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ECHOES EROM THE ORIENT
ANY of the old ruins, cross-roads, trees,
caves, wells, etc., of Palestine are re
garded with supeistitious awe, because
of wonderful stories associated with
them. Some of these stories are Jew
ish, some Mohammedan, and many of
them are the creations of so-called
Christians. If the readers of The Gold
en Age will take a little stroll of a few
M
miles with me from Jerusalem, during which I will
call attention to a few of such legends connected
with the places along the way, they can form some
idea of the number and character of these legends.
Leaving the city at what is popularly known as
the Jaffa Gate, and facing southward, we pass
down into the Valley of Hinnom, the name of which
became shortened into Gehenna, before New Testa
ment times. Just above the point where the road
to Bethlehem crosses it there is a large pool called
Biiket es-Sultan. Though it is usually understood
that there is a great scarcity of water in Gehenna,
yet it seems that one of the Sultans has had the
temerity to start a water-supply arrangement in it.
From this point, without lingering to consider the
numerous tales connected with this valley, we climb
up “The Hill of Evil Counsel,” so named because
it is said that the summer palace of the High Priest
stood on its top, and in it the leaders of the Jews
assembled and “took counsel together that they
Summer Residence and Chapel of Greek Patriarch.
might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him” Matt.
26:4). Here near the top of the hill is an old wild
olive tree called “The Judas Tree,” for it is claim
ed to be the identical tree on which that arch-traitor
gave a tight-rope performance which proved fatal
to himself.
Still passing on toward the south we immediately
enter on the plain called the “Valley of Giants.”
On the hill over to the right we see the buildings of
the summer palace of another and modern high
priest, the Greek Patriarch. They are said to stand
upon the site of the home of good old Simeon of
“Nunc Dimittis” fame. Beyond there, and hidden
in a deep valley, is the Monastery of the Cross,
where it is claimed grew the tree from which was
made the cress on which the Savior was crucified.
It is seriously affirmed that the tree was planted by
Adam, the same who Mark Twain said was a dis
tant relative of his, and who others say was “snak
ed out of Eden,” and then proceeded to “raise
Cain.” The tree was watered by Noah who cer
tainly had an abundant supply of water in his day.
He is said to have been the first to introduce salt
pork—Ham—into the navy. The tree was tended
by the Patriarchs. It would seem that there was a
regular conspiracy among “the old folks” to have
the tree ready for the cruel and wicked purpose to
which a part of it was to be devoted.
Another version of this story is that the tree
grew from three sprigs presented to Seth by the
angel who guarded the tree of life. It survived
the Flood, but was forgotten until the days of Lot
who, on the instruction of an angel, sought to atone
for his sins by carrying water from the Jordan,
The Golden Age for August 9,1906.
FOLKLORE AND LEGENDS.
more than twenty-live miles away, lor the purpose
of watering the nee. Each time the JJevil, appear
ing in rue lorm oi a thirsty pilgrim, thwarted his
repeated efforts, until Lot was giving up in despair,
wnen an angel appeared to him, and iniormed him
tuat his sms had been forgiven because of his kind
ness and good intentions in giving water to the
supposed pilgrims. The angel iurther iniormed him
that the tree had been watered by angels. (By the
way, at least one of the forms in winch Satan ap
peared was that of a Russian pilgrim. Rather an
early day for Russian pilgrims). The devil still
kept up his efforts to foil the purpose for which
the tree was intended. Finally he persuaded Hiram
to have it cut down, and brought to be used in the
building of the Temple, but even after its trunk
was hewn into proper shape, it was found not to be
the kind of timber for use in the Temple, and was
used for a bridge across the Kidron Valley until
the Queen of Sheba came. Just as that queen was
about to cross over the valley on this bridge the
purpose and character of the timber of which it
was composed were revealed to her. She refused
to cross on it, but fell down and worshipped it to
the astonishment of King Solomon who was just
coming to meet her. When she told him what had
been revealed to her, then he had the piece of tim
ber taken, and placed in a treasury room of the
Temple where it remained until it was needed for
the making of the cross.
