Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-27

Until now. there has been no chance for ex-
~cavators to prove or disprove their theories: Tne
turks guarded the temple area with fierce
strictness, holding it only a little less sacred
than the sacred mosque at Mecca.
The reason for this extreme Moslem devotion
was a great brown rock, 60 K as feet long ana
over four feet high. which figures prominently
in history. From this rock, MO-
manned is said to have mounted his horse, Al
Burak, the lightning, and to have ridden off to
Heaven. The footprint of the prophet left a
dent in the rock which anyone may see to this
day. The rock aspired to follow the prophet
and started up a few inches. but the Angel
Gabriel put a finger on the surface and saved
it to the children of earth. Hence another dent
in the rock. also plainly visible.
This rock is further to be venerated. the
guides say, because it is the center of the earth,
and eighteen miles nearer to Heaven than any
other place. Here Noah's Ark rested after the
flood, and here Abraham prepared to offer up
his son as a sacrifice. Lest this is not sufficlent
local color, the guide adds that here too jacob
had his angelic vision.
Where Mohammed Prayed.
1t is, moreover, a desirable place in which
to pray. There is a record that Mohammed
prayed here in g. cavern beneath the rock, after
which he decreed that prayers here were one
thousand times as eflcaclous as those from iese
holy places.
All these associations and many more make
every inch of the rock sacred to the Moslemss;
Back in the seventh century when the last OF
the Jewish temples had been destroyed and the
play lay deserted and covered with refuse, the
Turks cleared off the rock and oullt over II d
beautiful building, with blue tiled dome, col
ored marble pillars, stained glass windows, ana
soft rugs on the floor. In this dim, octagon-
shaped hall, the rock has reposed ever SINCE
guarded by screens of iron and wood.
Less than a hundred years ago, it would nave
meant death to a Christian. or a Jew even 10
venture inside the Dome of the ROCK as the
building was called. And when FEELING became
less intense. so long as the Turks held Jerusa-
lem, an unbeliever was permitted In the pulio-
ing only when accompanied by native guides.
With all precautions, the most devout or the
Mohammedans protested against foreign inter-
-. T. tLa 1Iv rnnk TyUn American women
were shot at one day by a fanatic who resented
their intrusion in the hollow beneath the rock
where Mohammed prayed. Archaeologists were
regarded with special suspicion.
Scientists interested IN excavations in Jerusa-
lem tried every possible means to get permis.
sion to explore the ground beneath the huge
rock, but with scant success. The turks OPP
posed any digging because it was pronlplteu
for anyone to touch the rock. Once a year,
at a. special ceremony, a high functionary dared
to dust off the surface and collect the Dust
which YVES sold as a potent cure for sore eyes.
The regions below the rock, too, the TURKS
wished kept free from contamination. Iney
did not agree exactly what was beneath tne
surface. Some believed that the rock must RESI-
on the branches of a palm tree at the roots OIL
which all the rivers of the world had their
source. Others held the rock was just over
Paradise, and still others thought 1t LED down
to Hades. In any case, it was unanimously
agreed among the Moslems that the rock was
no place for a mortal to go poking around
A Secret Exploration.
One bold attempt to solve some OF the lasGi-
natlnR mysteries was ipo ny
men some ten years ago. They founu a culatot
who saw no harm in digging around the place'
provided the arrangements were s The scienfists
were allowed to dig and explore when the Dull
ing was empty. 1t was a hazardeus puslnee SUI
because all day long Moslems came 10 reSalu
the precious rock. After a few hours WORK d,
night all traces of disturbed ground ana ~
tools must be carefully concealed. W!n umoS
disadvantages, the Englishmen made little pros
ress before they were discovered. They 1led tne
citv at once. even while the irate Mohammeoans
G' - z,tl1ritino fnr<fhP1r M
were crying to the autnorilies " NNH
prisonment or death. e.or,
Another excavator received PERMISSION -
the civil authorities to explore pehedth II 81 Pnt
in the cavern where Mohammed prayed. bon
he got only a little way with his dlgglns Wnen
antagonism became so intense that PERMISSION
had to be withdrawn.
ness are removed. The temple area has as many
| historic and religious associations lor IL
| Christian and the Jew as it had for the Iurk,
MT hotb of the former would like the temple
mysteries solved. The Ark of the covenant;
even such fragments as might Fe a uni,e TO the
these years, would be Of infinite value 20 -
Jews. most of whom have avoided the tellple
area for fear of trading over the spot Maaeeine
the Ark or the Law of Moses may be hlouSh,
The tablets Of the law were kept within the
Ark in the innermost part or the tempe
reason for thinking that they may DC Ia 10
here is that Jeremiah, the prophet, was Saiu ~
! have hidden the Ark on Mt. Moriah; the NIL OH
which the Dome of the Rock stands. ,s
The seven -branched candleStlck whlcn. was
one of the most prominent temple furnishinss
is another missing relic. This candlestlck wa wa
unique being five feet hlgh' OF pealen so.u ritu
worth about $25. 900 is our money. After Iitus
sacked Jerusalem he Is supposed TO nave Iahen
It to Rome to be carried in his trlumphal Pro-
cession. This is borne out by the CARVINGS on
the Arch of Titus in Rome showing the canuie5
stick as it was carried. whether II ever iounu
its wav back to Jerusalem is not known. .
These are the most eagerly sought rencs OF
| the temple, but in addition there are an tne
gold and precious stones which the people VI
Israel poured into it's vaults to be accounted Tor,
The gold and silver alone, collected before tne
| temple was built are supposed to have oeen
worth two or even three billions of dollars.
Much of this wealth was no doubt seized by the
plunderers of Jerusalem. But so many PASSAGES
honevcomb MI. Moriah that archaeolog1sts thlhK
It not unlikely that some of the treasure was
safely disposed of.