430 Mr, Fergusson on the Holy Sepulchre, [Feb. 21, 



the Dome of the Rock was early regarded as the site of the Sepulchre. 

 About A.D. 530, a pilgrim wrote that under the rock there was a well, 

 that by placing the ear to it the sound of water might be heard below, 

 and that if an apple were thrown into the cavity it would float onward 

 underground to the pool of Siloam, where it would be found. It was 

 most remarkable that all these conditions applied to the rock in the 

 Mosque of Omar at this day ; the sound of running water could be 

 heard, and M. Pierrotti had actually traced its current to Siloam. On 

 the contrary, in the church in the city there was no rock, no cave, no 

 well, and no communication with Siloam. Other references by 

 mediasval writers tended to confirm this view. 



In the church in the city, instead of the natural rock, there was a 

 tabernacle of marble, built on the pavement, in the middle ages ; and 

 the Golgotha, under the same roof, was built up of marble and granite : 

 the stone of the country being limestone. 



Although not of vital importance in a religious point of view, still 

 it was desirable that the Bible narrative should be reconciled with local 

 knowledge. The Dome of the Rock answered all the requirements of 

 the Bible narrative, and of Eusebius ; the so-called Church of the 

 Sepulchre answered none. It was true the main argument rested upon 

 architectural evidence ; but this, to the educated mind, was perfectly 

 conclusive. It might not be agreeable to have the faith disturbed, or 

 old traditions upset, but the speaker felt the utmost confidence that 

 it would and must be ultimately admitted that the building called 

 the Dome of the Rock, or the Mosque of Omar, was the identical 

 church which Constantine the Great built over, what he at least 

 believed to be, the Sepulchre of Christ. 



The discourse was illustrated by a map of Jerusalem, and plans 

 and drawings of the buildings referred to ; including Mr. Carl Haag's 

 elaborate drawing of the rock and interior of the church. 



[J. F.] 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, February 28, 1862. 



Sir Henry Holland, Bart. D.C.L. F.R.S. Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



A. E. Durham, Esq. 

 On Sleeping and Dreaming. 



[Abstract Deferred.] 



