Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-15
MISTO RICAL.
From the .Ne,c York Observer.
The Sacred MOuntainSmMOunt Of Olives.
BY THE REV. J. T. HEADLEY.

BY THE REV. j. T. HEADLEY.
The Mount Of Olives stands Just without Jc-
rusalem, over the little stream of Kedron. Its
height and magnitude would not entitle ii to the
name Of mountain as we use the word; but be
ing called such in the Bible, it belongs among
the Sacred Mountains" In moral grandeur
ii towers above all the preceding mountains that
rise along the horizon Of history.
1t is difficult to recall any scene wildly that
has been so often described and so long familiar
to us as that which transpired on the Mount of
Olives The mind is prepared for every event
in it, and hence cannot be taken by surprise
But there are moments when the heart forgets
all that it has ever heard, and seems for the first
time to witness that night cf suffering. The
indifference which long familiarity has Produced
disappears before rising emotion, and that lone
ly hiII-top-that midnight prayer-that piercing
agony, with its bloody testimonial, and the rude
shock of Roman soldiers, all, all, swim before
the swimming eye, with the freshness of first
sight till the heart thrills and thrubs al the wOIl-
drous spectacle.
But as morally grand and moving as TINT
scene was, it caused but little talk in jerusalem
The streets Of the proud city were filled with
careless romenaders-parIes of pleasure were
ssembIed-dissipaiio and revery were on ey-
cry side and the quiet of the stald citizen
home was not interrupted by the tragedy Mount
! Oli,et was to witness. Every thing moved en-
in its accustomed way, when, i'll an obscure
street in the upper chamber If IN inferior dwell
ling, group cf roarse-cad men sat down to y
table spread with the pllinest fire. The rlItIinI
of carriages aud lie hum If the mighty CITY
were unheeded by them, aud you could see by
their countenances that some cal unity was n-
pending over their heads Few words were
spoken and those few were uttered in a subdu.
ed and saddened tone that always beSpeaks grle!
at the heart At the head of the table sat one
whose noble eountenance proclaimed him chief
there. lie had won the love of those simple
hearted men, and now they sat grouped around
him, expecting some sad news; but oh, they
we're unprepared for the startling declaration
that fell from those lips "IhiS n gh Ons Of
you shall betrdy mr." as it II" rs HR"
ran from lip to lip in breathless CONSERVATION.
At length all eyes centred on Judas, and he rose
aud went away.
will not speak Of the conversation that fol-
lowed, but amid words that thrilled every heart
were heard such language as, This rs my 6toOd
shed for mang;" and as the bread crnn'bled
beneath his Gugers, "TAis is my body;" strange
language, aud awakening strange sensations IN
The bewldered listeners; and mournfu sad
ness rested on every face, as though the silent
chamber rung those tones of tenderness.
Gradually the great city sunk to rest, the
noise of wheels grew less and less, and only now
and then solitary carriage went rumblIng by.
1t was midnight and from that solitary chamber
arose the voice of singing. The victim at the
aItar-the sufferer by the whee, struck up a
hymn at the m )ment of sacrifice. Was there
ever before hymn sung under such circumStan-
ces!
Through the darkened streets those twelve
forms are slwly passing towards the walls OF the
city, cared for and noticed only by the police
whom the berOyer has put upon the track
f Kedron is passed, and they rench the garden o
, Gehsemane. Sit you here" says Jesus
; "whiIe go and pray yonder," and taking will
him only Peter aud James and John, he asceH
ded the slope of Olives. As they paused on thu
: solitary summit, the human heart threw off thu