The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-12

mosque is built directly over the famous
rock which was the Jewish ''hoiy of
holes, upon which the ark OF the cove
nant stood, and upon which was in
scribed the "unutterable name of
God" Underneath il is cave
where the followers OF Islam believe that
Mohammed spent the night previous to
his fight to heaven on the back OF his ce-
lestial horse I'D Burak. They assert that
the rock, in its devotion, tried TO follow
after him and was only kept from doing
so by the strong grasp of the angel Ga
briel, and in proof of that fact triumph
antly point out his tinger-marks on the
stone, as well as the print Of the prophets
foot-and it would indeed be doubling
Thomas who would not believe after that
They say that since that time the huge
rock has been suspended in air without
any support whatever, although to
unbelievers it appears that a strong
to do with il. A stone slab
in the floor here covers the well Of spir-
its, from which on the day of judgment
the faithful will be jerked up for final dis
position by the top-knot, which all good
Mohammedans always have growing on
top of their heads. On the wall of the
mosque they show fiat stone which for
merly had nineteen nails driven partly
into il, but now there are only three and
one-half left, the devil having maliciously
managed to hammer the others into the
stone. Should he succeed in his efforts 10
so dispose of them all the world will imme-
diately come to an end. Just outside the
man entrance stands a small structure
called the Tribunal of David" or the
Dome of the Chain, which is alleged to
cover the site of King David's judy
ment seat, where disputed cases were
adjudicated by the king in person.
Within the Haram limits stands au-
other mosque called the "El Aska, which
was originally a Christian church. built
by the Emperor Justinian in honor of the
virgin. In this building stands two pill
lars placed so closely together that it looks
impossible for the ordinary person 10 pass
between them, but all Mohammedan Wis
itors try it, as they believe that those who
can 90 through successfully are sure of
paradise, and that the largest man can
succeed in so doing if he is worthy of an
entrance to heaven. OF course / went
through without turning hair. Below
this mosque are immense subterranean
chambers known as the STABLES of Solo
mon, and there is strong reason for be-
lieving that they were in some way
closely connected with the temple or
palace of Solomon. These huge blocks of
stone show great age, and are finished off
in the style peculiar to that remote period.
According to our biblical information,
Solomon had 10000 stalls of horses for
his chariots, and 1900 horsemen" Il
Kings iv, 26. 50 that it was necessary TO
have an abundance of stable-room, such
as these mammoth remains evidence, and
ii is known that the knightstemplars used
them for stables in the DAYS of the Chris
tian occupation. Near the mosque may
be seen 4 marble fountain called FL Has
(The Cup) beneath which are the great
"Cisterns of Solomon, cut out of the
natural rock. Here, il is believed, was
placed the kings grand molten Sea, ten
cubits IRON the one brim to the other,
which was wrought like the brim OF a cup
with flowers of lilies, and il contained
1900 baths"-1 Kings, vii, 1926. Still
further along by the eastern wall of the
Enclosure stands a small mosque called
the Throne OF Solomon where 1t is
claimed the king was found dead. and q
little bevond on the outside, through an
opening in the wall, may be seen the
famous healing spool of Bethesda" Con-
tinuing along the side of the Haram wall
a broken pillar is seen projecting outtrom
itin the direction of the ''Tale OF Jehosho-
phat," which the Mohammedans believe
marks the chosen place where Mohammed
will locate himself like "Humpty Dumpty
on the Wall. when he comes on the last
great day to sit in judgment on the deeds
of departed Mussulmans. A line no thicker
than hairs breadth viii then be
attached to this pillar and stretched
across the valley to the opposite side over
which will walk in safety all those who
are to be saved, while the wicked will 60
tumbling off into hell. This celebrated
valley is also the place where the elect
among the Jews expect 70 be gathered
when the long-expected Messiah arrives,
and for that reason it is the favorite place
of burial for those Of that faith who dwell
in Jerusalem. the hill-sides being covered
with Jewish graves.
Here above the Brook Kidron" are 20
be seen the notable tombs OF st. James,
Zechariah, Jehoshophat and Absalom.
The latter is quite pretentious monu-
ment but its front is completely blocked
by pile of loose stones made by each
passing Arab throwing a rock upon IL to
show his detestation of the conduct of the
wicked and rebellious son of David. This
is the tomb which "Absalom in his life
time had taken and reared up for him
SELF as place of burial, land he called
the pillar after his own name, and it is
called unto this day Absalom's place."
Oh Samuel, xviii, 49,.
WILL E. ENGLISH.