A TRUMPET OF ZION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1824, 25 April 1888, Page 3

A TRUMPET OF ZION

la the Royal Museum of Copenhagen there is, and has been for more than two hundred and teventy-five years, a golden trumpat, known throughout Denmark as the "Danish Horn,", with engraved emblems, comprising the (symbol of purity, the triple lily. Its weight is 102 ounosß and it mcaanres 2ft 9inß m length. This horn is s-id to be a genuine trumpet of Zlon. The surrounding clrcumatancoa strongly sustain the position, and up to the present time there has not been tho slightest doubt as to thes>enaineno3s of the relic. The lily, as a symbol of purity, was generally carried ia the right band by the vestal virgins of tho temple ; if also forms the emblem on the " Bhekel," the Jewißh coin. There are also dlßcernable the much-effaced remains of what has the appearance of pomegranates, and tracoa of an inficription which, as fp.r aa it can ba made put, is engraved m that kind of Hebrew characters known as tho Samarlio text. Tho emblems and inscription may be easily accounted for and accepted for the meaning of the word " Jshovahr."

The trumpet was discovered by a farmer'a daughter, partly concaaled m tho ground, In 1(330, m the diocesa of Rypeny, Jutland. Aa to how it found its way rrom Palestine to Denmark osn only bo oorjsctured at. It la accepted as a fact that the relic at one tims was ono of tho Instruments anciently used m Solomon'a Temple. Certain ornaments, end especially the beautiful engraving near the i opening of the large end of tho Instrument, forming a tarretod border around ita edge, are the moet convincing proofs for this position. When Titii3 Veßpaaianue, the youthful Roman General, subjugated Judea and destroyed Its temple, ho took the renowned tables, the eaven-bianch candlestick, the " Sacred Books " and the trumpets to Rome, where they were, with other trophies of victory, carried In proceesion through tho oity In honor of the conqueror. Upon the arch of Titus these things were sculptured, and may bo Been In Rome m a fair stato of preservation to-day. The " Sacred Books " the victor presented to Josephaa Flavins, the I Jewish historian . Afterward, when Tltua became Emperor of Rome,|the instrument s and "tablus of show bread," by decree of the Senate and. Council nf 0 wore placed m the great temple of Jupiter. Between the fourth and sixth centuries Rome was overrun by hordeß of northern barbarians; The city was taken, religioa for the time dethroned, and tho temples, regardless of their sanctity, sacred or historical, wore Bacrileglonßly plundered. After their retreat from Rome tho Vandr*ls carried off with them the sppila they had soizid m the temples This trumppt of gold, which corresponds m every particular with the trumpets eculptured upon the " Arch of Titas," was doubtleeo carried to the North with the other plunder, and In turn lobl by the conquerors of the Jews, j Another illustration of tho old adage, I that ''history repeats itself."