Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-02
A Southern Pilgrim
In Eastern Lands


advice. Only we did not walk. W rode
on donkeys, at least most of us, though
few walked. / may say here that the
Palestine donkey is not near so good
as his Egyptian brother. He is smaller,
SKINNER, lazier. But as it was only a
distance of about 1-2 miles we were to
go il did not make much difference.
At least we managed to get along,
though some of us with difficulty. The
donkey boys are not usually so good as
those in Egypt. But had a very good
donkey boy-better boy than donkey.
ride or walk around the walls gives
a comprehensive birds eye view of the
city. 1t is well to get such view soon
after arrival at Jerusalem so as to be
able to understand the topography of
the city. 1t will be remembered that
Nehemiah took such a ride in the night
around the walls soon aften his return
to Jerusalem so as to find the extent of
the damage done to the walls and the
amount of repairs needed, upon them.
nehemiah 2:l2-15). / should state
that we camped all through Palestine.
In Jerusalem our camp was pitched lust
outside the walls near the Damascus
gate, in a beautiful olive grove.
Starting then from the Damascus
gate on the north and turning east the
first place to which we come is
0OLOMON > ROAIbh1.
This is a large cave, opening near the
north wall, and running back southwark
under the city 700 feet. 1t is 800 feet
wide and averages 40 feet in height.
The formation is white limestone soft
under ground, due to the dampness, but
which hardens when expos to the Dir.
1t is said that the stones for SoIomons
temple were taken from this quarry.
Evidently it has afforded stones Still
cient for such purpose, and more. The
manner of quarrying the stones was to
cut grooves on both sides of the stone.
put a wedge in back of the stone, and
wet it until it expanded sufficiently 10
loosen the stone. A rather crude way
of quarrying, to be sure, but it ;Lould
be remembered that in those days trey
had no gun powder or dynamite, or any
thing Of the kind.
1t is claimed that the order of Masons
was organized by Solomon in this quar-
ry. Some of the Masons in our party
took stones from the quarry to carry
with them. l got a few to give to Ma
sonic friends.
Almost directly across the road frcm
Solomon's quarry is what is known as
Gordon's Calvary. OF this l shall have
something to say later. Near the nortn-
east corner of the walls are some stones
in the wall which were evidently part
of the original walls, the signs upon
them showing them to be of Jewish
origin. To the north lies Mount Scopns,
where Titus pitched his camp when be-
siegfng the city in 20 A. Di To the n1st
is the Mount of Olives, of which / shall
have more to say later. Between the
city and the Mount of olives, as I have
previously indicated. runs the Kedron
valley. or the Valley of Jehosaphat. as
II ts Sometirnas caIled
ST. STEPHENS GATE.
The only entrance to the city on The
east is st. stephens Gate, near which
Stephen is supposed to have beSn
stoned, being the first Christian martyr,
as related in Acts Z. A place on rhe
rocks, worn smooth by the lips IF nil
grims, is shown as the exact spot to
many tourists, though II was not
pointed out to us. for the reason. 1 pre-
who has lived in Jerusalem for 20 years,
knew that 1t would be impossible TO
identify the exact spot at this day.
THE GOLDEN GATE.
On the east side is also the Golden
Gate, or Gate Beautiful. as it was also
called. This gate is now closed, and has
been closed since the time of Titus. The
prophet Ezekiel prophesied that it would
be so. He saIL: Then he brought me
back the way of the gate of the out
ward sanctuary which looketh toward the
east; and 1t was shut. Then said the
Lord unto me: This gate shall be shut,
1t shall not be opened, and no man shall
enter in by it; because the Lord. the God
of Israel, hath entered i'm by 1t, there
fore it shall be shut. 1t is for the prince
the prince he shall sit in 1t to eat bread
before the Lord; he shall enter by the
way of the porch of that gate. and shall
go out by the way of the same" (Eze-
kiel ALB. 1t was through this gate that
Jesus entered the city on His triumphal
entry.
WIRE WALKING.
A little farther on near the southeast
corner of the city, projecting out from
the walls in the temple area is a large
pillar. The Mohammedans have tradi-
ton that when Christ comes He will
reign on Mt. Olivet and Mohammed on
Mt. Moriah, and that then wire will be
stretched from this pillar to Mt. Olivet,
and all will be required to walk 1t. All
who cannot do so will drop into Gohenn
and be lost. If that be true, it would
hehoove all of us to be practicing rope
walking. The tradition is, of course, very
grotesque, like many another Moham-
medan tradition. But the tradition at
least shows the hold which Christ has
upon the Mohammedan mind and what
reverence and even dread they entertain
for Him.
PILLAR OF ABSALOM.
Three tombs along the side of the valley
attract attention. They are said to be
those of Absalom, of Zacharias and of
James The tomb of Absalom is the spe-
cial object of Jewish hatred, on account
of his rebellion against his father David
They throw stones at it and spit upon It,
as they pass by. The so-called tomb is,
Absalom was buried in the forest where
he was killed by Joab on the east side
of the River Jordan. (II Sam. 1S:1O. 1t
is also stated, though, that "Absalom in
his lifetime had taken and reared up
for himself pillar, which is in the kings
dale; for he said, I have no son to keep
my name in remembrance; and he called
the pillar after his own name; and 1t is
called unto this day" I1 Sam. 1919.
This monument has been known since 1888
A. D., and was then old. 1t Is a monolith
q feet high 10 1-2 feet square. It is en-
tirely possible that it may he tho pillar OF
Absalom, though 1t is not his tom }. But
there it stands, an object of the hatred
of the Jews, and a monument to the folly
of fSial ingratitude.
Acsoss the Kedron from Jerusalem,
near the southeastern corner Of the walls
is a \lage called Sloan. In the village
is a tuntain of water called the Foun-
tain sf the Virgin, or the Low