The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-02-15

where judas betrayed Thirst by KISS.
tonlbs of Zacharias. St. James. Pillar of
Absalom. The tomb of the Virgin
Mary is at the bottom of this valley. A
church has been erected over it. belong
ing to several churches. AT six a. m.
there were many there worshipping.
And at that same early hour we saw
FIVE hundred Russian pilgrims coming
down the hill The Russian pilgrims
walk all over the Holy Land and what
they save by so doing give to their
church. They often get caught in the
rain and a good many die from expos
ure. About four years ago, forty of
them passed away in this manner at one
time.
One of the first objects pointed out
within the CITY is the Tower of David
upon Mount Zion. the lower stones OF
which are the original stones placed
there SO long ago. Our drdgomaa
(guide) next took us. to Solomon's
Temple grounds: the Mosque of Omar
occupies the site of the old Temple,
Just outside the door of the Mosque is
the judgment seat of David and Solo
mon The Mosque OF Omar is remark
able for its mosaics and ancient columns.
Beneath its dome is the great rock upon
which Abraham was going 10 offer up
Isaac. This huge stone is surrounded
by fence. There is hole in the fence
so that one may touch the sacred spot.
The MohammedanS believe that Mo-
manned assembled from this rock, that
the rock wanted TO follow him to heav-
en- and that the angel Gabriel had to
hold it to prevent its departure, They
show you the prints of GabrierS hands.
You know the story is that when Abra-
ham was ordered not to sacrifice Isaac
that there was a ram caught in some
bushes close by which was offered up.
In one of the churches that we visited
was the picture of the above story and
it had the ram hanging by its horns in
a high tree close by. You would have
had to smile if you had seen it. You
have heard of people trying to buy their
way TO leaven. In this Mosque is a
| marble stone with fourteen nail holes,
and FIVE nails driven into it. The fol-
lowers of Mohammed believe that when
the remaining nails are extracted that
the world is coming to an end, that the
devil had them all pulled out except the
five, when Gabriel stopped him. The
priest told us that by touching a differ
ent coin to each nail-head, our pathway
to heaven was insured. We, of course,
all bought our way to heaven. In an
other Mosque close by are two pillars
very close together to which is attached
the superstition that those who pass be-
tween are saved. The pillars are much
worn away and the government had it
closed as many injured themselves by
trying to get between them. Beneath
the Temple grounds are Solomon
stables. Some of the stones of the old
| stables constitute part of the present
wall OF the city. Near the golden gates
of the city, now closed, on the eastern
wall is pillar projecting from the wall
upon which many think JESUS will stand
when Gabriel blows his trrnnpes. The
pool of Bethesda still exists. The ruins
of the judgment hall where Christ was
condemned by Plate was verv interest,"
ing to me. These ruins are under
ground several feet. In some places the
streets of the present city are fifty feet
above the streets of the old city. The
most touching thing that l have seen
for long time is the Jews Wailing
Place. Hundreds of Jews, men, women
and children standing before the re-
mains of the outer wall of the Temple
some swaying their bodies back and
forth as they read passages from Jere-
niah and the Lamentations, others pray
ing, weeping and kissing the wall An
extremely pitiful sight The guide says
that one of the Rothschilds pays the
Sultan so that the Hebrews may wor-
ship here. One can distinguish the
Jews here by the long curl that hangs
on each side of their faces / sometimes
am taken for a Jew. / met very nice
fellow the other day, and asked him
what nationality he was. He told me
he was French Jew and in return ask
ed me if | were not an American Jew.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is
not MAGNIFICENT structure 1t is very
mediocre indeed A piece of the stone
that was rolled away is lust outside of
Christ's tomb. There is round, dark
cavity in the tomb that is illumined by
the light of heaven every Easter Day
at two-thirty .. m. This light is man.
ufactured in some way and is all
sham. Did not suppose that such a
fraud existed in this holy place at this
enlightened day. Tickets are more at
premium upon this dav than they ever
are at a prize fight Calvary is reached
by ascending flight of stairs. An
image of the Virgin that is there has
been adorned by many precious jewels
left by the pilgrims. Another spot is
shown you where they say that God got
the dirt that Adam was made ont of.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is
owned bv several denominations. the
keys of which are held by Mohammedan
watchmen in order to prevent anv alter
cations arising over them. Some of the
other places pointed out are David's
resting place where Peter denied
Christ three times. where the Last Sup
per was eaten. Solomon's quarries Under
the city. the Tonbs of the Kings. Pool
of Gihon. Field of Blood. the Potters
Field. which is cave. There are many
bones and skulls still to be seen in it.
Last night was Christmas eve for the
Greeks, and Bethlehem was the centre
of attraction Bethlehem is FIVE miles
distant from Jerusalem, a pleasant al
ternoon walk for one so disposed. The
rocky hills beween are covered with
many olive groves, and vineyards. In
every field is a Waterman stationed
while the fruits are getting ripe. This
is made necessary on account OF so many
thieves. Bethlehem is situated on the
side Of hill or hills and is quite VIII
lage of stone houses. The Church OF
Nativity is built over the nanger. The
Greeks have the place right above the
manager. A Turkish soldier is station
ed with a gun and bayonet at the en-
trance to the manger and another with
in 10 maintain peace among the various
sects Several murders occurred from
their quarrels and that is why the sol
diers are here Yesterday there was a
stream of pilgrims passing
through the room in which Christ was
born. a large brass star marks the
axact nlace md there ,rere two or three