An altar is a pile or structure raised above the ground for receiving sacrifices to some divinity. The Greek and Roman altars were various in form, and often highly ornamental; in temples they were usually placed before the statue of the god. In the Jewish ceremonial the altar held an important place, and was associated with many of the most significant rites of religion. Two altars were erected in the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the same number in the temple, according to instructions given to Moses in MountSinai. These were called the altar of burnt-offering and the altar of incense. In some sections of the Christian church the communion-table, or table on which the eucharist is placed, is called an altar. In the primitive church it was a table of wood, but subsequently stone and metal were introduced with rich ornaments, sculpture, and painting. After the introduction of Gothic art the altar frequently became a lofty and most elaborate structure. Originally there was but one altar in a church, but latterly there might be several in a large church, the chief or high altar standing at the east end. Over an altar there is often a painting (an altar-piece), and behind it there may be an ornamental altar-screen separating the choir from the east end of the church. Lights are often placed on or near the altar. Research Altar
There are two orders of St Catherine. The knights of St Catharine on MountSinai are an ancient military order, instituted for the protection of the pilgrims who came to visit the tomb of St Catharine on this mountain.
The Qabbala (Cabala, Caballa, Kabbala) is an ancient esoteric tradition of the Jews. It was supposedly given to Moses on mountSinai in a revelation. Research Qabbala
Aaron was a Jewish patriarch and the brother and assistant of Moses. Together with Moses he led the Israelites out of Egypt, and became the first Jewish high priest. Aaron was of the tribe of Levi. At Sinai, when the people became impatient at the long-continued absence of Moses, he complied with their request in making a golden calf, and thus became involved with them in the guilt of gross idolatry. The office of high-priest, which he first filled, was made hereditary in his family. He died at Mount Hor, allegedly at the age of 123, and was succeeded by his son Eleazar. Research Aaron
The Caloyers are Greek monks, belonging to the order of St Basil, who lead a very austere life. Their most celebrated monastery in Asia is at MountSinai; in Europe at MountAthos. They do not all agree as to their mode of life. Some of them are cenobites; that is, they live in common. Others are anchorites, living alone, or with only one or two companions; and others again are recluses, who live in grottoes or caverns in the greatest retirement, and are supported ly alms supplied to them by the monasteries. Research Caloyer
Felicien-Cesar David was a French musician and composer. He was born in 1810 at Cadenet and died in 1876. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1830, and became an ardent disciple of St Simon, Barthelemy Enfantin, and other social speculators. In 1832, with a few companions, he went to the East in order to realize his dreams of a perfect life, but returned disappointed in 1835. He then published his Melodies Orientates, and soon after his most successful work, Le Desert. Other works are: Moise sur le Sinai, Christophe Colombo, Le Paradis, Le Perle du Bresil, Herculaneum, and Lalla Rookh. Research Felicien-Ceasr David
Horatius Bonar was a Scottish divine and hymn-writer. He was born in 1808 and died in 1889. Educated at the Edinburgh High School and University, he became a minister of the Scottish Church, but left it for the Free Church in 1843, and after being nearly thirty years a minister at Kelso, was from 1866 until his death minister of Ohalmers Memorial Church, Edinburgh. He wrote many religious tracts, sermons, and other works, including Songs for the Wilderness; The Bible Hymn-book; Hymns Original and
Selected; The Desert of Sinai; Hymns of Faith and Hope; Days and Nights in the East; Hymns of the Nativity and other Pieces; etc. Some of his hymns, such as 'I heard the voice of Jesus say', have been extremely popular. Research Horatius Bonar
The Arab-Israeli Wars were a series of wars between Israel and various Arab states in the Middle East since the founding of the state of Israel 1948. The first Arab-Israeli War occurred between the 15th of May 1948 and March 1949. As soon as the independent state of Israel had been proclaimed by the Jews, it was invaded by combined Arab forces. The Israelis defeated them and went on to annex territory until they controlled 75% of what had been Palestine under British mandate. The second Arab-Israeli War broke out on the 29th of October 1956 and lasted until the 4th of November. After Egypt had taken control of the SuezCanal and blockaded the Straits of Tiran, Israel, with British and French support, invaded and captured Sinai and the Gaza Strip, from which it withdrew under heavy US pressure after the entry of a United Nations force.
