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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, ___ 3