The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-06
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
THE MOSQUE OF ST. SOPHIA.

THE MOSQUE OF ST. SOPHIA
Rev. DR. Hamlin of Bangor delivered an ex.
ceedingly interesting lecture at State street
chafch, last evening, TO large audience on the
celebrated Mosque of st Sophia, and other
architectural remains of Asia Minor. The doc
tor was long time resident of Constantnople
and we can only regret that we cannot do jos
tice to the lecture this morning. The mosque
of ST. Sophia can be visited only by firman
from the Sultan; during some of the feasts,
stands Oh the western declivity of the first hill
near the Sublime Porte. 1t was commenced in
the year 531 by the emperor J1stnisn and
completed IN 538; one hundred architects 100
master masons and 10000 masonS were employ
ed for seven aud q half years. The whole was
superintendent by the emperor under the in-
structions of an angel and cost fabulous
amount. Twenty years after the eastern dome
fell in but was restored by j ustlnian to still
greater splendor. The mosque is 10 the form
of Greek cross 270 feet long by 243 wide, aud
is surmounted 10 the centre by dome, the
middle of which is $50 feet above the floor.
There are in addition, two larger and six small
er semi-domes, with four miparets added by
the Mohamedans, the whole forming mag
niicent appearance from the exterior. The
beauty OF the interior is marre1 by the thOus-
ands of cords depending from the roof to with
in five feet of the pavement and having sns-
pended at the ends lamps of colored glass,
large ostrich eggs, artificial horse-tals, vases,
alob Of crystal and other ornaments. Of the
40 columns of marble, granite and porphyry
eight were taken by Aurelus from the Tenn
pie of the Sun At Buabee and sent by the
widow Marina to Rome, eight in green marble
came from the Temple Of Diana at Ephesus,
others from the temples OF the Sun aud Moon
at Heliopolis, from Athens and the Cyclades.
Thus, every heather temple renowned in al
tiquity furnished part, and the columns
which formerly looked down on its numerous
gods now stand in the house of the Supreme
Lord surmouuted by the cross. The gilded
crescent of the cupola is $50 feet ia diameter
and eau be seen 100 miles at sea. The gliding
cost $4,000 There are smaller crescents on
the tops of the minarets.
LONDON AND THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Rev. Dr.. Bolles will deliver the opening lecs.
ure in the Payson Literary Course at Grand
Army Hall tonight on 'L,ndon and the Brit.
ish Museum" Not only is the topic instruc-
tive and interesting, but it is made doubly so
by the illustrated views thrown on the screen
by the stereoptlcon.
NOTES.
R-v. c. j. Clark delivered very fne lecture
on "Consciencs aud Courage" iu the Congress
street course, to a large audience at the Con-
gress street church last evening.
Rev Mr.. Hamilton will deliver the next leci-
ure in the Congress street course next Monday
evening.
The Mite Society of t1e First Baptist church
will CONTINUE their Loan Exhibition at the
vestry this afternoon and evening There is on
exhibition the oldest book ia the city-pub-
lIshed in 1492-and many other old books, a
table of Chluese aud East India curiOstles, q
picture Of First Parish church WORKED 10 floss,
as it was 100 years ago; also g large collection
of idols and curiosities sent from India by mis-
sionaFies.