The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-02

o M.
Mameukes are such perfect horsemen, that they
may be said to resemble the fabulous Centaurs ;
for they seem to grow to their horses, that man
and horse constitute but one being, Early hours,
simplicity in food and drink, and rivalry in every
leat OF manly strength have conspired to produce
the noble stature and perfect symmetry Of form
which distinguish the Turks as people.
The Arabs, on the contrary, are southern
race. Their complexion is dark brown, APP
preaching to black; the eye dark and piercing the
beard also dark. They are not so long lived as
the Turks, nor SO strong in person. Their Ian
guage too, is entirely different The Turkish
language is soft, sonorous and mehauous, inso-
much that it has been called =" the Italian of the
Yast." The Arabic, on the contrary, is grand and
strong, but harsh and cultural, and savors too
much of the fierce and the breathing to be very
musical.
The remaining 5000 of the Jerusalem popu-
lation consists of Christians and Jews. The
Christians have charge of the sacred buildings.
This is forbidden to the Jews, but they are suffer-
ed to reside in the city, and many avail them
selves of the privilege. This is often attributed
to sordid desire of gain but in this imputation
the Jews are uniustly treated. There is nothing
for them to gain On the contrary, they sustain
great loss, besides suffering much vexatious per-
secution. Many of them resort here for the ad-
vantage of studying the early Rabinical writings.
Others, especially the aged come to Jerusalem
that they may end their days within the walls of
the holy city, and enjoy the privilege of the tomb
in the valley of Jehoshaphat; just as among us,
those who die abroad feel wish that their bones
might be carried home and deposited beside those
of their ancestors. They all live in the firm be-
lief of the future restoration of their nation. A
large number of females go there as the widows
or orphans of members of the Jewish priesthood,
because on that condition their maintenance is
gratutously furnished by the Jews in other parts
of the world among whom it is customary, on
the eve of the feast of Esther, to collect tax of
"shekel for jerusalem" As 10 this general
charge of the exclusive love of money, | think |
can truly say that | have never seen a Jew who
loved his mouey so much that | could not match
him with Christian and if the charge were E.
ven true surely Christian misers are more to
blame. What is the language, mean the prac-
teal language Of our conduct towards that peo-
pie? 1t says this to them:-"Y GU are Jews-un-
believers in the Messiah; and, # you are poor,
we will not associate with you; but if you are
oery rich then we will receive you at our tables,
and admit you into our families" Does any man
doubt this Let him observe how Mr. Ricardo
or Mr. Rothchd is treated among the European
gentry or nobility. We, in fact teach them that
the only door by which they can enter Christian
society is door whose pillars are gold and whose
thresholds are silver. With the talisman OF
wealth, the unbelieving Jew may enter the pal
ace of any Christian king in Europe, Without
it, perhaps he may be admitted to the dwelling
of the President of the United States.
1t is impossible to see the Jews at Jerusalem
singing, though with melancholy voice, the songs
of Zion reciting the Psalms of David, talking the
Hebrew language and strengthening each other
in the expectation of the Messiah, and not feel for
them compassion rather than anger AS look
ed upon them, sitting by the brook Kedron, shad-
owed by the myrtles which grow upon its banks,
[ remembered that touching passage in their own
poetry:-"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat
down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the
midst thereof. For there they had carried us
away captive, required of us song, and they
that wasted us, required of US mirth, saying sing
us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we
sing the Lords song in a strange land? If |
forget thee, oh Jerusalem, let my right hand for
get her cunning. If | do not remember thee, let
my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if
prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" The
picture was realized before my eyes, and com
passionated the remnant of that ancient people,
and INDUCED the hope held out to us by our own
scriptures, that in the appointed time their preju
dices shall melt away, and 'there shall be one fold
and one shepherd" Sure am, that if that prom
Use is ever to be fulfilled, we must bring them in
to the profession of Christianity, not by persecu
ton and revilings, but by the language Of kind
ness and the silken bonds of affection.
ReJ11;971o3. 9,ert 9roeL