On the south border of the plain, and by the road
side, is the “Well of the Magi,” so-called because
one of the Wise Men accidentally discovered the
lost star in it. It is also called “Mary’s Well,”
from the story that once when the Virgin was bath
ing there, she saw an angel coming. As she was
not “dressed for company,” she ran to a flock of
goats, and begged them to shield her, but they
wickedly ran away. Then she ran to a flock of
sheep and made the same request of them, and they
generously gathered around her. For this kind act
the sheep were rewarded by being given the fat-tails
which are such a great blessing to the sheep of this
land wheie pasturage is so uncertain during the dry
season. The goats, for their wickedness, were con
demned to have short and up-turned tails.
Another version of this story tells of how Abra
ham, when persecuted by the king of the country
where he was raised, was fleeing from soldiers sent
to capture him. He sought protection from some
goats, but they refused it. Then he made the same
request of a flock of sheep, and, on their suggestion,
lay flat down on the earth while they hovered over
him, so completely concealing him that the pursuing
soldiers passed on without discovering him. In ans
wer to Abraham’s prayer to Allah the blessing came
upon the sheep and the curse upon the goats. As
the soldiers were riding mules which were thus aid
ing the soldiers, the mules were punished with bar
renness.
At the top of the ridge a short distance beyond
the well is the monastery Mar Elias (“Saint
Elias.”) This was thus named, so it is said, because
Elijah, fleeing from the wicked Jezebel (1 Kings
19:3), lay down to rest here. The depression made
in the stone by his body is shown near by, as proof
of the story. The monastery has another honor in
the fact (?) that the “holy family” drank from
the well or cistern just in front of it.
About a half mile further on there is a barren
field covered with small stones. The small stones
are accounted for in this way: A man was sowing
peas here, and the Virgin Mary coming along asked
him what he was sowing, and he replied that he was
sowing stones. “Let them be stones, then,” said
the Virgin, and immediately the peas were changed
into stones. The place is called the “Field of
Peas,” unto this day.
We have scarcely come four miles from Jerusa
lem, and yet I think my accommodating company
are ready to cry “enough” for this time. It is
not surprising that, in this land of ignorance and
superslit ion, such unreasonable and silly stories
should be invented, but it is astonishing that many
of the foreigners, who come here from civilized and
Christian countries, eagerly swallow the stories
down without the least mental reservation.
P. L. Stanton.
Jerusalem, Palestine,
Lincoln Memorial University.
(Continued from page 2.)
Number of Students.
Although Cumberland Gap is situated in one of
the most thinly settled parts of the country, yet
it is a point at which three states, Virginia, Ten
nessee, and Kentucky, converge, and it so happens
that this is the only large institution of learning
within a radius of fifty miles. Hence the students
seek it from all points of the compass and from
the small beginning of less than one hundred stu
dents in Dr. Myers’ mission church in 1890 there
were enrolled at the last session of the Lincoln
Memorial University 535 students!
Recent Donations.
One of the most recent donations to the institu
tion is a handsome library, the gift of Mr. Carne-
t
v ■ ■■ ■ -
Monastery of Mar Elias.
gie; this same generous gentleman enabled the
university to pay off a last mortgage of $2,300 a
few years ago.
Yet another recent addition to the equipment is
a handsome students’ cottage provided by a Mrs.
Smith of New York City. This cottage, with sev
eral others erected during the past year, is de
signed to enable the students to do light housekeep
ing which greatly lessens their expenses at the
university.
A fine new Conservatory of Music has also been
recently completed, and as the study of music in
its mechanical and vocal branches is one of the chief
attractions to many students, this latter building
is a needed and appreciated addition.
Diversions.
Although the class of students who attend the
Lincoln Memorial University are, as a rule, serious
minded young men and women bent on making the
best possible out of life and their opportunities,
yet they have founded many societies, clubs and
organizations whose chief purpose is social diver
sion. The University Band is composed of both
sexes and, indeed, the young women enter fully
into every branch of college life.
The Lincoln Memorial University is doing a won
derful work for the South, and its influence on the
future of the country cannot be adequately esti
mated, but it is working along the most approved
educational lines and its every tendency is toward
the highest mental, moral, and spiritual develop
ment of the students fortunate enough to come with
in its beneficent influence, ___
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