Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-21
CELEBRATE THEIR PASSOVER
ON LOFTY HEIGHTS OF MOUNT
GERIzIAI.
WHERE ONCE STOOD THE TEN
PIE THE JEWS DsTRoyED-THE
PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF A TRIBE
NOW NEARLY EXTINCT.

bread Is being religiously observed by
jewish people all over the world, II is
apropos OF the season 10 call 20 no
tice the Passover. as It is comment
GRATED today In Samaria. There one
may find, not the more formal worship
In the tmcple, or the quantity OF I'M
leavened bread upon the tables; but
the true celebration, literally In keep
ing with orthodox customs.
In the very center OF Palestine. and
OF the country OF the dominating tribe
OF Joseph built upon steep and al
most Isolated hill. Is Samarln, capital
OF Northern Israel
Hehe In Nabulus (shechem) at the
foot OF Mount Certain. live few sur
vlvlng families OF samarltans
They number lel souls, 1Oi males and
20 females. They claim 10 be Israel
lies, descendants from the Ten Tribes,
and hold strongly to the Pentateuoh.
This they have transmitted IN text.
which varies but very slightly from
the IOrah of the Jews However, they
disregard the Jewish temple and PRIEST
hood and declare the true sanctuary
OF Gods choice to be Mount Gerlaim,
not Hion-roadlug "Gerizlm" for "EEal'
in their Pentateuch,
They hallow the great natural rock
pavement of ~ stones, ON the top OF
Mount Geridlm. and believe that there
II was that Abraham went to kin his
son; that there God appeared many
times to Ills people and that thore the
Judgment viii be held on the great
hnal day.
The Feast Of the Passover is held on
tne fourteenth day OF tho frst month
OF Abb. About eight days previous
they lock up their homes In the city.
leavo II u deserted village" and with
their wlveH. children, furniture and
provisions enough for about two
weeks, they start on the pilgrimage 90
the very top OF the mountain, which is
about S97i feet above the sea level
Here they camp, pitch their tabernacle.
and make ready TO keep the great
feast according TO the laws Of Moses.
The sight IS one that recalls with
vivid reality the scenes Of the chill
drcn OF Israel In the wilderness. as do
scrlbcd In the Bible.
on the great dHy which hears for
them an the significance that il did
for their ancestors, they don their
white robes and turbans. Great COM
punios from every nation come 70 SEQ
the fCust, so that It Is necessary for
soldiers to be stationed on watch.
EARLY seven pure white sheer, year
liugs, are prepared FOR the sacrifice.
Al noon fire Is klndlcd upon the altar
and vessels nlled with water are
plnced over the flames No one from
any other nation Is allowed to touch
the sheep, the altar, or the sacred
things upon It. At the approach Of
eventlde the high priest mounts pill
lar near the altar, ana the people
gathering about raise their voices,
Soon tho air severberntes with walls,
screams and mumhlcd prayers. 70
the loOkcr-On the effect Ia one OF in
descrlbable awe, reverence and fear.
In the growing dusk the white-robed
figures sway to and fro, stretch forth
their arms IN supplcatlon. lneel or
bow In prayer, and the piercing cries
seem to rent the heavens and defy the
oncoming night.
Just MS the sun sinks below the hor-
lion each sheep is killed with one
stroke Of the knife, ana the uoZing
blood Is caught, and, with hyssop, Is
sprlnkled over the tents.
with the heated water tho animals
arc cleansed and together the re-
manning blood and the wool are
burned.
The meat, upon wooden splits, Is then
put into pit Of IRE and covered over
WIN wood and earth.
all the while prayer is continuous.
When the pit has been covered tho
brought and each Samaritan partalses,
After the last yestige has been con-
Humed all kiss each other. At midnight
the tents are taken down. and. sitting
upon them, they all Join in singing tho
song OF Noses. The great chorus, with
its peculiar chant, goes up TO God,
while every soul Is intent upon the
worship OF the mighty Creator, God
of all.
Then they fasten their shoes. buckle
their belts, and, taking stam In hand,
they form into companies, as II ready
TO set out upon n long pilgrimage. To
thd pit they 80. The meat IL I'M
earthed, carried aside. and, without
salt, the feast Is dcvoured. Should any
one not of their number touch the meat
It is declared unholy, and another
feast must be prepared.
The bones and other refuse are re-
placed in the pit, and must be COM
pletely destroyed by fire before sum
rise.
For eight days after the mountain Is
honored because OF It's historical sig
nl1cance and favor with God.
AT the expiration OF that time they
return to their homes and rtsume their
daily labors.
The homes In Nabulus are In one
street, are all built OF stone and kept
very neat and prlm.
They are extremely conservative peo-
pie. living and trading among them
selves, Without recognition OF the
world about them.
Many Of the men ind employment in
the courthouse, Others are merchants,
pcddler5 or water carriers. They speak
arabic, and still keep 10 the old He
brew tongue that Moses spoke.
A Smaritan win eat no meat killed
by Christian or Mohammadan.
Neither do they eat butter or cheese
There IS no happy medium Of worldly
circumstances among the 5amaritans.
They are either very rich, or very
poor. They live strictly IN accordance
with the Mosaic law. and consider that
contact with those not of their belief
makes them unclean. In such an
event II requires much ceremony TO re-
store them to their former purity.
They are people that believe in
marriage, and as there are fewer wo-
men thnn men among them they now
show some disposition to be more
friendly with the followers OF Christ
and IIOhammed. 4 story is told OF a
handsome and wealthy Young samari'
tan named Jacob Akawc who went 10
Jana. on the sea coast. and there met
a Mohammedan girl whom he wished
to marry. She was brought 70 Ma
bulus. 10 the courthouse. where al the
townspeopIe went TO Judge OF her.
Since the story ends with their happy
union II Is proof OF tho fact that she
was one girl who could please all 9TH
ers as well as she did her husband.
Forfnerly the Samaritpns had their
,.-.'..t.. -, Mount Gorlzffn buf fhfa tuaa