Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-23
A PECULIAR PEOPLE.


The Smallest and Oldest Religious Sect IN
the World-A Community of samarifans
In the Heart of rhe Mohammednn Coun.
fry-singular RELIGIOUS Views.
There is to be found in the heart of the small
city Of Nablus, in North Palestine, little re-
ligious community-now numbering about $50
souls-which has defied the ravages of war and
poverty and oppression nearly 1900 years. Un-
like the Vaudois, these Samaritans have had
no friendly system of mountainbuttresses to de-
fend them through the centuries; and still more
unlike the long-lived Savoyard Protestants,
they have been right in the pathway along
which the devastating armies have marched
back and forth from the time of Sargon to Ma
pofeon. But they have lived on, and their
unity has never been broken. They have clung
to little Nablus aud their sacred Mount Ger
izim, says Rev. John F. Hurst. d. D., in an arti-
Gle in Hdrper's for September, as the very
cactus roots to the granite sides of the somber
Ebal that confronts them across their little en-
chanted valley.
The feeling with which the present Samari-
tans regard the Mohammedans is of that in
tense bitterness which they have always mani
tested toward the Jews. And why notr Does
not the Samaritan date his faith from Abra-
ham, or rather from Adam? and has he not
right to call that an infant religion which has
been In existence for only the tritie OF IL CEN
turlesT Is not the Koran one OF your new
catchpenny romances, while that mysterious
copy Of the Pentateuch, made of sacred lamb
skins, which the SamarItans have been reading
oldest copy in existence, written down by
Aaron's own grandson, and the veritable orlgi-
nal OF all the Pentateuchs IN the world?
The Samaritan Sym Gogue.
As the population Of Nablus Is Just about
ba pffv in al
most absorbed by the surrounding Mohamme-
dan mass. Save to a careful observer, the very
existence and presence of the. Samaritans as
distinct element of citizenship in Nablus
would not be n oticed. The Samaritans wear a
turban, much like that of their true Moslem
neighDors, but between the history and theol-
ogy Of the two classes there is not a single
point of positive resemblance.
The Samaritan synagogue is a small build
ing in the center of Nablus, half obscured by
the surrounding dwellings. passed through
arched and Uttered streets to a little court, in
the middle of which was a little plot of grass,
relieved BY three trees, two OF which were
lemon. here found little Samaritan school,
and at the sight of stranger the children
sprang from the floor where they were sitting,
kissed my hand, and begged for backsheesh.
The teacher was youth of about IA, the son of
Amram the high priest was greatly disap-
pointed at failing to find Amram himself, but
in the end this circumstance aided me in my
chief object, for the young man was willing,
Tor good fee, to show me the ancient Penta-
teuch. His father might have been deaf to all
entreaties.
Very Ancient Volume.
The claim of the Samaritans to have copy
Of the Pentateuch older than the Jewish is
supported by their own unbroken tradition,
and by the opinion of some learned men OF the
present time in Christian countries. But the
nf int al io Dat
among which may be mentioned grammatical
emendations, late CLOSES in the text, insertions
Of foreign passages, alterations, Ssmaritanisms,
and changes in support Of Samaritan doctrine.
There are three codices kept in the little syn
agogue in Nablus, two being generally shown
to strangers. 1t is very rarely that the verita-
table one can be seen. My good fortune in get
and avaricious spirit of Abrams son. rather
than to any management of my own. Having
nrst exhibited the two limitations, the young
man, upon the offer of an additional fee then
brought out the original scroll from a chest
After the removal Of the red satin cover saw
that the codex was inclosed in a silver cylin-
drical case. which had two doors opening on
two sets of hinges. When these doors were
thrown back the whole column was exposed to
the vision. This cylinder is of rich workman
ship. 1t is about ~ feet long and nearly foot
work, q good plan of the Tabernacle, with
every part given with the utmost minuteness
and rarest skill. The roll consists of dingy
skins-prepared before the invention of parch-
ment-sewed together with neat stitches, and
worn and patched, and here and there entirely
inegib1e. The skins are of equal size, and
measure each Is inches long and l5 wide.
An Evening mt Amram's House.
Before leaving Nablus had the opportunity
of spending an evening with Amram at his own
house. He lived in the greatest simplicity,
though in Palestine that Is the rule rather than
the exception. Mrs. Ell Karey the wife of the
missionary IN Nablus in the employment of the
Church Missionary Society of London, was
good enough to accompany me and serve as in
terpreter. The venerable high priest, who was
barefoored, and clad in a great tarban and
loose flowing robe, received US with calm and
dignifed cordiality in his room-at once his
parlor, dining room and bedroom. His very
aged mother was lying on the floor. covered
with bedclothing. and asleep. There were
several children, half asleep lying about the
a Pentateuch-for the Samaritans have no
printing press. It requires year to make
copy, which is never sold, and is only used by
the community. The aged mother of sAmram
arose after we had been present few minutes,
the many ornaments on her neck and in her
ears making q harsh, tinkling sound as she
moved. / was invited to seat on the floor,
on seeing guests in her presence, took a rude
bellows and blew up the dull Goals under the
copper kettle. Coffee, the Orlentaps unfailing
proof Of hospitality, was handed US in little
cups.
The Samaritan Theology.
The peculiar views of Amram may be said to