Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-07
IN MODERN NAzARErn.
Residents Of the Famous City Retain
Characteristics Of Ancestors

l~'sN's''' AVsVpV pOPuldtioD, anu ma
have that number when its hos
Dices are filled with pilgrims and its
hospitals with patients. but there has
Lever eel nsus and the best ad-
v',t. thori' :. do not allow . more
than $500, OF whom about half are
Moslcms. and the remainedr orthodox
0reeks. Roman Catholics and Maron-
ties. with about $50 Protcstants.
There are no .ews in Nazareth They
are not allowed to live there. They
are permitted to come and trade, but
no Jew can rent house or store or
take up permanent residence for fear
Of public dem nstration. They come
and go. however, like other merchants.
buying and selling. minding their own
business and making money out OF the
Christians.
Brother Lazarus, our cordial Ameri-
can Franciscan monk. says that he
never personally knew of a Jew being
converted to Christianity. There may
nave been cases outside Of his person
/ J knowledge. but none within his own
experience. God. in his inscrutabIe
wisdom" he said. has hardened the
hearts of the Jews against their own
salvation
He says that he has prayed for
them every day for twenty years. and
particularly for certain people of Jew
ish birth who are friends. but his
prayers were not heard 1t may be.
he sometimes thinks, that the Jewish
race is condemned to eternal perdition.
but the Savior forgave them upon the
cross and asked His Father to forgive
them because they know not what
they do"
Nazareth could not be larger place
than 1t Is. Its position is not favora-
Die FOR trade. and the scarcity of water
is permanent drawback As | told
you in recent letter there is only
one spring, upon which the entire
population. men and beasts. is depend
ent. There is no other water for miles
| around, and there is no tradition of
any other spring in the neighborho ood
The inhabitants are still noted for
their turbulent disposition They
bear the same evil reputation that
they have always borne 1t sticks to
them still. and If redeemer should
emerge from that town today the same
question would be asked: Can any
good thing come out of Nazaretn?'
The word Nazarene has always carried
with 1t degree of reproach and CON
| tempt, and ever since the time OF
Jesus has been applied by the Jews to
Him and His followers. The Jews of
Samaria and other parts of Galilee al
ways refer to Christians as Nazarenes
and the term is often used by the
Jews of Jerusalem.
Nazareth Is a place that has no his
tory. 1t is not mentioned in the Old
Testament and, during the subse-
ouent centuries it has remained hid
den away in narrow valley, an OBJ
scure village of no political import
ance.. the scene of no events and a
place to be avoided, because of the evil
reputation of its inhabitants After
the capture of Jerusalem by the Cru
saders. Godfrey de Bouillon admins
tered the government with justice and
ability and his name is still cherished.
prompted by reverence for the associa-
''O'o VI thV pidtt, ne tnhtdNOItu 10 40
something to improve Nazareth and
advance the conditions of the pro
vince. He erected churches and mo-
nasteries. both in Nazareth and upon
Mount Tabor. but his favors ended
with his death, and Nazareth sank
wars that have been so fiercely waged
in Gallilee it was again and again
sacked and destroyed but it's destruc-
tion was not of sufficient importance
to be mentioned in history.
Godfrey de Boullon was the most
admirable of all the crusaders. not
excepting Richard of the Lion Heart.
He was no mere swashbuckler, but a
man of ability, courage and con
science, and although cruel deeds are
charged to his account he never en-
gagged In plumber he never disgraced
his profession and treated his captiyes
with mercy.
The Orthodox Greeks have a bish-
op at Nazareth and a large educa-
tfonRl and ecclesiastical establishment.
including church dedicated to the
Angel Gabriel. monastery, normal
SNHoO' iO' thV vi native
teachers. schools for both boys and |
girls and hospice and hospital for the |
of pilgrims. which told |
you about yesterday The Roman |
Catholics have franciscan monas-
terry with church and school. a large |
hospice. school for Moslem boys ex-
an orphanage, hospital,
school. large hospice, school for
Moslem boys exclusively. an orphan
age, hospital. school kept by a
religious order of rich devoteees
Snown as the Danes de Nazareth. a
lunnery of the Clarisses. nunnery
md home for women members of
Inherent religious orders who come
o Nazareth on pilgrimages. The
fhe Franciscans have forty monks in
heir monastery and sixty sisters in
heir convent. Seven young men.
lovices from the new Franciscan
Il Washington. arrived a few weeks
lgo to spend year in this sacred
The monks would not
ct me see them because they were
n retreat. The Prostestants of
scotland have a medical mission.
h ,, A D