The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-29

| turcs Of the mediaeval architecture remain,
and these are being reproduced in connec.
tion with the replica Of this venerable
church at ST. Louis.
The large court in front Of the church,
its pavement worn by the feet Of in
Vulnerable pilgrims, is to be reproduced
accurately Beneath the centrol dome of
The church, which was rebuilt by the
Greeks after having been destroyed by
fire, is the sepucher within white mar
bic edifce. This is divided into two
small edifices, in the first Of which rs
found the stone where the angels were
seated when they replied to the holy
women, "ile is not here, but is risen.'
The second sanctuary encoses the sepul-
cher. Lights from lamps of gold and
silver are always burning in this chapel
and the air is redolent with burning per-
fumes.
At Oberammergau there is an annual
production Of the Passion Play" which
has attracted worldwide attention There
the living Christ is impersonated by an
actor. Here a, st. Louis will be shown,
in reproduced outward aspect, what many
persons believe to be the sepulcher Of the
Savior. For long ages devout men and
women have made pigrmages to that spot
from many parts of the world.
Bu, there is now building within this
Worlds Fair tract structure which is a
more prominent architectural feature in
Jerusalem than the Church Of the Holy
Sepulcher. The Mosque Of Omar is being
reproduced in staff, resting upon its mighty
platform, with its wonderful dome tower
ing high above the city. The cite Of the
Holy Sepulcher is disputed, but no one
questions that the ground upon which
stands the Mosque of Omar is the identi-
cal site of Solomon's temple and the tenn
pie OF Herod the Great, from which Christ
scourged the money changers.
This considerable tract Of land in Jeru-
salem, known TO Christendom as the TEN
pie area" and called the Ilaramcs- Sheriff
by the Mohammedans, has been holy
ground for nearly 1000 years. Temple
after temple has been builded upon it, to
fall before successive invaders-Assyrian,
Roman, Mohammedan within this area
have worshipped the followers of the God
of Abraham, the believers in Jesus Of Ma
zarcth and the jealous and fanatic adj
hercnts Of Mohammed. Even pagan
temple. bull, by lladran. has occupied the
site OF Solomons magnificent temple. At
times, for generations, the area has been
but n tumble Of ruins, yet ii has not ceased
for moment 10 be vcnerated as a holy
place by the followers Of some great re-
ligous prophet. Around the walls razed
and rebuilt from time to time, the great
religions Of the world have surged and
struggled for possession Of the area these
walls have been drcnchcd with blood, and
the manned bodies Of defender and ag-
Rrcssor have strewn the area Even the
Saracenic mosque now standing has
changed masters repeatedly, being taken
by the Crusaders under Godfrey OF
Bouillon in the year 1000. Then the cross
took the place Of the crescent, until the
expulsion of the Christians by Saladin,
when once more the Moslem symbol was
planted.
Now the Mohammedans hold the area
and worship within the mosque built by the
great Omar, or at the prayer places here
and there within the sacred enclosure 1t
was not until recent years that Jew or
Christian was permitted to enter this en-
closure, except OH peril OF death, so zeal
Gus were its Moslem keepers lest the sa-
cred space be profaned by those who from
their standpoint, are unbclicvers. Strenu-
Gus efforts were made for many years TO
obtain photographs or drawings OF the in
an" bribery, and even then at great risk
could any person other than Mohamme-
dan enter
1t is this sacred enclosure with its grand
mosque and other interesting structures,
that is being reproduced at ST. Louis Dur
ing the Exposition the temple area will be
given over to the Mohammcdans. the gen
cral visitor Of course being admitted. Here
the followers of Mohammcd from Jeru-
salem will carry on their forms OF wor-
ship. Among the wonderful things to be
shown in this transplanted temple area are
the tomb Of David, the great king of
Iudca and the throne of King Solomon,
his son and the builder of the temple. Z
The mosque is octagona in FORM each
side measuring o. feet. Various colored
marbles form the lower portion Of the
wall are arranged in intricate and beautiful
patterns. Fifty-six pointed windows of
magnificent stained glass piece the upper
portion. The great dome is covered with
lead, surmounted by a tall gilt crescent
Underneath the dome Is a remarkable
limestone rock of irregular shape, which
is believed to be the natural surface of
the rock OF Mount Moriah, upon which
the immense platform supporting the
mosque and the temple area is built. An