Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-10
FROM THE HOLYLAND
Interesting Items In a MlsSlouary's
Letter.
JEWS INCREASING IN NUMBERS.
"The Only Redemption Of the Country
viii Come Through the
Mormon People"

~ courtesy Of J. T. Wilson, oil MID
way, Wasatch county, the NEWS IL
able TO place before It's readers the
following from letter written TO
Elder Wilson, by Elder Don o. W.
Musser, president OF the Turkish mis-
sion.
JAprA, April 8, 1898. Brother;
Your kind and very interesting letter
Of February 2Sth was received some
time ago, but owing to the press OF
other matters 4 was unable TO
answer at an earlier date. l derived
considerable encouragement from
reading your letter, and L realize tue
truth Of what you say concerning the
extraordinary blessings that kind anu
loving God IN daily bestowing on the
Lstter.day Saints. Nor are we the
only people who are partakers OF HIS
unbounded love aud tender merciesj
for they extend into all corners OF the
earth, and all nations and people are
made recipients to n greater extent
than they deserve. The Saints show
by their works that they are grateful
for their bles-ins q, more than other
people do; still we all have room iof
Improvement. We are Outlines care
less In our department, AMI given, TO
considerable extent, to fault-huuing
and back. biting. We are oft covetous
OF the wealth and influence Of otheie,
anu loose In our habits In keeping the
commandments OF God, anu In attend.
Ing our meetings. and nre unmindful
Of the golden opportunities that nre
iitting by. Sull l believe the Latter
day Saints are, taken or whole,
sminently better than any other people
under the sun. We certainly SHOULD
be, II the Gospel Of Christ, 10 Its
sweetness anu purity, its simplicity
and power, Is anything. II divine
revelation anu n knowledge OF the
hereafter will incite people TO lives OF
cleanliness and virtue, our lives should
DO the most clean ami virtuous Of nil
people.
But TO your letter. In answer TO
to your first question, have TO say no.
There In not an English paper pub.
lished In all Palestine. There II n
small German sheet published In
Jerusalem and nm Arabic sheet at
Beyrout. As near az can learn these
are the only yspers published In Syria.
In question two, you ask N any OF the
wall King solomon built around
Mount Morinh IL still remaining. Yes.
On the north side Of the mount II n
very high marble wall 1924 feet long,
In the lower part OF which there are
blocks OF stone 10 feet long anu from
three to four feet deep. II q thought
that . great deal OF this wall Ia Just as
a - l.lI rl.t Ia nj In.
most interesting spots Of the once
Holy City; for mere the Jews come to
weep and bewail the loss OF their former
glory and to pray for It's return. tits
= curious sight TO SEQ thisonc naughty
anu proud people ~ they stand there
kissing those cold marble blocks while
the tears stream from their eyes.
The Jews nre constantly increasing
In numbers IN Palestine. Al jerusalem,
whose population IL over 10000, there
nre over 10000 Jews. These are d.
vlded into two clnsses-the Sephardim,
Of Spanish origin, and tho Ashkena-
zim, Of German aud Polish origin-and
Rre all very poor. They are dhliked
and prosecuted on all sides. by the so.
oai ed Christian M we'll as the Moham-
medan. The Turkish government has
recently passed n law prohibiting the
Jews buying more land. Those who
have lands can poss, ~ them, but they
cannot sell to their brethren, neither
can they buy more. There are n mum.
Der OF Jewish colonies throughout the
land In fisurishing condition, and as
far as / am able TO zee anu stujy their
ways they make good citizens.
This latter rains have come 10 Pales.
tine and nj the present writing there
never was more fertile looking coun.
try. Grass and fiowere growing every
where. Silvery brooks thread their
way through the richly carpeted low
landS dotted here and there by flocks
Of sheep and goats, and mud villages;
while the highlands are covered with
the vine and fg tree ami olive grovep.
All In the world this country needs TO
make II the Eden II formerly was, Ia n
Mormon colony to teach the Arabs
how to work, how to he industrious,
how to live happily by doing good.
Not long since l was talking with n
gentleman Of prominence who has
interested himself In the "Mormon
question:" anu among other things he
said: "Although am not a believer
In the Mormon faith, | believe the only
redemption for this country will come
though your people," This gentle-
man said he had lived here forty Yeas
aud In that time the climate anu the
land have improved phenomenally.
/ thought OF that time when the ser.
wants Of the Most High came snd
blessed this land and removed the curse
II had been under for 30 many ages.
Yes, have visited the Mosque OF
Omar. 1t stands Ola the most sacred
ground IN Jerusalem. II was here
where that inexpressibly grand temple
OF King Solomon stood. On this spot,
according to tradition, Abraham was