blessing of his father was conferred on him in preference to his brother Issachar. 6. To Issachar was referred the circumambulation, because as an indolent and shiftless tribe they required a leader to advance them to an equal elevation with the other tribes. 7. To Dan was referred the ceremony of advancing to the altar, as a contrast of the rapid advance of that tribe into idolatry. 8. To Gad was referred the obligation, because of the vow of Jeptha, a member of that tribe. 9. To Asher was referred the time the candidate was instructed, because Asher, by the fertile soil of its district, was represented by fatness and royal dainties, which was compared to the riches of masonic wisdom which the candidate then received. 10. To Naphtali was referred the investment, when the candidate, having received his apron, was declared free, because the tribe of Naphtali had a peculiar freedom attached to them in conformity to the blessing pronounced by Moses. II. To Joseph was referred the north-east corner, because as this reminds us of the most superficial part of masonry so the two half tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, of which the tribe of Joseph was composed, were accounted more superficial than the rest, inasmuch as they were only the grandsons of the patriarch Jacob. 12. To Benjamin was referred the closing of the lodge, because he was the last son of Jacob. These points, as, before observed, are now obsolete, yet they afford instruction, and will be found worthy of study. KORESHAN SCIENCE. (Vol. VI, p. 416.) "Koreshan science is the doctrine of Divine Life in all its twelve degrees. It explains by natural law all the so called mysteries of nature. It finds a place in the economy of life for every condition of mind and matter. It settles all truth in good, and establishes its doctrines in accordance with strict science. It is a scientific religion. It harmonizes all domains of nature in all their degrees. It finds the source and center of being, the garden of Eden, the tree of life, and the fruit of that tree. It demonstrates in science the difference between life in God and life in Its fundamental law is transmutation, the transmuting point being the origin of motion in universal substance. It makes God and man the center and circumference of being, and of all sciIt gives the law by which this universal substance transmutes from one degree to another, and from one domain to another, either in evolution or involution. It promulgates every law involved in healing disease, whether of the soul or body. Koreshan science is an man. ence. absolute and perfect knowledge of God in all His methods of operations. It is a new science to this age." Koreshan is from the Hebrew word Koresh, the root of which is Koor. The word is new and cannot be found in the dictionaries. The literal meaning of the root koor is "a furnace, a place of burning, a smelting or refining place." Another degree of meaning is a place into which substances flow to be changed, refined, and converted into other substances and forces. Hence it means the sun, the center of the universe. Koreshan science involves the source of love and wisdom, the transmuting center of the spiritual world, and to know it, give one life and immortality. A very full account of this new science is given in a royal octavo pamphlet on "Koreshan Science," as well as in the Guiding Star, the organ of the Koreshan College, Chicago. MEANING OF CALIFORNIA." (Vol. VI, 236, 370.) Watson Fell Quinby, M. D., in his pamphlet on "Ophir," says the word California means "beautiful harbor," from Kalos, beautiful, and Phornai, harbor, the bay being the most beautiful harbor in the world; phonai being from phero, to bear, and nai, ships. He further says Alaska is from Halaska, wandering; Oregon from Oreiganon, a mountain ; Caliveras, Kalai beros, house of the cloak: Stanislaus, Stania laus, to enjoy a feast; Yosemite, Uo Semata, great waterfalls; Truckee, Trochia, a wheel road; Mokalomy, Megaloma, magnificent; Sonoma, Sunnomas, pasturing; Mariposa, Mara Posa, great portion. EPITAPH OF 472. (Vol. VI, p. 396.) The epitaph of A. D. 742, is rendered in English as follows: "I, Petronia, the wife of a deacon, the type of modesty, lay down my bones in this resting place. Refrain from tears, my sweet daughters and husband, and believe that it is forbidden to weep for one who lives in God." FIRST VESSEL LAUNCHED IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY. (Vol. VI, p. 396.) This vessel was the "Blessing of the Bay," launched July 4, 1631. Why are some cats called "tabby cats"? Is it from the woman's name Tabitha ? INQUIRER II. The term, "Tabby Cat," is derived from Atab, a famous street in Bagdad, inhabited by the manufacturers