Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-04-22

CenQeQ 1nCO heaven OH HIS SIccO'
In the year 691 A. D. the present
central place known as the Dome
of the Rock, was completed and rep
resents the most important and the
most beautiful mosques then exist
ing, and same is true of today. Sew
eral years later the mosque of Ell
aSka, which is located on the far
end of the platform, was erected.
In the year 1912 A. D., the dome
collapsed and was Immediately re-
placed. In 1905 or in about SO years
later, Jerusalem was conquered by
the Christians after bloody battle
and terrible massacre. They re-
tanned the site for religious purposes.
The Mosque became Christian
church and an altar was erected on
the sacred rock. The church was
known as the ''Temple of the Lord"
and it was of the order of the Knights
Templars.
The mosque which then became
the Christian church or the Temple
of the Lord was used as an example
or model by Christian architects. In
Metz, France, and in London there
are beautiful reproductions. The
mosque Elaksa was used as a palace
by the knights Templars and was
called King Solomon's Palace" and
they of course worShiped in the old
mosque or Temple of the Lord. Some
80 years later or about 1887 the
Christians were maSSacred or driven
out of Jerusalem by the Moslems
and both mosques were restored to
their former Moslem uses. All traces
of Christian uses were removed and
these buildings have remained in
Moslem use ever since.
Many Traditions.
Considerable important tradition
surrounds the central rock. Volumes
that would fill fair sized library
have been written on this one sub
ject. On the central rock 1 will
enumerate only a few of the great
many traditions strongly connected
with the central rock. 1t marks the
exact spot where Adam was sup
posed to have been created and it
marks the spot where he erected the
first altar on which Cain and Abel
offered their sacrifices. After the
flood Noah erected his altar on the
same stone and the waters of the
flood are still to be heard in the
hollow underneath the rock. 1t was
there that Abraham was prevented
by God Almighty from sacrificing his
son, Isaac, and on the altar ''the ram
caught in the bushes" and was sac
rifced instead of Isaac.
1t marks the spot, as l have al
ready mentioned, from where Mo-
manned assembled into Heaven on his
steed. The impression made by his
head as he departed on his miracu-
lous trip is still shown, also his foot
prints are shown, but the Christians
claim it is the footprints of Jesus
Christ. Under the rock, which ap-
parently has no visible support, Mos
lem tradition is that the souls of the
dead meet twice each week in pray
err. Others say that the rock rests
on top of a palm tree which is wa
tered by the rivers of Paradise.
There is a pillar that is horizontal
at one end of the mosque and Mos
lem tradition has it that on the morn
ing that the last trumphet or the
rams horn is sounded, fine hair
will be stretched from this pillar
to Mt. Olive and over which all men
will pass Jesus will stand on the
Jerusalem end and Mohammed on Mt.
Olive end. Those found deserving
will safely cross while others will
fall into the creek beneath. The
men who are doubtful, Mohammed
will take pity on. He himself will
cross as goat concealing in his fur
or fleece as fleas the souls of the
doubtful ones.
The Golden Gate.
North of the golden gate is the
so-called King Solomon's throne, it
is upon this throne that King Solo
mon was supposed to have died. The
Golden Gate has been walled up
since the early part of the fifteenth
century and has almost been COM
pletely closed for II more centuries.
The Golden Gate is double gate
and if open would lead directly to
the Temple area enclosure. To the
Arab the gate is known as the "Gate
of Mercy" According to tradition
the gate is some 5000 years old and
there are a number of Egyptian,
Arabic and Hebraic inscriptions on
the posts. Tradition has it that the
door posts were a gift from Queen
Sheba to King Solomon. During the
Latino Catholic reign the gate was
opened on Palm Sundays and through
this gate passed the professions car
rying palm branches from the Mount
of Olives and the Patriarch rode on
an ass over carpet of costly gar
ments. Until the fifteenth century
the wooden gates were in use, since
then the gate has been walled up
because of Moslem superstition. Ira
dition has it that Jesus made His
solemn entry through this gate on
Palm Sunday.