MR. ALCOTT. And why not Lucy, and Welles, and every one of you? Why not joy in heaven when you were born, and angels sing? (SeeNote 108.) (All smiled.) Ideas of MR. ALCOTT. This passage needs no paraphrase. What is a paraphrase? SEVERAL. Thoughts put into words, into any person's words. JOSIAH. Putting sense into words. For instance, if I wanted to paraphrase the Bible, I should say There was a good man whose name was God, and he sent another good man whose name was Jesus. ANOTHER. Paraphrasing is telling God's meaning. GEORGE K. You paraphrase when you change the large words into words small enough for us to understand. JOHN D. When you read a story, you change the words into your own. WILLIAM C. Taking other words for the same thoughts. (Every scholar answered in like manner. All had the idea.) to MR. ALCOTT. Some people think it wrong paraphrase the Bible, because the person who paraphrases may misunderstand, and use wrong words, or put a false sense. There is danger of this. But do you think there is so much danger of my doing so, as of your missing the true meaning without the paraphrase? (No! was the general answer.) When I paraphrase I do not put better words. The Bible itself has usually the best expression, but I sometimes use other and plainer words; and now tell me, How many of you like to have me paraphrase, and understand the sense better? (All held up hands.) ONE. Every lesson is more interesting than the last! MR. ALCOTT. I am glad that your interest continues as we proceed. The subjects become more and more interesting. In our next conversation we shall speak of the consecration in the temple at Jerusalem. CONVERSATION XI. CONSECRATION OF SPIRIT TO SELF RENEWAL. RELIGION. Description of the Temple. -Consecration in the Temple, from the Sacred Text. Naming and Blessing. Pictures of the Consecration. SelfControl. Self-Sacrifice. Emblems. Inspiration. Spiritual Triumph. - Temperance. - Self-Renewal. - Spiritual Growth. Description of the Temple. Mr. Alcott began the conversation by reading a description of the Jewish Temple. He spoke of one of Raphael's Cartoons, representing the beautiful gate of the temple, (lately exhibited), and which many of the children had seen. He then read the Before the Vulgar Era, 5. Julian Period, 4709. Temple at *Exod. xiii. 2. Numb. xviii. 15. † Levit. xii. 2, 6. CONSECRATION IN THE TEMPLE. Naming and LUKE ii. 21-39. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, Joseph called his name JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, * Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to † that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against, 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. At their request he read this lesson twice, and explained the law of Moses respecting purification and consecration of children. MR. ALCOTT. Now what have you in Pictures of the Consecration. your minds? EDWARD C. The turtle-doves, but I do not know what they were for. JOSIAH. I had a picture of the christening. (See Note 109.) (He described the temple with ornaments of gold; the priests' dresses; Simeon with a beard and long robe, holding the child up on one arm, and raising the other to heaven, — kneeling, and with little hair on his head; Anna, very young, stretching out both hands thanking God.) MR. ALCOTT. Let us not have so many of these pictures to-day; we had a great many last time; let us have more thoughts and fewer images. LEMUEL. I thought the temple was as large as the state house, and there was an altar and knife laying on it, with a pearl handle and golden blade; the priest had the child and Mary and Joseph were kneeling. MR. ALCOTT. You are thinking of the circumcision, though I did not dwell on that. FRANK. I imagined the temple and the child standing on the altar. Joseph had on a gold striped long gown, and Mary had a silver striped gown, and a pearl on her head. The floor was covered with apples, and things to be sacrificed. AUGUSTINE. I imagined the temple was a good deal like this temple, and had one room larger than this. The altar was mahogany, with steel on the top, to keep it from being burned. There was a knife with a golden carved handle and silver blade. The two turtle-doves were standing on the altar, waiting for the priest to offer them up. And there was a pulpit, with a minister in it, reading out of a book. Mary and Joseph were before the altar, looking happy, and thinking about what the priest was reading. Simeon had the child and was caressing him. And they all had white caps on. There was a congregation of people sitting behind as in a common church. The sacrifice was made with sweet smelling wood, |