Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-07-19
Jerusalem and it's Suburbs.

A letter in the Toledo Blade, dated
at Jerusalem, Palestine, March I'd,
1867, gives the following description
Of the Holy City and its suburbs:
"There about $4,000 people in Je-
rusalem, 5000 of whom are Jews. All
except about 1000 of them, | am told,
are very poor. | said they do not 60
into the enclosure where their Tenn
pie stood, but they do 60 every Friday
to portion of the old wall that yet
remains on the west side, supposed to
be part of the same that Solomon
built. And here is witnessed scene
on Friday of each week that | think
would touch the hardest heart [ went
in company with several others, to see
for myself. 1t is called 1.-The wailing
place of the Jews" There we saw
them of both sexes, all ages, in many
kinds Of dress, from satin to tatters
and rags evidently many of whom
were pilgrims from distant lands and
of various languages many of them
having in their hands the Old Testa-
ment Scriptures or prayer books
Some were seated on tagging, some
kneeling, others grasping, as it were,
those old stones in their arms, while
others were beating their breasts-all
reading or praying in a sing-song tone
most Of them sobbing, with tears
streaming down their cheeks like
rain; and all this because of the des-
olations of Zion. | was told that
their lamentations wers after this man
ner: "Oh God, the heather are come
into thine inheritance. Thy holy tenn
pie have they deiled. We are be-
come reproach to our neighbors a
scorn and derision to them that are
round about US. How long, Lord ?
Wilt thou be angry forever ?" etc.,
etc. We were there at about four
o'clock P. NJ, and saw as many as
two hundred engaged. This is kept
up from 9 A. NJ. to or P. NJ. O.,
how long will the blindness that hap
pened unto Israel in part obscure the
mental vision to the fact that the
Messiah hath alreay come and they
need not expect another? Would
that fulness of the Gentiles were al
ready in that these that are the nat
ural branches might be speedily graft
ed in again! However. many of
these are turning to the Lord, and it
has been my privilege to make the ac-
Quaintance of a number who have had
their spiritual eyes opened, and they
are row greatly rejoicing in Christ
their Saviour. The English Protes-
tant Episcopal Church is doing a good
work here among this historic people,
as also among the Arabs and others
| think its membership is from 400 to
800, most of whom are native prose
lytes. This effort is deserving the
sympathy of the Christian Church of
whatever name and order, every
where.
On the morning of the Goth we got
an early start, and passed out at the
Damascus gate, on the west, and
struck off to the southwark, and arriv-
ed at the (said to be- prison of Jere-
miah, about two hundred yards from
the gate. 1t is an excavation in the
solid rock. but don't look much like a
prison. Bending our course eastward
in about half a mile we were on the
brow Of the hill overlooking the
brook Kedron, and in full view of the
Mount Of Olives. Descending into
the valley, we were soon passing in
front Of the east wall of the city, and
half a mile from it, where undoubted-
ly is the original Gethsemane. Three
rival gardens, one Greek, one Latin,
and one Armenian, are now there, all
claiming to be the original; all, how.
ever, are adjoining, and together don't
embrace over one acre. Originally
perhaps, they were one. We entered
the Latin (Catholic), garden, and felt
that we were now treading one Of
the most sacred spots that was ever
, allotted to sinful eyes to behold, and
wished to whisper to all around
Peace, be still! we are treading or
, holy ground We turned TO the 26tf
> chapter of Matthew, and there read
, that most touching of all utterances
! that ever reached the ears of earthly
beings, our Lords prayer and agony
there. For a time we sat in silence
and then passed out, ever, trust
. to remember the reflections there in
dulged.
A few rods to the north are the
t tomb and chapel of Joseph and Mary
/ a singular looking place. Entering
s by a large door, we passed down {
e flight of steps, to the depth of about
Y thirty feet under ground. Here were
J. pointed out their resting places. This
s chapel is held IN common by all OF the
t Oriental Christians each, however
have their separate affairs and lights
kept constantly burning.
/ Coming out Of this We were sool
: ascending the sacred mount, ant
e doubtless by the same path or roat
: so often trodden by the ever blessed
l. One, after the fatiguing tolls and lab
e ors in the city and temple were over
b On his way to his seclusion On tn
r brow of the mountain, or to Bethany
e that little quiet village where livec
e his dear friends Mary, Martha ant
g Lazarus. Up this rugged path Da
: vid clambered, bare-footed, with heat
IS covered, when escaping from Jerusa
lem, and the rebellion of his unnatura