Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-09

TO five thousand people, who were in ex-
pectation OF soon Witnessing the descent
ofthe holy fire.
About one O'Clock the Turks entered
the small apartment Of the Holy Tomb,
eXtinguished the lamps, closed The door,
and set a watch. | was determined to
enter myself the Holy Sepulchre, with
the Russian consul, TO see from what di-
rection the fire proceeded. But,hey re-
piled, "the Turks viii not give permits
sion 10 strangers to enter" Shortly after
the Greek priest entered the Holy Sc
pulchre, attended by the Armenian pa
triarch, and also by the Syrian patriarch.
The Greek priest, however, entered the
second apartment unattended Every
eye was fixed, as The tiuic approached.
As VIC stood waiting, suddenly there dart
ed from the Sepnlchre flaming torch,
which was carried almost instantaneous
ly &c distant patt OF the assembly. |
stood among the frs. 10 receive the five,
and to prove that, as to its power OF burn
ing, it contained no extraordinary quail
ties. Ihe zeal o. the pilgrims 10 get
part OF the fire before the superior quail
ties departed, Gas, they say, it burns like
other fire in few lnlautesO endangered
the lives Of many. Several were well
nigh crushed to death. Some lighted
candles, others tow, with view to pre-
serve part OF It's iollence.--Some held
their faces in the blaze, saying, sit does
net burn" Others said, " Now Lord,
! believe, forgive my former unbelief."
After this the pilgrims retired, abundant
~ satisfied with = hat they had seen and
heard. have thought ii rather strange,
that the Greeks, when urging upon me
the evidence OF the superiority of their
religion, have never mentioned the mira
Gle Of the holy (irc.
April %. a little past midnight, be-
can the ceremonies of the Resurrection.
The church OF tie Holy Sepulchre was
most splcndid!y illuminated 10 represent
the glory Of that morning, when arose to
live and reign the King Of glory. The
Holy Scriptures were read in the ancient
Greek, Russian, hrabic, Turkish, Ar
menian, Latin, and several other Ian
gna%es. The proccssioHs were splendid,
and the ceremonies numerous.
In the morning, all retired from the
church to their respective habitauons.
HIRE end the scrgiccsof the Holy Week.
From The A,iAhebury, (yt., Standard.
Extract OF letter from Rev. Mr.. Fisk,
one of the American Missionaries to
Jerusalem. TO "a gentleman ia THIS vii
laee, Called
gn,yi nc, Seht. C, 1891.
/ sometimes fad II useless 70 institute
in my mind comparison between the
institutions and the people Of this coun-
try and OF America. ] can scarcely fan
cy myself in the same world or among
the same race CT beings. Think of
government in which every Office is sold
to the highest bidder, and in which a
criminal may almost uniformly obtain his
freedom by the payment of money.
Think OF schools, il most OF which tie
only thing taught IS to pronounce the
words of a language which neither pupils
Tor teacher understands. Iank Of pla-
ces Of public worship, in which nearly all
the exercise are performed in an unknown
tongue. Think OF one hall the females
in the country prohibited from going
out without concealing their faces, while
both the laws and the religions of the
country allow polygamy and concubin-
age. Think OF country, in which
scarce one woman in hundred can
read, and where perhaps not half the
men arc more fortunate. Think of
country, III '. 1ich governor has liberty
to bebead seven men day without as
signing any reasons whatever for SO do
ing, where criminal is condemned
without a iury, and had almost said
without trial or witnesses, and after be-
ing condemned is Immediately behead-
ed; strangled or hung at the first con
ivenient place in the street, and leH hang
Il ing two or three days. Think ola coun-
try in which, in case OF public dis
turbance, one hall the community can
murder wbomsoevcr they please of
the other half with impunity. Think ola
country, in which an armed man will
meet respectable inofiedsive citizen in
the street OF populous city at mid day,
and shoot him dead on the spot, and
then sit down quietly and smoke his
pipe in sight of the corps, while even
the guards of the city are passing by
Think OF a country, in which the name
Of Christianity exists but only as name