The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25
HELD By A)aEkS
Government of the Old City of
Jerusalem.
RELIGION OF VISITORS
Is Taken Down as Soon as the
Stranger Arrives.

William E. Curtis in his special cores
pondence TO the Chicago Record Herald
writes from Jerusalem: From the sacri-
fee of Abraham TO the conquest of Joshua
we hear nothing of Jerusalem in the
Bible. At the time of the exodus it was
called Jebus and was a fortified place
It's king was slain by the Israelites at
the great battle of Gideon. but the city
was not captured until the reign of David
who transferred the government from
Hebron TO Zion, and ever afterward
Jerusalem was the capital of the Jewish
nation and the center of its faith and
worship. 1t was beseiged many times
from Davids reign, demolished by the
Babylonians, and badly damaged by the
invasion of Pompey, and finally destroyed
by Titus in the year 20 A. D., after a
siege of nearly five months. Soon after
ward it was settled by both Jews and
Romans, and the fortress was rebuilt. In
49, when the Jews rebelled against En-
peror Hadrian. Jerusalem was again de-
stroyed. Hadrian rebuilt II and called it
Aelia, and for several generations it was
known by that name. Constantine re-
stored, enriched and adorned it, and his
fashion of pilgrimages to its sacred sites.
which have continued from all parts of
the world down to the present hour.
Since then Jerusalem has suffered terri
bic calamities. having twice been destroy
ed by the Romans, once by the Persians.
and very nearly so by the Crusaders, who
captured and held possession of it for
about 100 years. Then. in 1lS. it was
given up to Saladin and the flag of the
Mohamedan has since foated over the
tower of David
According to the calculations of Jose
plus Jerusalem was 2,127 years old when
overthrown by Titus, which makes its
present age 1883 years. More than any
other city on earth has it been the focus
of human interest; more than anX other
city has 1t influenced the religious charac-
ter of the human race. II is the shrine
of more than half the worlds population;
the Holy City ofChristendom, sanctifed
by the sufferings and the death of Jesus
Christ, founder of the Christian religion
and the Redeemer of Men. and yet it
remains in the control of Mohamedans
Both the Philistines and the Hebrews
were immigrants and invaders; both came
from Egypt into the land over which they
fought for centuries; both absorbed the
Canaanites, who originally owned and
occupied it. Israel survived, under the
favor of God. and the Philistines, who
worshiped Dagon, disappeared, although
they fastened their name upon the coun-
try-Palestine, a corruption of Phiistine
Saul. Samson, David, Hesekiah and other
Hebrew leaders fought to conquer the en-
tire territory, but the Philistines did not
yield until the invasion of Alexander the
Great, and the introduction of Greek cul-
ture and civilization. The Babylonian
captivity disintegrated the Jewish ma
ton. It has never since been reunited or
recovered its power or prestige; it has
never since occupied the land the Lord
God gave it, but is scattered to the ends
Of the earth. The covenant with Israel
was for ever and ever but remains IN
filed, and in the meantime an alien race
has temporal and spiritual jurisdiction
in the Holy City and over the Promised
Land.
In the light OF Christ's teaching, it is
difficult 10 understand the mysterious
triumph of Mohamedanism over Chris
tjanity at His birthplace. at His home.
OF His activity: it is difficult to interpret
the divine judgment. which has placed
the keys of the Holy Sepulchre and the
cradle of Christ in the hands Of Turks.
Perhaps the Christianity OF Syria was
trampled down by Islam because il was
corrupt and deserved to fall, ana later. in
attempting TO regain its birthplace during
the middle ages, Christianity failed, per-
haps, because il was cruel, wicked. selfish
and avaricious. Upon the very soil
where Christ taught the ignorant. and
healed the sick, and cured the blind.
preached the gospel Of hrotherly love and
charity and compassion; IT. the very
towns where He went about doing good.
w!ping the tears from the eyes OF SORROW
Jul women and blessing little children
that were brought TO his knee. the treach-
erous and brutal Crusaders that carried
His cross and proclaimed His name never
allowed the sword TO leave their hands.
but slaughtered their prisoners and swept
down the unofending population with
murder, ire rapine and robbery.
seen across the shadow OF their great
allure. the Crusaders are admirable only
a. the heroes OF chivalry aud romance,
and for the infinite courage and endur-
ance that they displayed. BY them Pal
estine was settled. organized and built
over as completely as medieval England.
Fortressex arose upon the coast. huge
estes upon the high places OF The In
terror and the ruins OF cities. churches
and cloisters scattered all over the land
testify 70 their labor and enterprise and
sacrifices. which however, were NEUTRAL
rrrT nj -
which left the land without protection
ana opened it TO the victorious Saracen-
l-pon the crumbling walls ofsthe cru
saaer castles have arisen the wretched
villages Of the Mchamedan population.
and among them occasionally during the
past century have appeared fourishing
schools o. almost every sect q Chrlsten-
dom. hospitals ssylums. sanitaFiuEas.
ORDINANCES and other institutions q h.
nevolsncs. which bear witness that the
followers OF Christ are mindful q his
teachings and h<ve come again into his
native country. not with the szoTa and
rerrh. as before. but with food for tie
hungry. scientific skill for healing dis
eesss and books for the education and
tho elevation % the races which now
occupy the land. and the long professions
az pilgrims perPctuaIiy Eindiag their vay
X. Jerusalem from All the corners q the
earth are evidences that love and devotion
for the Holy city are ssEl af.asns IN tse
minds q the followers % Jesus as vel
As among those who claim the rfght and
,itle 20 graves urol the Slopes q oltyes
and zion and n the Valley o. Jshosoqhst
Protestant missionaries came iat0 Pal
esuas soon after The beginning OF tn