Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-08-11

JERUsALEN.-To the Jew, Christian and Mohan-
medan Jerusalem is the most sacred spot on earth.
Here cluster the fondest and pureSt remembranccs
of our childhood. Here transpire1 the most mo-
mentous events which recorded in the annals Of
sacred or profane history Here was contaminated
by the voluntary sacrifice Of the Son of God, the
great plan of mans redemption; and here he shall
como again, not as the lowy Nazarene, but to take
vengeance his enemies, and to be admired of his
friends when "his feet shall stand upon the Mount
of Olives" Here dwelt that king whose glory and
renown attracted the Queen of Sheba; and whose
wisdom and works of art so astounded her that she
was forced to exclan, 1.-The half of the greatness
of his wisdom was not told her; for he exceeded
the fame that she had heard" To this goal the de-
pressed and the degraded Hebrews looked forward
when the chatting beneath the yoke of bondage im-
posed upon them by that king who knew not Jo-
seph. And bither they came after long and weary
years of wandering in the desert The highest as
pration of the "Great Lawgiver" conferred here;
and most earnestly did he entreat the Lord to let
him view this land Of promise before he was gath
cred to his fathers Here lived the great king Mel
chizedek and here, for time, dwelt the " friend
of God"
Every change that time and man can effect has
been wrought on this devoted city. Literally has
the denunciation pronounced against it been fulfill
ed and we now see 1.-The abomination Of desola-
tion spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing
where it ought not" Where the magnificent Tenn
pie of Solomon, erected in honor OF the Unuttera
BILE" once stood, now towers the Mohammedan
Mosque of Omar. And from this sacred spot peals
forth the Muizzims cry five times during the twenty
four hours-at dawn Of day, noon, three o'clock,
sunset, and two hours after sunset-to call the
faithful to prayers. What heart rending emotions
fill the breast of every Christian as these words
strike upon his God is great-God is great
Mohammet is the prophet of God" This is first
proclaimed from the minaret of the Temple enclo-
sure, (the Harem es Sharif) and then repeated by
cries from the mnarets in different parts of the CITY,
The cry at dawn of day is a little modified, having
this addition "Arse from sleep and come TO
prayers, for prayer is better than Sleep" When
this summons is made-whch is done by blind men,
chosen for the Office, that they may not look down
upon the on the bouse-tops, or in the courts
below-the devout Mohammedan, no matter where
| he is or under what circumstances-whether Cos
| slipping with his wives promenadiDg the public
plain and in the fields vending goods in the mar
ket-doffs his slippers and tarbush, washes the feet
head face and hands-if they are in the fields wa
ter is omitted; and them after spreading rug pro-
ceeds with his genuhuxions uttering at the same
time what has been proclaimed from the minaret,
making no petition, expressing no gratitude. They
who are not so devout do not inconvenience them
selves to pray Immediately. If they are engaged in
either business pleasure they defer their prayers
| for a more convenient season. So they pray before
the Muizzim sounds again. it is Just as acceptable
The women pray with the head covered
Time has left unchanged the mmutabe hills
which still stand around about Jerusalem as in days
OF yore. The natural feature Of the landscape is
unchanged. Beautiful for situation the ioy of the
whole earth is Mount Zion" The modern town
FL Khuds or The Holy, as it is called by the
| Arabs-stands upon the same site as that occupied
by the city when it was besiegod by Titus but more
circunlscrbed in extent. 80