The third Arab-Israeli War (known as the Six Day War) occurred between the 5th and the 10th of June 1967. It resulted in the Israeli capture of the Golan Heights from Syria; the eastern half of Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan; and, in the south, the Gaza Strip and Sinaipeninsula as far as the SuezCanal.
The fourth Arab-Israeli War (known as the 'October War' or Yom Kippur War, so called because the Israeli forces were taken by surprise on the Day of Atonement, a Jewish holy day) took place from the 6th to the 24th of October 1973. It started with the re-crossing of the SuezCanal by Egyptian forces who made initial gains, though there was some later loss of ground by the Syrians in the north. The war had 19,000 casualties.
From 1978 the presence of Palestinian guerrillas in Lebanon led to Arab raids on Israel and Israeli retaliatory incursions, hostilities which are known as the fifth Arab-Israeli War, but on the 6th of June 1982 Israel launched a full-scale invasion. By the 14th of June Beirut was encircled, and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Syrian forces were evacuated (mainly to Syria) during August, but in February 1985 there was a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the country without any gain or losses incurred. Israel maintains a 'security zone' in southern Lebanon and supports the South Lebanese Army militia as a buffer against Palestinian guerrilla incursions. Research Arab-Israeli Wars
The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment was raised in 1689 on the Roodee, Chester for service under William III. It next served in its home county in 1988. During the intervening 300 years, it has spent much time on garrison duty in the Empire. It has a tradition of having had a detachment at Dettingen. There it won the distinction of wearing the oak leaf whilst parading for Royalty and also on certain Regimental days. The story is that the 22nd protected the king, who was commanding the field, from being taken prisoner by the French. The king picked a sprig of oak from a nearby tree and presented it to them. The Regiment itself at the time was in the Mediterranean, however. The taking of Louisburg in Nova Scotia was its most famous 18th-century event; the Grenadier Company going on with Wolfe to Quebec. A 22nd Grenadier appears to have been present at the death of Wolfe along with Ensign Browne. The regiment proceeded after the Seven Years War to the West Indies and yellow fever, finally taking its place in New York for the American War.
A spell in India led to the 22nd being the only English Regiment in Sir Charles Napier's force to conquer the Scinde. The great battle at Meeanee on 17 February 1843 is celebrated as the Regimental Day. The Regiment spent most of the 19th century in the Indian sub-continent or its dependencies. A 2nd Battalion was raised in 1814 for a short while and re-raised in 1858. It fought in the Boer War in South Africa in 1900. This battalion was amalgamated with the 1st at the end of the Second World War. In the Great War 38 battalions were raised by the Cheshire Regiment. At the outset of the war in 1914 the 1st Battalion was exposed to the brunt of two German Army Corps at the village of Audregnies near Mons. Their heroic stand saved the British Expeditionary Force from a disaster and is celebrated as a second Regimental Day on 24 August. This Battalion was in every major action in France throughout the war and won 35 Battle Honours.
The Territorial and New (Kitchener's) Army Battalions fought in France, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine, Salonika and Mesopotamia. The 12th Battalion won the French Croix de Guerre. Over 8,000 officers and men gave their lives. Between the wars the two regular battalions served in India, Sudan, Palestine and Malta and became noted for their sport and athletic prowess. Just prior to the Second World War the Regiment was armed with the Vickers Machine Gun and became a Support Regiment for the duration of the war. At the outbreak of war the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions TA were re-established. A 30th Battalion (Home Defence) and 39 Home Guard battalions made up the Regimental roll. The 2nd Battalion was at Dunkirk, North Africa and Italy before returning to be part of the initial landing at Normandy. The 1st Battalion was in North Africa and Malta during the siege and finally in NWEurope. The 6th and 7th Battalions fought in Italy. Since the war the 1st Battalion has served in numerous operational areas: Malaya, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and recently in Bosnia under the United Nations. The Regiment now consists of a
1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion (Volunteer). This latter unit is once more a support battalion as history repeats itself. Research Cheshire Regiment
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Altar
