Es-Sakhrah.

own assumption , in the very centre of Mount Moriah at Jerusalem , marking out , it is justly thought , the central point of the Temple of Solomon . A masonic myth embodies the history of this mysterious stone .

The rock , Es-Sakhrah , is sixty feet in length , in the direction of the mountain ( North and South ) and fifty-five feet in breadth . From the level of the ridge it rises about fifteen feet . Its northern end is scarped or smoothed artificially as if it had

once sustained and formed part of a wall . In the estimation of the Jew , this venerated rock is the most hallowed spot on earth . The Mohammedan tradition concerning it , is the strangest imaginable . It affirms that the Meccan prophet , having

fastened his mule here , ascended to Heaven and the stone after him , nor could it be stayed in its upward flight until an angel had grasped it and retained ifc by his best strength . In confirmation of this fanciful flight , the Moslems still exhibit

the ring to which the mule was fastened , and point out the impress ofthe angelic fingers , and the foot print of Mohammed , upon the surface of the rock itself .

The Masonic Myth refers only to the existence of this rude , unsightly ashlar at so conspicuous a point . No visitor to Mount Moriah can avoid an expression of surprise when entering the splendid Mosk of Omar , and admiring its matchless

porcelain , its rich marble veneerings of various colours and devices , its fifty . six elegant windows of stained glass , its four doors and correspondingporches , and its noble dome and circular shaft , when seeing and admiring these architectural

beauties , he observes that the whole noble structure is evidently built merely to enclose and honour this rude rock ! The thoughtful visitor will naturally enquire what there is about so

unsightly a mass as to merit such exercise of skill and expenditure of treasure . The original eminence , entitled Moriah , could never have been called a mountain except as the English translation of the Bible adapts itself to

Hebrew notions . When the small fresh water Lake of Gennesareth receives the title of Sea of Galilee , it is allowable that a narrow , low ridge , honoured to be the most renowned locality upon earth , should be desi gnated mountain . It was a

sharp hill , full of prominences of caves and of ravines , and made chiefly by the hands of men , what we now see it . Tradition informs us that the architect Hiram

only yielded his judgment to that of his royal master Solomon in adopting this as the site of the Temple ; his choice lay upon the noble elevation East , now called Olivet , and second to that the fine eminence North , since termed Scopus

Either of these , without so great an amount of preparatory labour would have afforded a firmer site . But the will of King Solomon prevailed . When this point was yielded , the next question involved the preparation of the hill . Viewed

from the summit of Olivet on the East it descended rapidly from North to South , exhibiting knobs or protuberances every little ways . Hiram was preparing his directions to have these all levelled so that the top of the ridge might present a smooth

incline , on which the quarry stone could be closel y and firmly laid , when he was surprised to receive from his royal master special directions in relation to the largest and most southerly of these knobs .

The two were viewing the whole work from their favourite point eastward , two thirds the way up the slope of Olivet , when King Solomon thus addressed his skilful companion : —

" Upon the crown of that hill , where the descent from each side is the steepest , there once occurred one of the most remarkable instances of trust in God that human history affords us . More than nine centuries ago there came across those hills to

the southward , an angel man leading an only son . Three days before the pair had left their home near Beersheba to visit this place upon a divine mission . Leaving the servants and beasts in yonder deep ravine , the father and son climbed up

to that steep detached rock , to which I have called your attention , the son bearing a load of fuel , the father a knife , a firebrand , and a cord . Arrived at the summit , the two united to build

an altar of unhewn stone , from the loose material which lay around . This being done , the wood was laid in order upon the altar . Then the son was bound and laid on the altar upon the wood , and the father stretched forth his hand and took the

knife to slay his son . At this supreme moment a voice from Heaven stayed the strong hand , a victim was provided , and the human life spared . Those men were my ancestors . " Only a few years since , the God whom we

worship , had laid a destroying hand upon yonder entire city , and for the sins of our people had threatened to destroy it . But at the earnest prayer of David , my father , and for the great mercy