The great pyramid passages and chambers

glass windows are beautiful, and there is an abundance of lovely mosaic work and gilt tracing. We required to put on slippers before we were allowed to enter the mosque. The portion of the floor directly under the great dome is the bare rock of Mount Moriah. It is fenced off from the remaining floor-space round it. Many claim that this is the exact place where the brazen altar of the Temple stood. There is an opening in it through which the blood of the animals sacrificed is supposed to have drained. We were informed that no Jew will venture within the Temple Area lest he should happen to tread on the site of the Holy of Holies.

448 In the rock under the dome is a cave, to which access is gained by a number of steps—Plate CVII. When we were in it we were told to stamp on the ground and notice by the hollowness of the sound that there is a second cave underneath. The Moslems have many ridiculous traditions. A certain hollow in the roof is claimed to have been worn by the pressure of Mohammed's head as day by day he stood in this cave and prayed. It was from here that the Moslems believe that the Prophet ascended to heaven on his miraculous steed, El-Burak. They say that he pierced the roof of the cave (the hole already mentioned being pointed out as proof of this), and that the rock would have followed him had it not been for the intervention of the Archangel. Many Mohammedans believe that the rock now hangs in the air!

449 At the south-west corner of the mosque stands a tall square case of open ironwork, in which is kept, under lock and key, a large bottle—Plate CVI. This bottle is supposed to contain three hairs from the Prophet's beard. In the day of judgment, Mohammed will sit astride a short horizontal column which juts from the east wall bounding the Temple Area, and the Lord Isa (Jesus) will sit on the other side of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and between them will be stretched these hairs across the wide valley. Everybody will be compelled to walk across on the hairs. Unbelievers, .e., all who are not Mohammedans, will fall and be consigned to eternal torment, but guardian angels will guide the faithful safely across and usher them into Paradise.

450 After inspecting the Mosque of Omar, we walked to the south part of the Temple Area where we visited the Mosque of Al-Aksa—Plate LKXXXV. This was formerly a Christian Church built by the Emperor Justinian, who is mentioned in Scripture Studies, Vol. Ill, page 70. In this mosque we noticed several windows, the iron bars of which are covered with small tufts of rag. It was explained that these rags were tied there by devout women, under the belief that they would acquire a special healing virtue. When one of their relatives turns ill, they remove a piece of rag from the window-bars, and stir some of the sick person's drink with it!

451 In the evening, I lectured on “ Where are the Dead?” There were about eighty people present, and all seemed much impressed. The only opposition we had was from the American Missionary, the Rev. Mr. Thomson. However, he did not interrupt the meeting, but reserved his remarks till the end, when he said that if he had me on a platform, he would ‘squash my arguments in half-an-hour.’’ Brother Cotton acted as chairman, and at the close of the meeting asked if any would like another address next evening. A good number held up their hands. Some said it was the best lecture they had ever heard, and I was glad to have had the privilege of telling thema little of our heavenly Father's glorious plan of the Ages.

452 On Friday, 9th, we drove to the Mount of Olives and to Bethany. From the

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