Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-06-13
IN THE LAND OF TENTS AND Pill.
GRIMS.


~
IN THE LAND OF TENTS AND Pill.
GRIMS.
"To thy tents, o Israeli" Palestine
is land of tents and pilgrims. Abra-
ham began his life four thousand years
ago in tent, and for hundred years
had no certain abiding place, but pitched
his tent and reared h altar among all
these goodly hills and valleys. Isaac
and Jacob were jewellers in tents. The
patriarchs and prophets had no contin-
uing city here but lived a tent-life;
and sought one to come. The genera
tions of Israel sojourned in the land of
promise as in a strange country, dwell
ing in tabernacles. Like the clouds on
the hill-tops. they appeared for little
moment; then they folded their tents
| and silently moved away. Thus, life
was tenting-ground only. They looked
for city which hath foundations, whose
| builder and maker is God. 1t is a great
privilege to be dwelling in the bright
ness and beauty of spring. in moving
tabernacles pilgrims here as were all
our fathers. Our camp consists of
twenty-seven travellers, fifty three Arabs
and eighty-seve1 horses. We have thir-
teen tents, including the large dining
| and prayer-meeting tent. When we are
resting in tent it is comely, attractive
town, the twelve smaller tents circlin9
about the larger one in the center
When we mount and move it is a caval-
cade stretching on more than half a
mile.
The tents have perpendicular walls
eight feet high, and then run up to a
point fifteen feet above the ground.
They are white outside, and handsome
| ly shaped and made. Inside they are
lined with blue, so as to protect the
eye from excessive light, and the blue is
finely decorated with designs in white
and orange and scarlet cloth. On five
of the tents the stars and stripes float,
and on the others. the flag of England.
The long dining-room tent is richly en-
broidered along the ridge outside with
red cloth, and at the center flies our
j American ensign with the British ban
ner at each extremity. From this tent
rises the vo ce of song and PRAYER every
evening, and the Scripture is read per-
tanning to the scenes in Holy Land Wis
tied that day. At Jericho, for instance,
we read the account in Joshua of the
surrender of the city. and our Lords
| visit there when the blind man was
cured, and the sweetening of the wa
tiers by the.great prophet, while we used
the waters from the same refreshing
spring. Our encampment is always on
some memorabl' site. and hence, also,
near some famous well. for Oriental life
always centers bout well.
Our camp ass Stants are divided into
two classes-tho men who care for the
tents and the men who manage the
commissariat. We are awakened in
the morning by the sound of the trum-
pet, loud and long and clear. The
trumpeter marches quite round the cir
Gle, filling the dawn with the ancient
Hebrew melodies. In an hour comes
the second call, which is breakfast. As
we go, we leave all the luggage at our
tent door. When breakfast is over we
see neither tents nor luggage. The men
have gathered up all our carriages"
folded our beds and tents, and are off
for the nights camping place. The
dining tent soon follows. Our lunch is
spread at noon on cloth in the shade
OF an oak or terebinth tree, near
spring of water. At one time il was at
Ramlek, the ancient home of Joseph of
Arimathea; at another, in Emmaus,
where Jesus dined with two friends on
the night of His resurrection.
When we reach our halting- place for
the night, the lighthouses give their
welcome. The flags are flying. Your
tent door is open; you know it by the
number Your luggage is all there.
Your bed, with il on bedstead, is neatly
made. The toilet table, with white
cloth and towels and water, is all COM
plete. The central tent-pole has hooks
for all your wraps and for the candles,
and, while you throw yourself on the
lounge, weary from the engrossing
work of the day, a cup of real tea, hot
enough to suit any lover of that bever-
age, is served. The sugar and goat S
milk come with it, and you are cheered
and made ready for the ample dinner
that in due time follows.
Our travelling party of twenty-seven
is composed OF twenty-one gentlemen
and six ladies, two from Ireland, eight
from Scotland, seven from America
and ten from England. There are ten
clergymen, one member of the British
Parliament, two physicians, one Canon
of the English Church and one botan-
list.
It is a great help to any student of
VIC Diule 10 study III On the RrOunu.
, The Land is tho best commentary on
. the Book. Instruction and suggestion
come in at every point-aid that can be
: secured at no other source. Besides, it
is very helpful to 90 over this sacred
| historic ground in company with so
: many learned Christian men. You re-
, ceive the combined thought of their
: minds, and one thought leads to anoth-
or, till flood of light is often thrown
! upon interesting points of Scripture.
} One great thing is that such travel in
] creases love for the Bible and new in
terest in its study. Another is a deep
, ening conviction of its thorough and en-
J tire genuineness. 1t also warns the
| love and faith of the soul for service,
d and draws it to Christ with great~in
e ward longing.
n BLESS the Lord, y my soul" These
j words of David swell up within, till
: ones heart breaks with desire TO fiy
y home to God from these hills SO marked
with the footprints and lighted with the
: glory of His wondrous Standardization
: Cor. Chicago AdUdnce.
b In the Presence OF Death.
: Death has an eloquence all its own
: In its presence human lips may well be
| "A.