Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Masrekah (Heb. Masrekah’, , vineyard; Sept. , ), a place apparently in Idumuea, the native place of Samlah, one of the Edomitish kings (Gen 36:36; 1Ch 1:47). The student will observe that while some of these kings are mentioned with the addition, and the name of his town was,’ others are introduced as coming from’ … Continue reading “Masrekah”

Maspha Name of several places in the Bible. The Septuagint transcribes Masphá, Massephá, Massephát; Vulg.: Maspha and Masphath (once Masphe, Masepha, Mespha); Hebrew: Míçpeh and Míçpah; the latter almost invariably in pause. The word, with many other proper names, is derived from ÇPH=watch, observe, and means “watch- tower” (speculum, skopía), which sense it bears twice … Continue reading “Maspha”

Masorah, Masoreth, or Massoreth ( ), the technical term given to a grammatico-critical commentary on the O. Test., the design of which is to indicate the correct reading of the text with respect to words, vowels, accents, etc., so as to preserve it from all corruption, putting an end to the exercise of unbounded individual … Continue reading “Masorah, Masoreth, or Massoreth”

MASORA A term in the Jewish theology, signifying a work on the Bible, performed by several learned rabbins to secure it from any alterations which might otherwise happen. Their work regards merely the letter of the Hebrew text, in which they have first fixed the true reading by vowels and accents; they have, secondly, numbered … Continue reading “MASORA”

Masons An organization whose members are so bound to secrecy that they may not disclose its purposes, practises, or activities to competent civil or ecclesiastical authority. As such secrecy may be and commonly is used as an instrument for the benefit of the members to the disadvantage of others in the community, and as it … Continue reading “Masons”

Masonry An organization whose members are so bound to secrecy that they may not disclose its purposes, practises, or activities to competent civil or ecclesiastical authority. As such secrecy may be and commonly is used as an instrument for the benefit of the members to the disadvantage of others in the community, and as it … Continue reading “Masonry”

Masona, bp. of Merida Masona (Massona, Mausona, Mansi, ix. 1000; x. 478), bp. of Merida from c. 571 to c. 606. Except for the de Vita et Miraculis Patrum Emeritensium, a series of Lives attributed to Paulus Diaconus, a supposed writer of the 7th cent. (printed by Florez, Esp. Sagr. xiii., by Aguirre, Coll. Max. … Continue reading “Masona, bp. of Merida”

Mason, William an English divine of some note, son of the vicar of St. Trinity Hall, was born in 1725; was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge, and made fellow of Pembroke College in 1747. In 1754 he took holy orders, became rector of Aston, Yorkshire, chaplain to the king, and was for thirty-two years … Continue reading “Mason, William”

Mason, Sumner R., D.D a Baptist minister, was born at Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, June 14, 1819. He was for two years a member of Yale College (1838-40); then became a member of the First Baptist Church in New Haven, and devoted the next seven years to teaching, most of the time in Nashville, Tenn., … Continue reading “Mason, Sumner R., D.D”

Mason, Richard Angelus a S. Francisco English — or Irish — Franciscan writer; b. in Wiltshire, 1599; d. at Douai, 30 Dec, 1678. There is some dispute as to the nationality of his extraction: while it is agreed that he was a native of the English county of Wiltshire, a Franciscan MS. record, dated 1721, … Continue reading “Mason, Richard Angelus a S. Francisco”