii-dle, and white coronet ; (S) the high priest, in his robe of " glory and beauty," ahoulder-plate, and breast-plate, upon which the names of the tribes were written. The materials were all supplied by the people. (Exodus, 25th and 35th chapters.) In these chapters the reader would find what God asked his people to do. The quantity of gold used was 435650z5;, equal to a sum in our currency of £180 000 : silver, 63,550 shekels (150,000ozi.), equivaent to about £40,000 of English money; brass, equal in value to about£33l. The total value would amount to £220,331. The whole of this vast amount was given by the people in one collection, until God. himself said to Moses, " Tell the people it is enough." He had heard of churches being in. debt, and a plain duty was inculcated by this great fact of Bible history. That duty was to give liberally in support of the worship of Almighty God. There were two gifts recognised by God—"The Widow's Mite" and the "Alabaster Box." The floor of the Tabernacle was oE dust, symbolic of the mortal state of man. The foundation waa of fine silver, and this was made out of the "atonement" money contributed by the Jewish people. There were 100 sockets made, upon 96 of which the Tabernacle rented, and into these sockets were fitted boards. Every board rested upon the atonement 32ade by 12,000 men. "These boards were made oE shittim wood, overlaid with gold. There were five pillars in the Holy Plaen. and four in the Holy of Holies. Over the Tabernacle wa3 a cloth of fine-twined linen. (The lecturer proceeded to describe, by means of the illustrations, with great minuteness, the component parts of the tabernacle, with its coverings, supports, and ornaments.) Spiritually-minded people saw clearly the meaning of all these preparations, and only tho worldly-minded could not see. The golden candlestick was made from the jewels and personal ornaments given up by Jewish women. The white goats' haircloth, and the fine-twined linen, were emblems of iMrity. The candlestick, with its light, typified the illumination of the soul by communion with God. The Jewish priesthood was established by the authority given from God. That was done away with by the New Testament dispensation. Christ was the Great High Priesthood, and contained within Himself the priesthood. The white robe of the atonement was typical of the holy life upon the vesture, the robe of "glory and beauty' , of the High Priest. There were two curious devices. One was a bell, which typified " praise," and the other a pomegranite, which typified the seed of the worda of life. Every Jew wore on hie garment a small blae ribbon, which was a badge of his nation. But Pharisees widened and lengthened this badge, setting up pretensions to an enhanced spiritual life by the increased dimensions of this sign. The great men of the Jews were mostly of the tribe of Levi, Moses, Samuel, Ezra, Ezekiel, and John the Baptist were of this tribe. They were all leaders, or preparers of the way for some great events. The word "Levi" meant "union." The names upon the breast-plate of the high priest were to be explained by a reference to their typical import. Judah meant "praise." Issaohar meant "reward." Zebulon meant " dwelling." Christ dwelt in Zebulon thirty i years. Reuben meant "son," but the history of this tribe is a sad one, for he was described as "unstable as water." No great men sprang from Beuben. Simeon meant "bearing," and this tribe appeared not to succeed in anything until it became connected with Judah. This was the only tribe that did not go into captivity. Gad meant "troop." Hβ needed the company of some other tribe. Gad was described as having the " face of a lion and the feet of a roe." Elijah represented this tribe. Ephraim meant " truthfulness," but his besetting sin wa3 pride. White Joshua led him and Jeroboam was king, he was all right. _ Manasseh meant "forgetfulness"— forgetting God—and Manasseh was the first to go into captivity. Next came Benjamin, which meant " son of my right hand." Jonathan illustrated the quality of this tribe,and Saul in his best days. Dan meant " judgment." Dan's history waa the darkest of all. His character is best illustrated in Samson. He was the first to set up his own judgmonts, and to fall into idolatry. Asher meant " happy," and there was no illustrative character to be found, until it appeared iu St. Luke's Gospel, when Hannah rejoiced and was ihaukful. Naphthali meant "wrestling"—the doubting, unsettled, struggling mind. Baruch was illustrative of this quality. The subject came to appear more vast as it wa3 entered into. He (Mr. Hill) could not get all he had to say in. one lecture. He proposed to give the second part on Tuesday evening next. He thanked the audience for their attention, and said that the second part of the theme would probably possess even more interest than the first. On the motion of Mr. Ewington, a vote of thanks.was passed to the Kev. Mr. Hill for his discourse, and to Miss Leaohman for her elegant drawings. The Chairman announced that ticketholders for the series, or those who had paid to' be present at the lecture of that evening, wonld be admitted free to the sequel lecture on Tuesday next. The proceedings concluded with the usual devotional exercises, the benediction being pronounced by the Key. Mr. HilL