The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-08
LETTER RECEIVED
FROM JERUSALEM
DR.. Bass Tells of Worlds
Sabbath School Convention
MANY IN ATTENDANCE
Wichitans Have Started on
Homeward Journey.

Captain ]. B. Fishback OF North Law
renee avenue, received an interesting let
ter yesterday from DR.. S. A Bass. who is
one OF the party or Wichitans attending
the Worlds Sunday School convention
in Jerusalem. According TO the letter,
the party have by this time left Jerusa-
lem and are on their homeward journey.
The party from Wichita is made UP Of
Rev F. N Lynch Mr. and Mrs. James
Allison, DR.. and Mrs. S. A. Bass and
Mr. E. HigSinson, and the report is de-
hghtful trip but that there is nothing
like America and Americans.
DR.. Bass's letter is as follows:
Jerusalem, April IS 1904
Mr.. ]. B. Fishback, wichita. Kan.
My Dear Sir-This is the first day of
the Worlds Fourth Sunday school con-
vention, which assembled this morning
at 10 O'Clock, and it was very inspiring
meeting to be in and see many different
nationalities together, Americans, Cana
dians. English, French. Australians.
Jews. Greeks Moslems, Turks Syrians
and various others. And to be in Jerusa-
lem and TO travel over the very same
ground that Christ did makes it doubly
of Christ. where he was laid after he
was crucified. ana the Garden of Geth-
semane, Mount of Olives and Ascension.
Kings tomb, and King Solomon's quar-
ries. These quarries run for long dis
tance say for an hours walk. and prob
ably longer, cut out of solid stone which
was used in the building Of Solomon's
temple. | have the pleasure OF going to
Jericho, the Jordan and the Dead Sea.
which takes us through the wilderness OF
Judea, and it is a mighty hard, rough.
rocky. winding road to traverse; and 50
can say by my own personal experience
The climate has been simply fine so far
and not excessively hot as yet.
I'VE are enjoying fine oranges and lem
onS that are raised near Jerusalem and
in Jerusalem. but | think We shall be
glad to get a chance to eat American
cooking once more. Give me America.
the best country on the face Of the globe.
and ought TO be called Gods Country.
1t makes me think Of what Hobson said,
who sunk the Merrimac. that We ought TO
be proud We are American citizens, and /
can say, for one that / am.
1T is terribly hard to live in a country
where ignorance and superstition reign
and no hope of our making any changes
with them except the coming generations
They use the same old wooden ploughs
as they did one hundred years ago The
country all over Syria is not safe for
an American to travel about. on account
of the roads being lined with murderous
brigands who would take your life in
minute If there was no guide TO inter
fere and look after you. / have only seen
one buggy in Jerusalem and a donkey
was hitched up to II. / can say that /
am happily disappointed in Jerusalem.
Outside of the old Jerusalem. or the walls
Of Jerusalem. they have very fine hotels
and are capable o. taking care of a large
number. of people. We have here now
over 1900 people attending the conven-
tion. The hotel I am in has probably
300 or 400 of them.
I'VE leave here in three days and will
soon be on our way to Egypt on our
homeward journey.
with kindest regards. l am very re-
spectfully yours, S. \. BASS. NJ D."