REPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 71 



the Covenant with the two tables of the Decalogue, above which are 

 two cherubim, the altar of incense, the candlestick, and the breast- 

 plate of the high priest, the whole being surmounted by the three 

 crowns of the Law, the Priesthood, and the Kingdom, and inclosed 

 between wings which symbolize the presence of God. Next follow 

 the articles used on feast days, such as cups, covers and spice boxes 

 of the Sabbath; a complete set of embroidered tablecloths, silver, 

 glass and china ware for the semiritual Passover meal; shofar, lulab, 

 and ethrog, and numerous Hanukah lamps of silver, copper, and 

 brass, some of them of artistic workmanship. One case is given to 

 objects used on special occasions, such as a complete silver set of the 

 utensils of circumcision, illuminated marriage contracts, wedding 

 rings, slaughtering Imife, etc.; and objects of the home, such as 

 mezuzoth, mottoes, amulets, mizrahs. In still another case is a series 

 of embroideries and tapestries depicting Bible narratives, such as 

 the sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph in Egypt, the worshiping of the golden 

 calf, the fight of David and Goliath, etc. 



The daughter religions of Judaism, namely, Christianity and 

 Mohammedanism, come next in sequence. The latter, in two cases, 

 is represented by a model of a mosque, manuscripts of the Koran 

 upon their inlaid stands, mosque lamps of open brass work, flags and 

 tablets, some of the equipment of pilgrims to Mecca, and the cos- 

 tumes and utensils of several of the Dervish orders. 



The Christian collection is obviously confined to the illustration 

 of the ceremonies and usages of the ritual branches of Christianity; 

 that is, the Eoman Catholic and Eastern Churches. The former oc- 

 cupies an alcove of three cases. In the center is a wooden altar, 7 

 feet 3 inches high, dating probably from the seventeenth century, 

 and once belonging to a Roman Catholic church in Hildesheim, Ger- 

 many, which is adorned with a painting representing the Holy 

 Family. Upon and around this altar are ranged the appurtenances 

 of the church services, as chalice and paten, cruets, candlesticks and 

 hanging lamps, censers and incense boats, holy-water fountains and 

 sprinklers, cibories, and ostensory; and then the vestments for the 

 celebration of the mass and benediction, as albs, stoles, and chasubles 

 of fine brocade with rich embroidery in silver, a Philippine dalmatic 

 of purple velvet embroidered in gold, a cope and veil. In the side 

 cases are exhibited an episcopal mitre, crozier, and pectoral ; proces- 

 sional crosses and banners, reliquaries, religious medals, statuettes 

 and plaques representing the Virgin Mary and several saints; devo- 

 tional objects, such as scapulars, rosaries, prayer books, votive offer- 

 ings and amulets. Monastic life is shown by the habits of several 

 orders, disciplinary girdles, scourges, etc., while in a special case is 

 a lay figure draped with the costume of the great fraternity of the 

 Misericordia in Italy. Another altar from Hildesheim, 15 feet in 



