The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16
OF PARADISE
WHAT EARLY WRITER'S HAVE TO
A OF THE LAND OF THE BLEsT.
Belief that an Earthly Place OF Fee
licfty Existed Slow 10 Dfe-CuFfous
Stories Concerning It.

hope that not only is there a land OF felicity
beyond the wintry skies OF earth. but also
that there may be a terrestrial Paradise in
some far-away corner OF the lower world.
The Book OF Genesis, with its anthrop0-
morphic description of the Garden Of Eden
has suggested this thought; the old Jewish
rab5is developed &c: the early Christian
Imagination seized eagerly upon IL; whilst
MohammedanIsm and all the brood OF
Christian heresies. ancient and even mod
ern. have evolved endless legends regard
ing il.
Not only does a certain pathos surround
this Paradise literature. as being the me-
mortal OF human aspirations and dreams
that have faded beneath the advancing
light OF science. but this very idea has had
no small part in bringing in the modern
era. 1t was largely the belief in this and
its kindred dreams Of Eldorado and the
fountain OF perpetual youth that sent
forth the early navigators and explorers,
whose line eliminated in Columbus. Even
yet the idea OF the terrestrial Paradise has
not lost its vitality, for what but this. in
a somewhat more prosaic form. inspires
modern socialists. who dream OF their
earthly land OF unlimited cakes and ale.
where each Jack shall always get his jail.
and everybody shall be rich. happy and
contented?
The old Jewish rabbis speculated much
on the subject OF Paradise. They said
that there was a superior one, which
seems to have been the final abode OF
the souls OF just men, and a lower one
which was identical with the terrestrial
Garden OF Eden. The two corresponded
in nearly every particular. and amid the
wealth of legends that concerns both. it
is sometimes hard to distinguish those
that refer alone TO the lower Paradise.
of which principally 1 wish to speak. The
Jewish notions about this are the fountain
head of all subsequent legends on the SUBJ
ject-
RABBINICAL LORE.
1t was. according to the rabbis. one OF
the seven things created before the world.
whose formation IL antedated by just 1906
years. A less widely accepted tradition.
however, says that II was mad on the
third day OF creation. 1t was said 10 be
sixty times as great as the earth in ex-
tent, although this idea was utterly In
consistent with that which included IL as
a part of the earth and placed IL in the
very center thereof. 1t had three gates,
Of which one was at Beth Shean. in Is
rael, and these are variously described
in extrayagant terms as adorned with sill
yer, gold and precious stones. Before
these gates watched 10000 ministering an
gels, whose faces shine as the Armament.
and just within the principal one sat Adam.
surrounded by a multitude Of the right
eous.
In this place without labor or anxiety
the righteous dwelt- On their first arrival
the angels, stripping off their earthly gar
ments, put on them robes made OF the
clouds OF glory. To each is given two
crowns adorned with precious stones. and
in his hand is placed eight sprigs OF myrtle.
He is conducted TO a place besides the
streams of living waters, where are 10000
gardens of the myrtle and rose. In the
midst is the tree of life whose branches
~overshadcw all. 1t bears fruits with 0O,-
600 different tastes and as many fragrant
doors. There is also a great pool filled
with the dew of the highest heaven. The
falling OF this dew will raise to life the
dust OF the dead on the resurrection day.
and drinking IL the souls I'm paradise are
nourished and kept in perpetual happiness.
They also eat OF the celestial honey and
drink of a wine made at the creation q
the world. There are rivers of wine, OF
oil and balsam. The blessed dwell IN
houses built of precious stones, recline on
silken beds and each has sixty ministering
angels TO serve him.
There is no night there. but the day 10
divided into three watches. in one of which
the jewellers become as little children AMI
rejoice with the JOY Of such; IN another
they become as youths. and I'm the last
as old men, in each case drinking TO the
full of the happiness which those ages
permit.
GRADUATION OF GLoRIES.
Paradise is divided into seven houses or
dwellings,: each is twelve times ten thou
sand miles long and equally broad. IL
would be tedious to tell Of the occupants
and peculiar glories of each, and i viii
only speak OF the fifth house. where dwells
the promised Messiah. This is the most
magnificent apartment OF all, and the Mes
siah sits with his head supported upon the
bosom OF Elijah, who continually COM
forts him. and says: "Be patient. for thu
END is near when thou shalt ransom Israel
And on each Sabbath. festival. and second
and fifth day of the week there come
Abraham with all the ratriarchs, with
David. Solomon and all the kings Of Israel.
who weep with Messiah. and say: Rest
upon thy Creator, for the end f. near
Also there come Korah. Dathan and
Abiram. with all their company. who ask
Messiah how soon lie viii raise them from
the dead out Of the abyss.
According TO the most OF the Rabbins.
nine persons came alive 10 Paradise.
These were Enoch. Elijah. Messiah and six
others, OF whom more extended mention
may be interesting. Eliezer was admitted
because he was the trusted servant OF
Abraham: Ebed Melech. the Ethiopian. be-
cause he drew jeremiah out of the pit:
Jabez, because he was the servant Of Rab-
bi Jehuda the prince; Serach. the daugh-
ter Of Asher, because she told Jacob that
Joseph was yet alive. and Bitijah. the
daughter OF Pharaoh. because she reared
Moses. Hiram. King of Tyre. was allowed
10 enter because he helped 70 build the
temple, and was az first a God-fearfng
man. But after he had been there a thou
sand years he was lifted up with pride.
and said: It am a god" Therefore. he was
cast down 20 hell.
But, according TO other rabbins. many
more were admitted to Paradise without
seeing death. These included Abraham.