Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-02
IN THE HOLY CITY.

A converted Jew, j. SHERMAN, who
for long time has been engaged III
missionary work in Palestine In the ~
terest of his adopted faith, is visiting
This country. In an interview with
representative OF the Worcester Even
ing Gazette he gave some interesting
data concerning Jerusalem and us
present population. He said In part'
nJerusalem as in ancient times, Is
surrounded by a wall which Is two
and a half miles In circumference, mas
"a towers and seven gates, one OF whlch
is closed, each bearing sighlncant
name. The wall Is from 30 TO ~ leet
high. The population Is between oe'Voo
and $1,000, and is divided as follows
Greek orthodox, 1000; Roman Cathoiic,
1900 Armenian, 900; Protestant bOO;
Coptlc, 100; Creek Catholic, lVV, ADys-
sinian, 90; Syriac, so. Mohammedans
number about $500 and they have IN
creased OF late. The Jews outnumoer
them all The Mohanmedans, under
whom Jerusalem Is governed, take no
house 10 house census, and the above
Is only conservative estimate. Inc
sultan has given strict orders not to al
low any Jews to return TO Palestine IN
spite OF which hundreds do somehow
squeeze their way into the Holy Clty'
Certain II is that so soon as these re.
strictions will be removed, thousands OF
Jews who are still waiting viii come
and enrich Palestine by their wealth.
education and industry"
The city is still a monument to the
ancient civilization that once flourlshed
in that part Of the world. On this point
Mr.. silberman said;
thousands upon thousands of de-
vout pilgrims annually visit this HOLY
city and land, and kiss its very stones.
Among these pilgrims may be enumer-
ated princes. kings and emperors, who
come with the single desire OF seeing
for themselves those most sacred spots
associated with the life Of that Savior
of men. This in itself is remarkable
proof and fulnllment Of the prophecy.
| The manners and customs are carried
on today In Jerusalem that were In
vogue in our Savior's time, and back
| 10 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
i
one most ancient custom is described
m this paragraph;
There are no newspapers In Jerusa-
lem. When a man loses a donkey, he
cannot advertise his loss In the Jeru-
salem Spy, and go TO sleep In comfort
with the expectation that II VIII be
speedily returned to him. The only
thing for him 10 do is TO engage q
crier who shall go about the streets
crying: Inhabitants Of Jerusalem
faithful OF the earth; God Is great and
Mohammed Is His prophet. Abdul
Hazid has lost a brown and white
donkey. with a short and NANCY tail
Let whoever finds him bring him &c
Abdul Hazid and receive a reward.
These professional criers. whose busl'
ness II is TO wholesale news on tht
streets, develop extraordinary iunl
powers. They rattle OF their formulas
faster than clerk OF courts repeats
the witness oath. but the natives IN
derstand them perfectly"
In this conservative preservation ot
ancient habits and customs. the key
is found to the present status Of Pales'
tine and all territory under exclusive.
ly Turkish rule, That is the curse Of
one Of the most favored regions Of
the earth. But the conditions ar,
changing. Civilization Is penetrating
slowly but irresistlbly. II win yet com,
TO pass that the law will 60 forth out Of
Zion and the word OF the Lord from
| Jerusalem