of silken stuffs called Atabi, or taffety, the waving marking of watered silks resembling a cat's coat. THAT "ANCIENT PRAYER." Where can be found the ancient litany to the Virgin Mary, so much revered in the eighth century among the Irish? SEARCHER. The ancient Irish litany was rescued from oblivion by Prof. Eugene O'Curry, who deceased about 1852. It was translated from the Irish tongue into Latin and English, and published with the original Irish text by Richard J. Whyte, New York, 1880. The prayer is as follows: O Great Mary, Mary, greatest of Marys, Most great of women, Queen of the angels, Mistress of the heavens, Graceful as the dove, Serene like the moon, Womam full and replete with the Perfection of women, grace of the Holy Spirit, Blessed and most blessed, Mother of eternal glory, Mother of the heavenly and the earthly Church, Mother of love and indulgence, Couch of love and mercy, Cleansing of sins, Washing of souls, Mother of orphans, Chief of the virgins, Garden enclosed, Fountain sealed, Mother of God, Perpetual virgin, Temple of the Living God, Crimson rose in the land of Jacob, Noblest born of Christian people, Ladder of heaven. CORK ON A GLASS FULL OF WATER. (Vol. VI, p. 348.) Mr. Ghol son must be joking, as the center of the liquid is not the " highest part," and a cork does not "remain in the center" being quickly attracted to the side of the glass. DJAFAR. ORDER OF JESUITS. (Vol. VI, p. 396.) The Jesuits are so named because they so often repeat the name Jesus in their ceremonies and prayers. THE HEBREW AND ENGLISH ALPHABET IN THE Bible. (Vol. VI, p. 369.) When you speak of the alphabet all being found in Ezra VII, 21, do you mean the Hebrew or English alphabet? B. G. We mean the English (except the letter J). The exact number of books, chapters, verses, and letters in the Bible have been noted by different persons, yet they vary sometimes, either from counting, or from typographical errors in copying from one account to another. Pergignan's manuscript has the following for the Pentateuch : The Hebrew alphabet is contained in the Old Testament as follows: The Old and New Testament are said to be composed as follows: Number of English letters in the Old Testament, 2,728,100 815,240 1,912,860 Pro AUTHORS OF ANONYMOUS Books. Each decade of the nineteenth century has developed a very philosophical class of literature in untrodden fields of research. Many of these works have appeard anonymously, but why, is best known to the authors of such works. bably to a certain extent it may be on account of the theoretical domain the works generally traverse. Some of these authors have subsequently thrown off their anonymity, some by force to maintain their rights, others to establish their authorship against plagiarists, while a few are never discovered. The author of "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation," for a number of years, remained anonymous, but finally has been shown to be Robert Chambers, of Edinburgh. There are a class of books in my possession, of much interest to me, the authorship of which I have desired to know, and a few of which has been announced. For examples : Sec "Earth not a Globe," by "Parallax," the founder of Zetetic Astronomy. First edition, 12mo, pp. 16. Birmingham, Eng., 1849. ond edition, 12mo. pp. 430. London, 1873. By Samuel Briley Rowbotham. (See N. AND Q., Vol. VI, p. 379.) "Restoration of the Earth's Lost History. The Past, Present, and Coming State of Our Globe; the Revolutions through which it Passes from its Birth to its Death or Disolutions. By John Howard Carey. 8vo. pp. 134. San Francisco, 1868. "Theory of Human Progression, and Natural Probability of a Reign of Justice." 12mo. pp. 528. Boston, 1851. By Patrick Dove. "The True Organization of the New Church, as Indicated in the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and Demonstrated by Charles Fourier." 12mo. pp. 454. New York, 1848. By Charles Fulius Hempel. (See dedication of "Homœopathy, a Theoretic Demonstration with Social Applications." By Marx Edgeworth Lazarus, M. D., New York, 1851.) "Vestiges of Civilization; or, the Etiology of History: Religious, Esthetical, Political, and Philosophical." 12mo. pp. 416. New York, 1851. By James O'Connell. (See rticle by A. L. Leubuscher, in N. AND Q., Vol. V, p. 33, 1888.) Now, will some one inform us of the authors of the following anonymous works ? "Apocatastasis (Restitution); or, Progress Backward." A New "Tract for the Times." 8vo. pp. 203. Burlington, Vt., 1854. "An Essay on Transcendentalism." 12mo. pp. 104. Boston, 1842. "A Statement of the Trinitarian Principle, or Law of Tri Personality." 8vo. pp. 123. Boston, 1863. "A Theory of the Universe." 8vo. pp. 91. New York, 1868. |
