The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-24

el-Aksa | noticed some broken column.
and stones, on one of which were Hebrew
characters; also triple gate in the soutl
wall which must have belonged to the ole
temple. The mosque is an altered Chris
tian church, supposed to have been built by
Justinian in the sixth century. 1t is 27s
feet long by 1874 wide, has seven aisles, and
the interior is supported by 40 columns.
These columns are of different orders and
even different sizes, showing that they were
not originally designed for their present
uses. In the wall of the south end are
some of the most perfect Mosaics 1 have
seen, but the stained windows, while very
beautiful, are not SO rich as those of the
"Dome."
In the southeast corner of this general
enclosure is the little chapel of Jesus-the
Mohammedans not hesitating to account
Jesus as prophet. Through it, by a flight
of steps descending about sixty feet, you
come to an immense excavation, supported
by massive arches resting upon columns.
Here is what is called Solomon Stables.
This area was probably occupied as stalls
for the horses of the crusaders, and may
have been used by Solomon for like pur-
pose. This shows how all the extended
portions of the temple ground, were sup
ported, resting on arches sustained by pill
lars until the great wall was reached.
Coming out of this depth, looked down
from the southeast corner of the walls into
the valley of Jehoshaphat, or Kidron, as
far as to En- Roget or Joab's Well, where
the kidron and Hermon come together,
nearly to the junction of which this same
eastern wall in ancient times used to run.
encompassng the hill Ophel, and with it,
some say, Solomon's great house which
was the wonder of the Queen of Sheba.
Walking on the wall northward, could
not resist the temptation to straddle the
column which sticks out of the wall toward
the valley, on which Mohamet is to sit at
the Judgment Of the world. The Golden
Gate is now approached, walled up on the
outside, but very handsome open court
on the inside. The antiquity of this gate
is proved by the massive monolithic lambs
on which the ancient gates turned. 1t
marks the extent of the temple area, all
north of it having been added at subse-
quent period. This area was approx
mately 1000 feet square, while the present
area includes third as much more from
fn g,
scarcely more than sort of holy park, to
which the Mohammedans resort for prayer,
gossip, and lounging. 1t is sadly neglected,
and evinces the want of taste and enter
tries.
We are again at ST. Stephens Gate, in
the east wall. Going out at it, stroll
moment along this wall, noting some of
the great stones with beveled edges, .espe-
cialy near the southeast angle, which may
have belonged to the original wall built by
Solomon. Sixty-fve feet deeper down, and
DETECTING from the perpendicular line of
the wall, similar stones are found. A moat
runs along the wall, and between it and the
valley of Jehoshaphat is a Mohammedan
burial ground. The Mussulman deems it
a great object to be buried here; while the
jew, wishing to be as near the temple
ground as possible, must be content with a
spot over on the slope of Olivet above Alb
salom's tomb, and the tombs of Zachariah
and of st. James. Returning to St. Steph-
ems Gate, am reminded of the close neigh
borhood of spot the spell of which quick
ems my pulse and. my step. This well-worn
path winds down the hill over the brook
kidron, and leads to Olivet, Bethany and
Gettsemane. l think of One who came fire.
quently to it; but think of Him especially
on that sad night when the bright Passover
moon lighted Him to His agony. Crossing
the little stream, the Garden is Immediately
on our right in the fork of the road which
leads around to Bethany and on to Jericho,
and that which runs directly up to the
brow of Olivet. 1t is surrounded by high
stone wall. was disappointed to find it
thus hedged in, but recollected that most
gardens around cities in ancient or in mod
ern times were enclosed by walls. Admis-
sion is gained at little door on the south
east. A monk receives you. The Garden
has a walk around it, in following which,
you pass the fourteen different pictures of
Christ in his last sufferings. These pic
lures have only lately been put up, and
give an example or two: l. Jesus sentenced
to death; 4. Jesus meets his mother; 8. his
third fall under his cross. Within the walk
is a wooden paling fence running around
the holy ground, which is again divided
and subdivided into four parts. But we
will not mind the fences. The flowers, too,
so pretty and so assiduously cultivated by
the brothers are of little moment. These
old olive trees are the attraction; one par
gnarled, scraggy and heart-eaten,
is pointed out as that under which Christ's
agony took place. "And they came to
place which was named Gethsemane; and
he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here while I
shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter
and James and John, and began to be sore
amazed, and to be very heavy And saith
unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful
unto death; tarry ye here and watch. And
he went forward little and fell on the
ground and prayed, that if it were possible
the hour might pass from him." "And
being in an agony he prayed more earnestly;
and his sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground" This
tree may not be, is not-though the olive
lives to a great age-the identical one un-
der which the Saviour suffered, but there
can be no doubt but it and it's neighbors
are successors of the grove in which he
prayed. My emotions were strong as l
stood there, and l could not resist the i'm
pulse to get furtively behind the tree and
pray.-Msthodisi.
Is "Sun-baths are to be taken not oftener
than daily, and in cases of great debility
three times a week are amply sufficient if
taken on the nude person. Water baths
and SUM- baths should seldom be taken on
Al, c,,l