The Brandon news., 1903-11-26

branches is beautiful symbol of the
great father whose name it commentaries
one whose pure life after the lapse of ages
is still fresh and green in the christians
heart 1t is said that the tree will girt
over twenty feet, and resembles the oaks of
Cormal and Basha, and if not the same
tree under which the Jews were sold by
their Roman conquerors after the fall OF
Bether. 1t certainly marks the spot, and
is descendant of the famous grove in
which Abraham and Sarah pitched their
tents, nearly four thousand years ago.
However, according to the best writers,
have examined the point of greatest
interest about Hebron, is the field and
cave of Machpelah, purchased by Abra-
ham from "Ephron, the Hittte," as a
place of sepulchre for himself and family.
1t is said that there can be no reasonable
doubt in reference to the locality of this
tomb; all history and tradition fix it exact
ly where pointed out, within the walls OF
the great mosque, which the Mohamme-
dams guard with religious jealousy as one
of their few holy places and it is known
among them as the "Haram," and "Cas-
tie of Abraham" The name Machpelah
would indicate double cave, and travellers
are told that under the elevated platform
of the Haram there are two large natural
grottoes, one above the other, that the
patrarchS and their wives were buried in
the lower one, and that the upper one. is
also full of human bones. This being
a custom of the old Jews to gather the
bones of their ancestors and place them in
the tombs of their father.
| We remember that Joseph gave orders
concerning his bones, and the children of
Israel brought them up when they left
Egypt.
The walls enclosing the sacred spot rise
higher than anything else around the
city. They are said to be about seven
| hundred feet in circuit, ornamented with
great care, and in all of its appearances
agreeing with the account given by
said to be Jewish or Phonician workman
ship and to have been done lby David,
while he reigned there and made it the
capital of Judah. down to the capital OF
the "Castle of Zion" from the Jubusite
The mosque, which stands at the south
ern end of this enclosure, appears to ha We
been built during the Justinian age and
covers the tomb, which contains all that
remains on earth of the fathers of
the nations, through whom Christ was to
come.
Christians are not allowed in the cave,
scarcely allowed to touch the outer wall;
and the MohammedanS, because of their
reverence for the dead and their supersti-
tious fear of the place, seldom ever enter it
They think that whoever attempts to
ntrude will be instantly struck with
blindness or death. The question of the
embaImed body of Jacob being here can
not be determined as no one is allowed to
the cave containing the patriarchal dust
1t is said that the Prince of Wales and
few others have been admitted into
the mosque in former days, and others
later, perhaps, but no further. "The six
cenotaphes here seen are nothing more
than coffin shaped shrines, repreS entng
the real tombs that are in the grottoes
below" The first you come to, on enter.
ing the mosque, is little chapel to the
right cosed with marble and closed with
silver gates is the shrine of Abraham,
and directly opposite to the left Sharah's S
in similar chapel, both covered with
green velvet drapery embroidered in gold
Here we find the Shrines of Jacob, Leah,
Isaac and Rebekah.
A small hole in the marble floor near the
the shrine of Abr aham, through which q
lamp is suspended, said to be kept con.
stantly burning, is the oniy opening to
the cavern below, and as you peep down
into the darkness thousands of prayers
written on little slips of paper, may
be seen lying around. thrown through
this hole, under the foolish belief that al
prayers offered here will be surely answer
ed"
''In the floor at the other end of the
mosque to the right is a marble
trap door large enough to admit a man