Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-28
(By William T. Ellis)

stones, by the recent British expedt-
ton that was digging in and about
Jerusalem than by anything else In
the city's archaeological history. This
strange expedition, about which all
sorts of rumors were rife, and little
exact information was known, was
said to be digging for the treasures
of David.
| According to the story. cryptic
gram in an old manuscript copy OF
the works of Josephus, gave these
adventureers their clue. 1 saw their
workmen busilv excavating, care
fully guarded the while. When 1
attempted to approach their work
ings. guard warned me off. The
expedition collapsed when it was dis
covered that the sheikh of the Mosque
OF Omar, and other Turkish officials.
had been bribed to permit digging in
the temple area. Since that time the
sheikh and his subordinates have
been imprisoned, and the British ad-
lventurers have fled the country.
These men were seeking, in the
mysterious and uneXplored labyrinths
Dtncdln lue SdCTeu pIeClhClS VI lhC
| temple of Solomon, for the hidden
treasurers of David. including the Ark
of the Covenant. They were said to
believe that the Ark could be found.
Whether there be a shred of truth
in that or not, the possibility stag
gers the imagination. What sensa-
ton would be created in the world,
religious scholarship, If there could
be brought forth for devout eyes to
examine, the ancient sacred symbol OF
the presence of Jehovah with Israel.
A Nations Palladium
School children are familiar with
the Palladium of Roman liberties,
which is now said to be concealed un-
der the ancient column that is called
The Burnt Pillar" in Constantinople.
More precious by far than Rome's
Palladium was the Ark of the Cove
nant a box four feet long and two
feet wide and two feet high, COW
cred within and without with gold
and carefully built of acacia wood
according to the directions of Moses
Above it's golden lid were wrought
two golden cherubim and over these
famed the Shekinah, the symbol of
the presence of the Most High. In
side the Ark were the Tables OF the
Law given to Moses on the Mount. a
budded. The top of the Ark was
called 1.-The mercy seat" and its SYM
bolism of the awful and invisible
presence of the Supreme Being has
been inwrought into religious litera-
ture and hymnody.
This was the Ark that went before
the Israelites in their journeys, and
became the center of their worship
when they stood still. 1t held back
the waters of the Jordan while the
people crossed into Canaan. 1t was
carried about the crumbling walls of
Jericho. 1t was the symbol that ter
! rified and conquered the Israelites'
enemies. When tabernacle was sup
planted by temple. the Ark found it's
place in the Holy of Holes
All trace of the Ark seems to have
been lost since the time of Nebuchad-
nezzar. 1t was not in the temples
/ of Zerubbabel and Herod. There is
| no evidence that Nebuchadnezzar
carried it of, and quite certainly it
was not among the spoil that Titus
| carried from Jerusalem to Rome.
Had this object of supreme venera-
ton and value been among the loot
| of any of Jerusalem's conquerors it
surely would have been noted.
There are many who believe that
the Ark was hidden securely by the
| priests at the time of the captivity,
and that 1t awaits a day of discovery.
! Our own time, which has seq the
deciphering of the cuneiform and the
ihieroglyphics; which has rediscovered
the Hittites and many buried cities;
which has witnessed amazing confir-
nations of the truth of the inspired
| history, may also be favored by the
| finding of this overwhelming evidence
of the veracity of the ancient Scrip
lures.
The Untouchable Treasure
This Ark, which is the theme of
to-day's International Sunday School
lesson. had at the time of David long
been in a private house. 1t had first
been cared for in the tabernacle at
Gilgal and Shiloh; but after the i'm
pious sons of Samuel had carried it
forth to battle against the Philis-
tines, 1t had had a varied experience.
| The Philistines had captured it for
seven months, but even their idols
! fell down broken in it's presence and
a blight came upon all who possessed
! 1t. They returned it to Kirjath-
Jearim, and blessing abode in the
home of Abinidab, it's caretaker
Some time after David had estab-
lished his capital at Jerusalem, he
undertook to restore the Ark to the
tabernacle. The occasion was made
] a great festival. a religious revival
1t was put upon new cart and two
descendants of Abinadab. UzZah and
Ahio. led it on it's journey up to the
capital. 1t started in a formal and
royal procession.
Once, when the Ark tottered on the
cart. Uzzah stretched forward his
hand to steady 1t, but was smitten
dead for his irreverence. The Incl
! dent is familiarly used as an illus
tration of the Importance of reverence
in the economy of Gods dealings with
His people. The holiest things may
not be lightly touched. THE sin of
Uzzah" is a pregnant theme for dis
cussion in present-day Bible classes.
When the King Sang and Danced
A great national celebration was
held as the Ark was borne up to
Jerusalem where a new tabernacle
: had been prepared for the sacred
symbol. The procession was as elab-
, crate in ceremonial as possible. The
priests in gorgeous array accompanied
the Ark In an excess of religious
and patriotic fervor, the multitudei
( thronged about the leaders. The sig
: nificance of the hour seemed to bs
! glimpsed b. -. As David's entrance
| into Jerusalem made that city forever
! one of the worlds political capitals
SO this formal entrance of the Arl
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