The Sepulchre Of Solomon, King Of Israel.

mosque iu the lower story of the GaDiiaculum is the most jealously guarded of any of the sacred places in or around Jerusalem and veryfew Europeans have been able to gain access to it . Sir Moses Montefiore and his party were

admitted to the mosque in 1839 , and saw the cenotaph through a trellised doorway ; but were not permitted to enter the room in which it stands . A few years ago a Miss Barclay , having disguised herself as a Turkish lady , was

enabled by the kind assistance of a Mahometan lady-friend to penetrate to the sacred chamber . She says , " the room is insignificant in its dimensions , but is furnished very gorgeously . The

tomb is apparently an immense sarcophagus of rough stone , and is covered by green satin tapestry richly embroidered with gold . To this a piece of black velvet is attached with a few inscriptions from the Koran , embroidered also in

gold . A satin canopy of red , blue , green , and yellow stripes hangs over the tomb ; and another piece of black velvet tapestry , embroidered in silver , covers a door in one end of the room , which , they said , leads to a cave underneath .

Two tall silver candlesticks stand before this door and a little lamp hangs in a window near it , which is kept constantly burning . '—( Extract from Dr . Barclay ' s City of the Great King . )

I he satin covered monument described by Miss Barclay is merely a cenotaph , the real tombs are in the cave below , the Royal Sepulchres being doubtlessly hewn in the rock , like all the tombs of great men in that age .

It is related that when the Cauiaculum was being repaired during the 12 th century , some workmen were employed to quarry stones from the foundations of the original wall of Zion . Two of these men found a cave whose mouth had been

covered by a stone . They entered this cave in search of treasure , and proceeded till they discovered a large hall , supported by marble columns , encrusted with gold and silver . Iu this hall on their left was a sort of tablewith a

, sceptre and crown of gold lying theron . This was the tomb of Solomon , and on the right in a similar state was the Tomb of David , and in a like manner the tombs of the Kings of Judah , Seeing some large coffers , the two labourers were

about to enter the hall , when a blast of wind like a hurricane threw them to the ground , and there they remained insensible till the evening , when

The Sepulchre Of Solomon, King Of Israel.

they heard a voice commanding them to quit the place . They immediately rushed forth , aud told their strange tale to the priest who had hired them . A learned Rabbi who was sent for , asserted that this

was indeed the tomb of the great King of Israel ,, whereupon the cave was walled up , so as to hide it effectually . Like many other equally extravagant legends ,, this , is probably founded on a narrow basis of

truth , though subsequently improved on by the lively imaginations of those , by whom it has been handed down to posterity . It has of course been disputed that this isreally the sepulchre of the Kings of Judah ,

yetit is a fact , that now for nearly- five ceuturies ,. ¦ Jew , Christian and Moslem are alike ag-reed in regarding the cave under the Oasnaculuni , as thespot where lie the ashe 3 of Solomon , Kino- of Israel , of David his father , and of the Kings of "

Judah their successors . The time may come , when the mosque and cavewill be thrown open , and all doubts set at rest ; while the brethren who may then fortunately bein the Holy Land will be able to make a pleasant , pilgrimage to the last resting place of our great-Grand Master King Solomon .

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued from page 67 . ) BOOK IV . —CHAPTER Xll . —Contd , De Placian had been chosen by Philip to be present at the first interview between the Grand ;

Master and the Commissioners , that he mi ght , by his seemingly friendly counsel , embarrass De-Molai . This object he effected , for the Grandi Master refused to defend the Order before any one but the Pope , and Phili p knew how to prevent an interview taking lace between De Molai

p and Clement . But for the second interview , hechose a different instrument ; and during it William de Nogaret , the Chancellor , appeared in the hall . When the Grand Master had finished speaking , he addressed him in a rude aud offensive maimer , and declared that the whole Order was corrupt . In the chronicles

of the Abbey of St . Denis , he said , "it is recorded that the Grand Master and Officers did homage to Saladiu , Sultan of Egypt ; that the Sultan knew perfectly well of the corruption of the Order , for hearing of a terrible calamity which had befallen the Templars , he declared it to be a judgment sent by God upon them for their sins , all the Knights having violated their vows ,