The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-19
THE JEWSAND JERUSALEM
THEY ARE RETURNING AND RE-
BUILDING THE CITY.
Remarkably Interesting Tour of the
Holy Land, with Notes OF Scholarly
Research, by Rev. Charles Il.
Thomas. ID. D.--A Prayer Meet
ing in the Garden of
Gcthsemane.
REPORTED ny JOHN c. HAuKsrss. a. M

REPORTED ny JOHN G. HAaKNEss, A. NJ
A party OF 65 persons, including 35
ministers and 20 ladies. all from seven
different religious Sects, visited PaleS-
tine with DIR. Thomas last February,
March and April. In descriptive dis
course last evening, In West Presby-
terian Church, the doctor took an
ocean and European trip with his
party,and from the time they stood on
the deck OF little steamer at Joppa,
In full view of the house OF 'iSilnon
the Tanner gave an elaborate word
view of many places of interest in
their route, including in part Palestine,
Syria, Damascus, Beirut, the brook
where David gathered the pobbles and
slew Goliah with lissling, the ruins OF
Emmaua, derusalem, Garden of Geth-
sernane, Golgotha Mt. Olivet, Mt.
Zion, Valley OF Jeho. q hat. the Dead
Sea Jordan ard the place where Chris
was baptised, Bethany, bethlehem,
Mizpah, Tomb OF the Patrlarchs,
Bethel, Wilderness, India, Jacobs Well,
Samaria, Genessaret, etc, etc.
Among the beautiful things were the
Roses OF Sharon, Lilies of Tho Valley
bouquets of flowers from Gethsemane
furnished to each member OF their
party by the monk In charge.
Some of the most impressive scenes
were the prayer meeting where they
all wept in Gethsemane, the Jews they
saw wailing over Jerusalem and actu-
ally shedding tears, the desolation OF
the Wilderness where Christ was
tempted, the lepers dwelling among
the tombs and the fields of grain OF
the same kind in which Samson let
loose his foxes.
To our mind the most Interesting
passage in his lecture was where, with
out committing himself pro or con, he
discussed the views OF learned men
concerning the proph, sizes of Zachariah
and Jeremiah xXxi, 3S-4O, and the re-
turn OF the Jews to Jerusalem.
A part OF the city Is now New
Jerusalem with broad, well-paved
streets and fine buildings OF modern
architecture and construction. 1t is
being rapidly rebuilt. One contrac-
tolShad contract to build 400 new
houses. Thirty-seven thousand Jews
had residence in Jerusalem and now
that tho Turkish government has
removed It's barrier against their
return they are said to be returning
by the items of thousands The
prophesyis said to apply to all the
valley from the Flower of Hannaneeln
to tho "king's Wine Presses which
were found by making an excavation
of 81 feet in the place pointed out by
learned Christian men who studied the
prophecy
When men by excavations historic
aud scientific research and by study
ing Scriptual prpphesies, and oilserv-
ing what is now going on ia JerlIsa-
LEM, think they can know what is to
be at thut wonderful city in the future,
the theme becomes at lonst All inter
esting one for discussion and Obscrva-
ton. In making notes on the diyinely
historic features of The Holy Land the
writer feels as all the great magazine
writer's and lecturers seem to feel,
viz. the grandeur and glory OF the
theme arc 50 great as almost to dis
courage u man from saying anything
at all--his language, even when he
does his best, cannot fail to appear
Inadequate and unworthy OF the ocea-
sion.
WHO Is m THoMAs2
Rev. Charles +. Thomas, d. d., of
the Philadelphia Central Preshytery, Is
Superintendent OF the Presbyterian
Church Extension for Eastern Pennsyl-
yania. lie is a native OF Baltimore,
Md, u graduate of Dickinson College
and Chicago Theological Seminary
(l860.) IL Is over 20 years since he en-
tered the gospel ministry. He has
made two trips to the Holy Land and
the pastor OF the West Church invited
him here to tell of his travels. He
has also made number of European
Grips and Rev. and Mrs. Keigwin will
Improve the vacation allowed them by
their church next July, by a trip
through Belgium, Germany, SwitZer-
land, France and Great Britain Ii some
20 other persons will Join them.
The party will utilize Ocean grey
hounds" "Pullman" cars, tirst-class
hotels, a most experienced and instrue-
tive guide, six weeks time, etc, and
all at total expense OF $3.50 each. The
reporter who drew this information
from Dr. Thomas, Is solely responsible
for its publication. 1t is entirely i'm
cerned, although it is assumed he will
be pleased to give his friends inior-
nation of the proposed European
tour. Dr. Thomas appears TO the writer
to he man Of financial genius,
utilized by the church officially in an
important Office, the most arduous
Auty of which Is in raising funds for
thureh extension.
This European and Palestine cXcur-
sion business appears like vacation
recreation, i'm which his excess of imam
ciai vigor delights in an overflow
which affords tiia rc,.. of change of
exercise. We are glad to SO ministers
and teachers and their families set the
benefit of this in cheap tours and YAM;
able instruction. Those who go with
Rev. Albert n. Kelgwin and family
will be in delightful and instructive
company.