Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1860-04-27
AN AMERICAN IN JERUSALEM.

ErIn ne Homo Journal
Mount Moriah occupies the southeastern
portion Of Jerusalem. and is separated from
Mount Zion By fhe Trrouson Valley, (aIsC
known by the unhistorical name Of the Valley
Of the Cheesemongers,) which extends in a
southerly direction through the city. These
two mounts were, at an early period, united bv
a bridge Of several arches, crossing the valley:
the bridge is nc longer standing, but the base
Of one Of the arches is stll pointed out. and
is an object Of especial interest 20 an tourists.
Mount MoTiah, with its far-famed Mosque
OF Omar, lies much under that part Of the city
where / dTe't: so that TIE whole Of the
grounds within the i~nclosure were spread ont
ike a map before me. The mosque is not 50
much q single edihce as a collection Of build
iuEs. Is proper appell2tion IS Fl Y1ram
which signifies, IN The Turkish language. a
temple place consecrated BY he presence
OF divinity. The MussClmans, we are told,
recognize Only two temples as especially holy,
namely, this one and the mosque at Mecca.
This Of Omar occupies the site Of the ancient
temple The historians describe this temple as
having measured one thousand FIRE hundred
and sixty-nine feet in length, BY nine hundred
and thirty-eight feet in breadth. The present
Fl Koran forms a court or cl0sed area, and
ia entered by zine gates-of which Eve arr on
the west side, one on the northwest, and three
on the north side. Mount Moriah Is celebrated
a. having been regarded By he Jewish Rabbis
as the identical spo. on which Abraham
offered, a. a sacrifice, bis son Isaac.
Inturning from the southern h the northern
section Of the city, my guide, a learned Arms-
nian, well acquainted with its topography,
pointed ont the valley traversing the city
from West-sOuth-west to east-north-east rx-
tending TO the St. Stephens, or eastern gate.
forming the two eminences or bills OF AGRA
and Bezhtha, living to The north o. Zion and.
Moriah- On Bezetha once stood the palace
OK Herod, and a. no great distance from its
ste IS the church Of Flagelstia, erected on the
spot where our Savior underwent the ignomin-
ious punishment Of stripes. Mount AGRA is
situated on TIE northwest side % the city, and
includes within its limits the ancient uool Of
Hezekiab, which is n0w flled win water. On
this bill Is situated all that remains Of the nal
ace Of the knigbts 81 s.. John. and also what
tradition recognizes as Mont Calvary. on
whose site stands The church Of the HOLY
Sepulchrr-bevoni an doubt the most inter
esting object IN Jerusalem I CARED long AMI
atteHtivey upon il, and ny mind was naturally
drawn 70 consider the questions Of which 90
much has been said and written Did the sec
ond val or the city, az discovered bv Jose
phus, embrace the site Of this church From
what have read IN regard 10 this subject. /
have long entertained the opinion that it did
not and my belief N this is strengthened bv|
my visits here, and the assuranceof nv learn
ed friend, who has long been an inhabitant OF
Jerusalem, whose opinions accord with mine
il every respect. I have even believed that
Helena, the aged and pious mother Of Con-
s~tantine, could not have been deceived hv
those persons who pointed out the site, on Der
visit % jerusalem f0ri &c was less than three
centuries from the time OF the crucifxion TO
the date OF the Inauguration II The church BY
the illustrious Bishop Eusebius, in the pres
49, - NhLm-.LI- -
come from all parts Of The western and eastern
world to witness the interesting ceremony. and
% listen 70 The panegyric o. the Savior from
the mouth OF one Of the most holy and learned
OF men.
Besides, il should be rocoTeetsd, that 10 or
der to keep that thrilling event alive IL the
minds Of that generation Il would have re-
quired only four persons, each Of the sgs Of
serea'Y-hve years, through WHOM I'd nav have |
bcen handed down to their respective descend
ants. Again, I would further remark that the !
walls Of The city would embrace q, may have |
formed a portion Of third wall, erected BY
King Agrippa some ten wears after the ernci- 1
hxion OF, this church Hay have been inelosed
within the walls when they were built BY
Adrian, A.. d. 100; or, Whsn they were rebuilt
BY the Empress Eadixis, A. D. f37.
Again, let il be borne IN mind that the walls I
Of he city were battered down and rebuilt /
several times. with many aitsraions. during
TIE eighty-eight years q was held BY the Cru !
and T. may have been erected BY them
IN order 70 pro.eet the sacred edifce: for. dur
ing the whole Of that e%ventful era, peace sell
don dEeit within tie inclosure. The walls \
surrounded the greater part Of that period
numerous hostile nations, AID jerusalem
In a constant state Of siege. There Is a
Fast body OF evidence TO prove that the spot
On which that edihce now stands IL really
hat which was consecratsd by the burial q