The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26
TALMAGE IN JERUSALEM.
SOME OF HIS EXPERIENCES IN
TIE HOLY LAND.

An Hncampment-SOme Drawbacks to
Life in Jerusalem-To Visit it a Feast,
Notwithstanding Golgotha, the Place
of a Skun-Its Real Situation-The
Tomb Where the Savior Was Laid.
Trying to Buy ,Calvsry-Ths Way
to Bethlehem - Solomon's Pools A
Dirty City-The Church of the Ma
tivity-A Hospitable Monk Visiting
Absalom's Tomb.
(Copyright)
SOUTH OF liberals, Dec. 16.-Our tents
are pitched south of Tiberias, midway be-
tween it and the famous hot sulphur baths,
once enjoyed exclusively BY royalty aud
nobility, but now the Mecca to which
afflicted Jews and Gentiles from near and
from far make their way to seek health in
their malodorous waters. The baths are
siturated on the banks of the beautiful Lake
Galilee. We are enjoying truly delightful
weather. The temperature is about 75S
fahrenheit in the shade; balmy breezes tenn
per the warmth of the sun. Horses
and donkeys, some standing, others
lying down, are resting con-
fortably after days of hard toll,
and our various attendants are engaged in
an apparently interesting conversation in
Arabic. Along the beach natives wearing
picturesque costumes are strolling in cease
less procession. An occasional caravan Of
stately camels gives increased variety to
the scene. In the saloon tent one of the
walters is setting the table for luncheon,
singing or rather groaning in Oriental
style, which, DR.. Talmage says, always re-
minds him ~ q Cd A. ~
Less than quarter of a mile away and
hard by the ancient wall Of Tiberias,
number Of Russian pilgrims of both sexes
are bathing in Lake Galilee. A hundred or
50 men, women, and children form a
semicircle Of deeply interested spectators
about these people, who are clothed only in
the garb of Eden. Immediately at the rear
OF our e1campmenti is what is known as the
Mount of Beatitudes; and it seems to be
pretty well authenticated that there was
the place where Christ preached to his
disciples and a wondering multitude his
Sermon on the Mount. DIR. Talmage is lying
on the beach Immediately in front of the
encampment, with open Bible before him,
making notes in a mammoth memorandum
book, while the brilliantly reflected sun
light causes his eyes to water He, lin COM
mon with the rest of the party, is tired for
once, but be feels that he must take advant-
age of this first prolonged stop since be left
Jerusalem, to put into shape for his life
of Christi the notes taken since our land
ing on the sacred soil of Palestine. / write
this letter sitting at the door of nv tent.
which is, by the way, deliberately decorated
with exquisite specimens of Egyptian
needlework
The reader will remember that | ended
my last letter with our arrival in Jerusalem
through the Joppa gate We were made
comfortable at our hotel after the hard ride
of the day, and remained within doors for
the rest Of the evening. But we arose
betimes to begin comprehensive round of
sightseeing.
Though a city of 10000 inhabitants. Jeru-
salem has not well within its walls, and
the water used is either rain water kept
from the last rainy season some six months
ago, or water carried in skins of animals by
men or women, donkeys or camels. from
wells more or less distant. With thousands
of houses Jerusalem hasn't one chimney.
and the traveller who, chilledI by exposure
or the humidity of its vault-like dwellings,
needs artificial heat, mnst be content with
the poor comfort afforded by a brazier of
live charcoal, the substitute for stoves in
the city.
Perhaps it is due to the prejudice born of
my religious training that Notwithstanding
all the discomforts and shortcomings as a
city, Its narrow lanes, innumerable dark
alleys, miserable architecture, its mire and
ats filth, left Jerusalem with many regrets
OF the city DR.. Talmage said to me: "While
have been building up my ideas of Jeru-
salem all my lifetime, the highest summit of
my expectation does not reach the base of
the reality
The first morning after our arrival found
us on the summit of Golgotha, the place of
a skull. DIR. Talmage opened the Bible he
always carries with MIN and read the story
=
Mrs. Talmage and Miss May Talmage. the
writer and his wife, to whom the doctor
pointed out, at the appropriate passage in
the narrative, the Damas Gus gate throuph
which the Savior is said to have been led
out before the tragic event that took place
on the hill ON which we were standing.
We stayed there until afternoon, deeply
moved by the awful associations of the spot.
Before leaving, DIR. Talmage said the hours
he had spent ON the hill, Calvary, were to
him the most solemn and overwhelming of
all his life. There was the center from which
the continents had been touched and from
which all the world would vet be moved
10 him 1t was the most sacred place on
earth.
The reader is aware that within the mad :
ley OF buildings known as the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher are shown what are claimed
TO be the scenes of the death of Jesus. his
burial and resurrection. Where we visited
Is called sometimes the new Golgotha. It il
situated without the city walls. After much
careful examination, and mature consider
ton, DIR. Talmage and many other eminent
men, among them the late Gen. Gordon. be-
Heve 1t to be the real site of the
crucihxion. 1t stands Immediately opposite
the Damascus gate. No other place in or
near Jerusalem SO fully answers to the de-
scription in the Bible as the place of .Jesus,
execution. Its shape is unquestionably that
OF skull. AS DR.. Talmage, in my opinion.
very correctly said: "a man need but feel
the shape of his own Uranium to be fullv
satisfied that this hill is the place of the
skull" A rough outline sketch he made of
1t resembles the outline of skull as one
egg does another. Standing on the hill one
is exposed to the view of all passers by.
Look yonder," said DR.. Talmage. pointing
to some huge rocks that seemed as il thew
had been torn asunder by an earthuuake
there are the seams in the very rocks that
were rent at the orucifixion, and there is
the very road along which the people passed
'wagging their heads" Nearly ali the
psychologists in Jerusalem agree with him
In opinion as to the exact place of the cru
cifixion.
After leaving Golgotha we went to the
tomo which Joseph of Arimathea gave for
the burial OF the Savior. 1t is situated in
a garden near by, and almost at the foot of
Goigotha. This tomb was excavated about
three years ago. 1t was recognized immedi