The Washington herald., 1911-05-29
THE MOSQUE OF OMAR


Mosque Of Omar at Jerusalem had been
entered at night by bribing attendants.
and that the explorers had taken pos.
session Of some Of the ancient relies. no
doubt had its origin in the fact that
there In reality 10 such an expedition ~
the one mentioned, which left England
about two years ago to conduct hunt
for hidden treasure In the vicinity Of
the Pool Of SLOAN The quest was based
on the existence OF cipher which 10
supposed to Indicate the exact position
Of the treasure buried By the ancient
Jewish kings.
Some two years ago Capt. Parker.
brother OF the Earl Of Morley, headed
an expedition which was dispatched
from England to Jerusalem for the pur-
pose Of excavation. 4 concession was
obtained from the Turkish authorities,
and work was begun in the neiGhbor-
hood Of the Pool of Sloan.
The expedition. II 10 understood. was
organised to conduct q quest based on
the existence Of q certain cipher which
was supposed TO indicate the exact posi-
ton Of q quantity Of treasure buried by
the ancient Jewish kings. On obtaining
the concession, the party, which included
some engineers, began digging and con-
tinued their excavations until stopped
by rains. The party then returned to
England and left again last summer to
resume work
Letters have been received at regu-
lar intervals by persons interested in the
enterprise, but these ceased some weeks
ago. These letters showed that the work
had been making progress In and about
the Pool Of Sloan and among the sub
terranean passages on the spot. Some
very interesting archaeological discov-
cries have been reported. and some valu-
able finds Of ancient pottery and masonry
of very early date have been made.
The latest information was that the
piece Of land which was the ultimate
object of the excavators had all been
examined, with the exception Of one por-
ton, access to which could only be OBJ
tanned through the Mosque Of Omar.
It would seem. therefore. that the
mosque had been used as q means Of
obtaining access to the hitherto unex-
plored portions. The suggestion that
members Of the party appropriated valu-
able relics in the mosque itself Is not
regarded as serious.
An English archaeologist who attended
the earlier excavation work of the ex-
pedition says the work was conducted
in a most secret manner with special
laborers, and much was done under cover
of night. The excavations started in an
aqueduct leading from the Pool of Sloan
underneath Mount Moriah, which is
crowned by the Mosque Of Omar, and
which is honeycombed with rock-cut
tombs and chambers and subterranean
passages leading down to the aqueduct
The members Of the expedition be-
a
oughly this labyrinth Of rock passages
they would make many interesting and
valuable finds Of manuscript and
treasure. 1t was not at all improbable
that in the times Of the Jewish kings
money and sacred treasure. such as the
small golden doors OF the temple, the
golden vessels, and the golden imple-
ments and utensils used in connection
with the Jewish ritual. were hidden
there.
The members of the expedition de-
clared that they expected to find a
manuscript which would set at rest all
doubts as to the Resurrection of Christ.
Their undertaking was exceedingly ad-
venturous. as, II 1t had been suspected
that they intended to remove treasure
or manuscripts from the Holy Rock, they
would have run imminent risk of being
strangled by their own workmen. as the
held In as great sanctity as the Kaabah
at Mecca.
Omar was the second caliph, and II
was during his reign in 634 that Syria
was thrown open to the Arabs after the
bloody battle Of the Yarmuk. Within q
short period the Byzantines lost the
whole OF Syria as far as, Aleppo, and
Omar himself was present at the capitu-
lation Of Jerusalem.
The famous collections which had
been made by the late Lady Meux have
been disposed of recently at Theobald
Park, her late residence, and in itself q
property of great interest. The manor
originally belonged to the great states
man. Lord Burghley, who built Old Theo-
balds Palace for the entertainment Of
Queen Elizabeth, and 1t was afterward
occupied by James I and Charles I. To
Londoners II Is Of interest by reason OF
the fact that old Temple Bar now forms
the entrance to the park.
The illustrated catalogue gives some
idea of the treasures offered at the sale.
There was q wonderful collection of old
English silver. amounting to upward Of
10000 ounces, very large proportion Of
which dates from between the period Of
Elizabeth and that Of George !. It in
q CpllcCtlOu OI Silver tdIkdruS
ranging from the first year Of the Com
monwealth to Queen Anne, I'LL; variety
of antique seal top and apostle spoons,
and some fine French pieces. s. -
An early George I Scotch silver din
ner service, bearing the Edinburgh mark,
was dated 1722- Another treasure which
attracted the envy Of collectors was an
early Queen Anne salver. with shaped
and chased edges and an engraved GEN.
ter. with the hallmark 1706. A most
valuable item was rare set Of Charles
II dinner plates. dated 1883. engraved
with the coronet and arms Of Baron
Milton, aftePward Earl Of Dorset.
Then there was beautiful Elizabethan
carved staircase, which Is believed to be
the original one contained In the Old
Theobalds Palace. The staircase has
sixteen stairs, besides q 20-foot gallery.
and the balusters are carved with hang
ing festoons and masks. and Joined by
Gothic arches. There was also an Inn
mense amount Of valuable furniture. in
cluding much antique carved oak.
A unique collection Of Egyptian an
tiquities. formed by Lady Meux with the
help Of DR.. Wallis Bulge, Of the British
Museum, each had to be sold separately
to bring better prices. FLANEUR-
Copyright, 1911, By Court Gossip syndicate.y
REGULATION OF SUNDAY.