RESTORATION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6296, 21 January 1882, Page 3

RESTORATION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.

Tun following is from the London Daily Telegraph of a recent date Reuf Pasha, the Turkish Governor of Jerusalem, has recently received imperative orders from Sultan Abdul Hamid to resume tho work of restoration of Solomon's Temple, commenced under the reign of Abdul Aziz, but discontinued some five years ago. The Pasha has also been instructed to clear tiie great square fronting the Temple of all the rubbish and rank vegetation with which it is at present encumbered. In this square stands the famous Mosque of Omar, which derives a revenue of soma £15,000 a year from pilgrim contributions aud other sources. Hitherto the greater portion of this sum found its way annually to Stamboul. The Sultan, however, has decreed that henceforth it shall be applied to defraying tho expenses of tho works above alluded to, the present resumption of which, asj well as their original inception, is due in reality to suggestions made at different times to the Ottoman authorities by members of the Austrian Imperial Family. The restoration of the Temple ruing was begunat the instance of Francis Joseph during his visit to the Holy Land, .shortly after the accession of Abdul Aziz to the throne ; and ic was the recent pilgrimage of the Archduke Rudolph to Juda;a that imparted a fresh impulse to the interrupted enterprise. Not only has the Commander of the Faithful signified it to be his sovereign will that the workß should be carried out without further delay, but two officials of the Sublime Porte, Serid aud llaif EHondim, havealready left Constantinoplcfor Jerusalem with instructions to take measures on their arrival for insuring the literal fulfilment of His Majesty's decrce. The gratitude of Christians and Jews alike is due to Abdul Hamid for lending his high authority to bo generous and enlightened an undertaking.