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Similarly, the Talmud says (Shabbat 147) that 'For the identity of the 'HOUSE' which the Un-
the Lost Ten Tribes came to a calamity be- known had served so gallantly the visitor has
cause of the "Wine of Phrygia" and perhaps merely to raise his eyes to the beautiful West
the reference is to a same drunken feast that Window which lights the memorable words
caused the Scythian leaders to be killed and to on the Warrior's grave. This massive stained-
lose control of the Assyrian Empire. Other glass masterpiece, which was erected in 1735,
parallels can be drawn between descriptions contains four rows of panels. The first three
of the exiled Israelites and the Scythians but rows are composed of full-length figures, the
for the moment the point has been made. fourth being occupied by the Royal arms of
Britain. To show the significance of this win-
-- Yair Davidy, Jerusalem dow, its rows of figures are detailed here
reading from left to right, the central figure in
Westminster Abbey each being printed in parenthesis: (first row):
Abraham, 'Isaac,' Jacob; (second row):
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, 'Judah,' Zebulon, Issa-
This splendid memorial to Celto-Saxon his- char, Dan; (third row): Gad, Asher, Naphtali,
tory was founded, according to tradition, by 'Joseph,' Benjamin, Moses, Aaron; (fourth
King Sebert of the East Saxons. Westminster row): 'The Royal arms of Britain' -- the Lion
Abbey Church -- or, to give it its legal title, and Unicorn, emblem of the united HOUSE
the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westmin- OF ISRAEL.
ster -- is undoubtedly a focus of Christian
worship in the English-speaking world. It is in 'In Westminster Abbey stands the CORONA-
many respects unique, being neither an abbey TION CHAIR, beneath the seat of which lies
nor a cathedral. Westminster Abbey, again, is THE STONE OF DESTINY, the stone which,
not subject either to the Archbishop of Canter- according to tradition, Jacob took for a pillow
bury as head of the Established Church or to (Genesis 28, 18). And in the beautiful Henry
the Bishop of London in whose see it stands. VII Chapel the Knights of the Bath are in-
Yet all the English sovereigns, from William stalled with a ceremony which dates back to
the Conqueror to Queen Elizabeth II have re- the days of KING ARTHUR. Every part of
ceived their coronations in it (excepting, of this building is, indeed, so pregnant with
course, Edward V and Edward VIII, who was meaning that it would be impossible in a short
never crowned).
paragraph merely to catalogue its history and
structure. Words, again, are altogether inade-
Within its hallowed fabric lie the remains of quate to convey the sense of awe with which it
most of Britain's illustrious men and women. strikes its visitors. Those who have experi-
Here, too, is the grave of the Unknown War- enced its atmosphere of peace and grandeur
rior, who, in the words of his gravestone, will not find it difficult to believe that West-
was 'brought from France to lie among the minster Abbey could, as its name implies, be
most illustrious of the land' and was buried truly God's House in the West -- modern
'in the presence of His Majesty King George equivalent of the splendid Temple of Solomon
V, his ministers of State, the Chiefs of his -- God's House in the East.'
Forces and a vast concourse of the
Nation....They buried him among the kings -- Wake Up! November, 1979.
because he had done good toward God and
toward his HOUSE.

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