FUTURE OF PALESTINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 3

FUTURE OF PALESTINE.

-SACREiJ -RELICS THAT MAY BE FREED BY.THE.WAR 'Turkey Fortifies Nazareth." This headline, published a few days ago in a * London newspaper, may have startled not a few_ people who; did not realise that the Ottoman Empire" l'rieiuaes in her possessions practically all the sites and treasures of Biblical history. When Mr. Asquith said' recently that "this war means the end of Turlay," he prophesied a great future for the students of Christianity. For it means "that with the downfall of the Turkish Empire we shall gain right of free access to such places as Jerusalem, with the Sepulchre of the Saviour, the Temple of Solomon, and many other sacred sites which have been shut off from visitors who did not care to comply with the rigorous rules of the Turkish governors. For while Christian civilisation has gained' some rights' in. Jerusalem; many of the most interesting parts of that famous city have not been opened to the ordinary visitor. Chief among these is the site of the Temple of Solomon,,which cannot be touched by a Christian or a Hebrew, because it is utilised as a Mohammedan mosque. The Temple and Palace of Solomon, where he received the Queen of Sheba, is a building concerning which world-wide interest is naturally felt, and excavations in the Tempje area may still reveal the altar of sacrifice, the brazen" altar, the "molten "sea," and other various sacred objects mentioned in the Bible.

Investigators of "this Temple and Palace, however, have been rigorously barred by the Turks,, ajremark ■which, also applies to the'Toznb'of Abraham, the "forefather of all the Israelites, at Hebron, in Palestine. Before, be...died Abraham bought the Cave of Maehpelab. as a burial-place for himself and his family. This cave is situated within an enclosure called the H a T am j and above the -cave stands a chur_:h built by the Crusaders... in 11S7, but since converted mosque, for many eenturiesin the possession of Wdinarily, Christians and 7 Hebrews-.are soi7"even. allowed to enter the Haram. surrounding the mosque, although" occasionally Royalty Thave been permitted to enter. " .

Another remarkably interesting relic .which njay. .be. .freed, J>y„, the .war. is. the ihonastery-at'MounfSinai.-' This ocefrpies the traditional spot where the Lord delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses, while in the library was .recently found the oldest known manuscript of the Bible. These .■ and ; pther ; spots which after»the" war \yiTl' be 6penecf7 to'.civilisatibri'haVetbeen"jeSdusly''guarde'd. by 4he :Turk-i who have"only allowed people to visit them:and.make investigations after i.paying them a.ri.exorbitan.'ieeV'" "- '"7 L " According..to. the.present Turkish law of..;antjquities»^the_consent, of;. the local ..authorities, for .anx.such7 purpose, jnust first be_ secured before a, permit .would be issued in Constantinople., To obtain this a lavish expenditure of money.is saryT' "With Jthe downfall of j the "Turkish Empire,' however, these ancient spots, which' hold so people, will' be"free.for'aut-wrised ihve'stiigatioii. -*•"■ :■•• "•'••' r --~ '-■■.■■■.••..•■.... •

"Not'onlythe sacredr places'of the Holy Xaird;'however, hut'the'most famous sites of the' ancient 'and',classiiil -wbrld,' including Constantinople, '"/Troy; Babylon, Nineveh,r Damascus? and ljyie,"life ir_.'the clutch" of the^urfc : ■-'_'''-" - • -_*-— ■_•---•'■>- -7 Considerable excavation haa; of course, been .done in such'places aa Babylon ano! Nineveh, but it could only be done at' Vast expense great risk- of many kinds.-.: "This condition Twill be removed when the "Turk is""swepy :f awayy and r t_a»7World will enter upon a new'era'6f IvlJijpoW enlightenment" tad progress. '" - -.