Chapter Xiii.

Master replied , " I acknoAvledge the truth of what you state , but in faith the Order has never been wanting . I attest that I believe in God , in the persons of the Trinity , aud in all the other articles of the Catholic faith . I believe there is but one

God , one faith , one baptism , one church , and that in death , when the soul is separated from the body , there is but one judge of the good and evil . This is my belief . This is the belief of the Order ofthe Temple . " { To T ) e continued . )

Palestine Exploration Fund.

PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND .

IIU ' OUTANT DISCOVERY NORTH : OB THE MOSQUE OE 03 IAB PlATTOBjiI . December Sth , 1868 . Bro . Lieut . Warren says : —On Saturday I Avent ¦ OA'er the Haram Area to see if I could trace any resemblance , between the plan of Dr . Lightfoofc

and the present form of the ground . On passing by the northern edge of the Mosque of Omar Platform , I saAV that the earth had been lately disturbed at the foot of the eastern steps , ¦ and on asking the Sheikh of the Mosque about it , he said that after the heavy rains , | three days before , the ground had given Avay , and that they had found an entrance to substractions as larsre as

those at the South East angle . I suggested to him that the hole had been badly filled in , aud that ib would probably give way again . This morning we went early to the Haram Area , and happened to come upon this place just a few minutes after the hole had opened a second time . We went down into it and made an examination .

It is a souterrain running east and west in the line of the northern edge of the Mosqne Platform . It consists of an arched passage of 18 ft . span , with bays to the south of 12 ft . by 17 ft ., arched over ; the piers between being 3 ft . 6 in . thick . The southern side of these bays is scarped

rock , and on it the Avail supporting the northern ¦ ed ge of the Mosque Platform is built . Portions of the piers are also scarped from the rock , which ¦ appears to shelve doAvn rapidly to the north ; so that , if the earth and these vaults were removed , the northern end of the Mosque Platform Avould

present the appearance of a perpendicularly scarped rock , Avith excrescences on its face , oft . Gin . thick , 12 ft . apart , and projecting about 6 ft . The vault Avas examined for about 70 ft . east and Avest , and four bays were surveyed . The crown of the arch of the vault and also of the bays is about 2 ffc

. beloAv the surface of the ground , which is there about 8 ft . below the level of the Mosque Platform ; the distance from crown to springing of the arches is 9 ft . Gin ., those ( arches ) of the bays being perpendicular to , and forming grains with , that ofthe vault . The arch over the vault has a span of 18 ft .,

but it is not semicircular , it appears to have a parabolic curve ; while the arches over the bays are decidly pointed ( spans from 12 ft . to 13 ft . ) . The voussoirs of the arches are small , presenting about loin , by 4 in . on the soffit , Ou the northern side of the vault I could see

no appearance of rock , except in one place for about oft ., where there is either rock or a large stone , the top of which is about 10 ft . below the springing ; the northern portions of the piers are also of Masonry , but from their centres to their southern ends they are cleanly scarped from the rock , just as is the southern end of the bavs .

The Masonry in the Avails is of very miscellaneous character , in some cases large aud small squared stones , and in some places coarse rubble . On the northern side of the vault are two passages , about 2 ft . wide and 6 ft . high , Avhichare blockad up after about 8 ft . ; they have the appearance of being in connection Avith other vaults to the north ; they are roofed over Avith stone slabs .

To east and west the souterrain is blocked up with rubbish , fallen in from above ; but ic appearsto extend in both directions , though towards the Avest there is an indication of a portion of the arch having g iven Avay . To the south the rock rises to about the springing of the arches , that is to say ,

to about 12 ft . from the sm-face of the ground , or to about 18 ft . below the Mosque Platform . Above the rock , the ends of the bays are filled in with coarse rubble , and it is doubtful whether they extend beneath the Mosque Platform . In the eastern bay there is an arched doorway , or

communication , AA hich is filled up with coarse rubble . The souterrain has no appearance of having been constructed for a tank , there is not a sign of plaster about , and the rock appears to have been scarped for view ; it differs in most respects from the tanks in the Haram Area , and Avas apparently built for

the purpose of raising up the Haram Area to a general level . The arches appear to be Saracenic . For several months I have been seeking an opportunity to examine the ground on the northern side of the Mosque Platform , near the western steps , as I am convinced there are vaults there

( from the IIOIIOAV sound of the ground ) , and my impression now , is that the souterrain just discovered extends all along the northern edge of the Platform . I do not see that the souterrain supports the position of the Temple , obtained by the

application of Dr . Lightfoot ' s plan to the existing plan as sent home by the mail . It may with reason be claimed by one party as the ditch on the northern wall of the Temple , and by the other as the northern ditch of Antonia . . It , however , limits the space on Avhich the Temple could have stood , and as other knowledge is gained it may become a strong point in settling the matter .