Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-08
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

JERUSALEA.-EU Gne Jew, CnflStlan, 8n0
Mohammedan, Jeruselam is the most sacred
spot on earth. Here cluster the fondest and
purest remembrances of our childhood
Here transpred the most momentous events
which are recorded in the annals of sacred or
profane history. Here was consumated, by
the voluntary sacrifice Of the Son of God, the
great plan of mans redemption; and here he
shall come again, not as the lowly Nazarene,
but to take vengeance on 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 at
tracted the Queen of Sheba, and whose Wis
dom and works Of art so astounded her that
she was forced to exclaim, "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 depressed and the degraded
Hebrews looked forward when chafng be-
meath the yoke of bondage imposed upon
them by that king who knew not Joseph
And hither they came, after long and wea-
ry years of wandering in the desert. The
highest aspiration of the "Great Lawgiver"
centred here; and most earnestly did be en-
treat the Lord to let him view this land OF
promise, before he was gathered to his faith
ers. Here lived the great king Melchizedek;
and here, for time, dwelt the "friend OF
Cod"
Every change that time and man can ef-.
feet has been wrought on this devoted city.
Literally has the denunciation pronounced
against it being fulfilled; and We now see the
abomination of desolation, spoken by Dani-
ell the prophet, standing where it ought not"
Where the magnificent Temple of Solomon,
erected in honor of the the "Unutterable,"
once stood, now towers the Mohammedan
Mosque of Omar. And from this sacred spot
peals forth the Muzzim's cry, FIVE times dur
ing the twenty-four hours-at dawn OF day,
noon, three o'clock, sunset, and two hours al
ter sunset-to call the faithful to prayers
What heart-rending emotions fill the breast
of every Christian, as these words strike up
on his ear God is great-God is great; Mo-
hammet is the prophet of God!" This is first
proclaimed from the minaret of the Temple
enclosure, (the Harem es Sharif) and then
repeated by cries from the minarets in differ
ents parts of the city. The cry at dawn Of
day is little modified, having this addition:
Arise from sleep and come to prayers, for
prayer is better than sleep. When this
summons is made-which is done by blind
men, chosen for the office, that they may not
look down upon the women on the house.tops,
or in the courts below-the devout Moham-
medan, no matter where he is, or under what
circumstances-wh gossipping with his
wives, promenading on the public plain and
in the fields. or vending goods in the mar
ket-doffs his slippers and tarbush, washes
his feet, head, face, hands-if they are in the
fields water is omitted and then after spread
rug, proceeds with his genufuxiens: utter
ing at the same time what has been proclaim
ed from the minaret, making no petitions, ex-
pressing no gratitude. They who are not SO
devout do not inconvenince themselves topray
Immediately. If they are engaged in either
business or pleasure, they defer their prayers
for more convenient season. So they pray
before the Muzzim sounds again, it is just as
acceptable. The women pray with the head
covered.
Time has left unchanged the immutabls
hills which still stand around about Jeruss-
lem, as in the days Of yore. The natural fea-
ture of the landscape is unchanged. Beau
tiful Tor situation. the joy of the whole earth
is Mount Zion" The modern town-El
Khuds, or the Holy, as it is called by the
Arabs--stands upon the same site as that oc-
cupied by the city-when it was besieged by