The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-06

that many of the places once sanctifed
should be in the hands of the Turk, Ma
homedan or Copt Where once stood the
Temple designed by King David and exc
cuted by Solomon, is now the Mosque of
Omar No one can stand here without the
strongest feelings of emotion. Where
Abraham offered up Isaac; where David
interceded for the plague-stricken people,
and where the Jewish temple, the glory of
Israel stood, there now stands Omar
Mosque grand meaningless pile of ex-
pensiye stuff. We had to pay three francs
to see it, and to pull off our boots and put
on red slippers before going into it. l
wish that some such rule would be made at
st. Peters Church at Rome 1t would
prevent great many persons from showing
disrespeet there, and would have tenden-
CIV to check great deal of idle gaping
The interior of this Mosque is gloomy and
sometimes so dark that one has to wait until
the eve grows accustomed to it, There is
not sign of Christianity here; everything
has meaningless ornaments Yet the stained
glass windows are of great beauty. The
walls are covered with richly colored poree-
lain tiles, on which are inscribed portions
of the Koran The dome is large but com
posed Of wood. The whole structure must
have cost an immense amount of money,
and the heart bleeds to think that the spirit
I of God has fled and abandoned these poor
wretehes of Mahomedanism.
| might go on to give an extensive ac
count of the ruins of the Temple, to show
its wonders, but | viii content myself by
calling attention to the fact how rich Solo
mon was. Ii is stated in the second book
of Kings that :-"S solomon had forty thou
sand stalls of horses for his chariotS, and
there can be no doubt his palace must have
been somewhere close to this place, which
was used as stables by the Knights Templar.
The rings to which their horses were at
tached may still be seen. Wewent through
+ portion of the underground excavations,
and the word wonderful came involun.a-
rily to our lips
On Friday. March Sd. we went to the
jews Wailing Place. on what was the east
wall Of the Temple. 1t Is composed of
enormous blocks Of marble, fifteen feet hong
shd three or four feet deep, with rough
panelled surface. A strange congregation
OF jews gather here every Friday afternoon
from three 20 1--WE O'Clock, from whence
they go To their synasogues. Old men.
with black turbans or caps Of fur, dressed
in dingy. greasy gaberiine, lump their
heads against the wall With bcok in
hand. the body waving 20 aud fro, she bps
mnttering. they vail cut lamentations. IL
Is very much ike = Mahomedan perform
ance. Hundreds are seen here going
through with the most piteoas wsihRgs.
How did pity these poor benighted crea-
turs< But the curse Of God rests heayily
apon them. and the words Of sacred scrip
turc are verified in their behalf He
came unto Ills own and His own received
Him not
Companions and myself are now six
lays in Jerusalem, and what wonderful
sights have we MT seen We first went
to the church Of the Holy Sepulchre on
Mount Calvary. our feelings and sacred
scencss witnessed herc come not under the
head of let,cr writing. but at some future
day when we again return TO Jerusalem
from our Journey through Palestine, hope
To give an account of this Holy Church
On last Friday We had the unsPcakable
privilege of guing through Via Dolorasa,
or street of Sarrows. "a make the Stations
ef the Crues over the way which our divine
Lord Himself tr,d. IL i narrow street,
roughly paved, and Is sacred with the tears
a. many generations Of pilgrims who stroye
to follow in the footsteps of our Lsard. We
expect 10 h. here oa Holy Week and du-
ring the Easter festivities, when viii have
more 70 say about this feeling ceremony.
I cannot close this letter without advert
ing to the kind manner in which We were
received at the hostelry Of the franciscan
Convent here. These Franciscan Fathers
devote themselves 90 the duty of guarding
the Holy Sepulchre. and giving hospitality
10 the pilgrim. Al are perfectly welcome
both Protestant and Catholic Everyone
who comes here Is pHt in most comfortable
quarters. free Of charge, for fifteen days.
OF course il Is al the option Of the pilgrim
10 give a small donation. Hundreds are
entertained every year in rms manner
This Franciscan order has converts in diff
ftrent places throughout Palestine, and We
have already met numerous Protestant
friends who speak in the highest terms Of
praise in eommendation of their kindness
aud hospitality Blu, more anon ON this
subject.
Whilst writing these lines our party,
consisting Of four now, has made con
tract With a dragoman for journey Of
thirty days through Palestine and Syria
We are to pay Sl6O each for this trip
Our hardships win now begin, | suppose
We are TO have ten horses in cur caravan,
for the whole route must be made by horse
We are getting our tents ready and every
thing looks ike business now. propose
to write along the way, but with what sue
cess know not. II. therefore, YOU do not /
hear from me during four or five weeks,
lei not my kind readers and friends imag
inc that the Bedouins of the desert have
held me, but wait patiently for awhile.
We win start from the Damascus gate for
Mount Tabor, Nazareth, Beyrut, Damascus,
Baalbec and know not whereto Mean
while, | trust we shall all return in safety
to our headquarters in Jerusalem
Bethlehem, Church OF the Nativity Horseback /
JOurney-B thel Silo Jacobs Well. Esdrelon 4
NaEreth-fent Life under the Star and Stripes.
n