ZECH, Frederick, American pianist and composer: h. Philadelphia, Pa., 10 May 1858. Taken to San Francisco when very young, he b to study music there and afterward stud in Berlin. 1877-82. Since the year last named he has resided in San Francisco, where be has been conductor of the symphony orches tra and has giscri many piano recitals. Among his many compositions are four symphonies, four concertos for piano and orchestra, a con certo for violin, one for 'cello; two string quar tettes; three sonatas for violin and piano; two for clarinet and piano, one sonata for 'cello and piano. one for flute and piano; several sympho nic poems: 'The Eve of Saint Agnes,' 'The kaven': 'Lamle' after Keats, and 'The Wreck of the Hesperus' after Longfellow; operas 'The Cruise of the Excelsior' and (Walanyon,' a North American Indian Opera, sonatas and zek-e-ri'ts, the 11th in order of the Hebrew writers known as minor prophets. Little is known of his personal his tory, but he first publicly discharged his office as priest in the second year of Darius 519 it.c. He is caged in his prophecy the son of Bere dtiah and the grandson of Iddo, but in the Book of Ezra (v, 1; vi, 14) he is termed 'the son of Iddo.' He was priest as well as prophet and is associated with the prophet Haggai. Tradition states that Zechariah had much to do in furnish ing the liturgical services of the temple, and in the Septuagint and Vulgate versions several psalms are attributed to him. He deals in his prophecy with the same objects as occupied the mind of the prophet Haggai. His style is char acterized by srnbolie vision and dramatic ac tion, It is distinctly Apocalyptic. This form of prophecy never predominated until after the Exile and seems to have constituted an element in the last and most powerful appeal made by the mouthpieces of Jehovah to the heart and conscience of His people.
Contents of the Prophecy.— The great por tion of the Book consists of a series of visions intended to represent grounds for national con fidence and to encourage national effort. The prophecy opens with an exhortation to repent ance and a warning against neglect of the prophet's word. The remainder of the book consists of two sections. The first section runs from chapters i to vi.
Ch. 1, 15, contains nine symbols, mostly vis ions, accompanied by their interpretations.
ch. 8-17, a vision of the horses of Jeho sah. which, as His messengers, report to Him; His reply.
i, 18-21, four horns, representing the op ponents of Israel, are broken.
(.11. ii, a man with a measuring-line lays out the restored Jerusalem.
Ch. Joshua, the high priest, is accused by Satan, and acquitted, and is honored with com missions and revelations from Jehovah.
C11. is, the beautiful symbol of the golden candlestick and two olive trees, with the prac tical application of encouragement to Zerub babeL Ch. v, 1-4, a flying roll recording a curse upon immoral actions.
Ch. v, 5-11, an epliah measure containing a woman is seen carried away to Babylon.
Ch. vi, 1-8, four chariots, each having horses of a particular color, arc the four heavenly spir its charged to carry out God's purposes in the earth.
Ch. vi, 9-15, the symbolical action of crowns of silver andold being made and placed upon J the head of Joshua the high-priest. who thus represents the Messiah-priest upon His throne.
The second section runs from chapters vii to xiv. In ch. vii the prophet, in answer to a question as to observance of a certain fast, re plies that the true fast is justice, mercy and piety, which had been so much neglected in ear lier generations. Thissts, in ch. viii. the coming Messianic time, when the city shall be populous and happy under the renewed protec tion of Jehovah, and the fasts shall be joyful feasts, attended by multitude of strangers seek ing His favor.
There is so much that is matter of dispute in ch. ix-xiv, as regards their date and immediate application, that we shall have to content our selves with a summary and a few general re marks. The contents are largely symbolical and figurative. Ch. ix-xi, form a division by them selves, perhaps written by the Zechariah of Isa. viii, 2. It has an entirely different historical setting from that of ch. i, 8. Here we are trans ported back to the 8th century B.C. Ch. ix, 1-4 refers to conquests made by Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 ac.). Northern Israel is still in exist ence, and Assyria is still in its (x, 10ff). These allusions form part of the very texture of the prophecy, and are assumed by some to be old fragments embedded in a post-Exilic work.
Ch. ix, 1-8, Syria, Pheenicia and Philistia are to be brought low. Yet a remnant of the Philistines shall be united with Judah, and both shall be under the protection of Jehovah. Ch. ix, 9-17, the Messiah shall come as the Prince of Peace to restore the dispersed of Israel, and save them from their enemies. Ch. x, the people are entreated to turn to Jehovah in their troubles, and not to diviners and images. Je hovah will be the defender alike of Judah and Israel, restoring and strengthening theta and bringing low their oppressors. Ch. xi an nounces the shock of war which appals the rulers of Judah (ver. 1-3). The rest of the chapter is allegorical. It represents Jehovah as rejected by His people, they being in turn rejected by Him, their true Shepherd. By an expressive figure, the brotherhood of Judah and Israel is declared to be broken. Ch. xii, 1 to xiii, 6, the nations come against Jerusalem; but Jehovah defends and saves it. The conflict is shown to be spiritual, for a spirit of grace and supplication is to be poured upon Judah and Jerusalem. Also a fountain is to be opened for the cleansing of guilt, and the idols and false prophets are to be banished. Ch. xiv — Again Jerusalem is besieged, and this time it is taken, half the people going into exile; but the residue are saved. After various figurative illustra tions of the processes and results of the Mes sianic reign, it is declared that the survivors among the nations shall go up to worship in Jerusalem, which shall be wholly consecrated to Jehovah.