The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-26
WHOLE NO. 157

Instead of that il is long even ridge
of almost barren rock 10 or IS miles
in length, extending east and west
and breaking off abruptly at the shore
of the sea. On the eastern extrem-
ity, overlooking the Plain of Jezreel
is the rock of Elijah's sacrifice. On
the western end high out of reach of
the storm surf of the Mediterranean,
followed out of the face of the rock
promontory, is the cave where Elijah
and the few prophets who remained
faithful to Jehovah found refuge from
persecution in the days of Jezebel.
We climbed the steep ascent and en-
tered the mouth of the cavern. 1t is
a favorite resort of Jewish pilgrims
and as we stepped in out of the sun
light we could hear mumbling low
sound as of someone praying, but
could see nothing. When our eyes
became accustomed to the darkness
we saw sitting in corner with yell
low, ragged book in his hands sway
ing back and forth as he read, be-
ing whom had supposed had left
this world for good 1900 years ago.
1t was a regular bona fde Pharisee.
He had the book of the Law in his
hand, and the old phylactery of the
time of Christ bound on his forehead,
and there he sat and was going to sit
with bread and water beside him un-
til he had mumbled through all the
books of Moses, and then 60 down to
his house justified thanking the Lord
that he was not as other men. You
could see in his face that same rigid
self-righteousness, that hard-hearted
contempt for those who know not the
Law and are cursed, which provoked
to awful indignation as nothing else
in this world the Soul of Christ Of
whom He said-Ye whited sepulchres
-Ye generation Of vipers-Ye max
ers of long prayers, and devourers Of
the heritage of the widow and father
less-Ye hypocrites how can ye escape
the damnation of hell. In another
part of the cave curled up on his
blanket was another being whom l
had supposed the world never con-
tanned. 1t was a red-headed Jew.
He rubbed his eyes open and looked
stupidity at US. Old Nejem, the drag
oman said, "well where did you come
froma" Jerusalem" "What are
you doing here?" "Oh I'm going
around to visit all the holy places"
"What for?" "Why, to get holy, of
course, that's the way to get holy"
Nejem asked him if he knew what
place this was, and what made it sac
red. He said no, he didn't know
anything about that; he only knew
that it had the reputation of being
holy-it was one of the places of pill
grimage and so he took it in, as he
was desirous of visiting them all. He
ate there, and slept there and spent
all his time there absorbing holiness
through the pores of his skin.
The walls were carved all over with
the names of pilgrims, verses of old
Testament scripture in Hebrew, now
and then something in Greek, but
more frequently the simple name of
Jehovah. 1t is believed that some
of these inscriptions date back to the
time of Elijah, and may have been
made by the Prophets themselves.
But it requires a mightier stretch of
imagination than most minds are cap
able Of, to include the Prophet Elijah
or anyone of that heroic band of his
followers, in the number ofthose who
seek for a glorious Immortality by
cutting their names in public places.
should rather think that a man like
Elijah would probably find something
else to occupy his mind and absorb
his ambition than that which gives
more intense pleasure and illustrious
notoriety to SO many. But there may
be difference Of opinion about that.
We left the cave and went on up
the steep winding ascent to the top Of
the promontory and knocked at the
door of a Roman Catholic convent
on the Summit. 1t is the largest and
IL l--x