Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-04-20

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tx %I tional convention at Easter
What are the scenes which
they are witnessing at this bright ana
beautiful season?
The spring brings happiness to the
Holy Land. During the winter the
earth is wet and cold, the low houses
are damp, and the people suffer be-
cause they have almost nothing to
burn. But as soon as the spring comes
the brown fields become bright with
the white and red cyclamens, the wild
gladioli, the orchids, the yellow chyrs'
anthemums, the scarlet poppies, the
high and the low purple hollyhocks'
The people begin moving toward Jcru'
salem, to be there at the time Of the
great festival.
Most of the people in Palestine are
very poor, and have to walk, each vii
lage forming one group. Perhaps the
chief of village rides donkey. Some
times the pilgrims carry banner, and
generally drum or tambOurine.
At Jerusalem for several days the
citizens are waiting about the gates
to welcome the visitors, whom they
lead into the city to places Of rest. or
course the narrow streets soon become
crowded.
many soldiers are on duty to keep
order. Travellers from many countries
pour in to swell the crowds. Every
body is excited and joyful.
Not all the people keep Easter, for
not all are Christians; but they all
keep some festival in the spring.
The Jews keep the Passover in men,
Dry of their escape from Egypt. They
meet in their houses, with everything
done up rs If for a journey, and with
the lamb and the bread and the bitter
herbs to remind them of that event.
The bread is not raised, but is made of
dOur and water, and is baked in thin
sheets. 1t is used for seven days,
The Jews are not very happy in Pal
estinc, and have often been attacked
at the Passover time. when they could
not defend themselves. l.lt they are
not afraid of Americans who have
never harmed them.
Once, in Jerusalem, | was taken to
family kept the feast. They lived Il
little way from the wall, in Il small
stone house of one story. We could
zee that small, high window WAS
lighted, but no answer was made to
our knock. We waited little, and
Knocked again.
This time we got an answer, but the
1oor was not opened, and Il voice
inside only said:
go away and do not trouble us
A new thought now came to us, and
90 we knocked again, and this time we
called out:
"Americani"
AS soon as they heard that word they
set up a joyful shout and threw the
door wide open, with cries Of "Wcl-
come, welcome, Amcricani"
The room into which we now entered
was nearly square. There was 4 low
seat, or divan, alOn" two SIDES, and on
,ne side we were given a place. The
family were across tie room, all cX-
cepting little boy, who was in the
middle.
'UNTIL CAN COUNT SIN STARS"
We observed that the father had n
large bundle in his right hand and an
other in his left, and we understood
that so he carried out the idea of hav-
Ing everything made ready to leave,
as his ancestors had left Egypt by
night Immediately after eating the
Passover. Presently the boy said,
"What Is the meaning of this sorvice!"
and then the father, as the Scriptures
require, told all about the first Pass
over, how the Jews were oppressed in
Egypt, and were set free, ana were
commanded 10 keep this feast every
year afterward.
We spent long evening, listening
to him and tasting of the feast ana
having everything explained. We III
vited our host to come and eat some
of our food at the end of the days.
He came and was requested to take
his place at the table, but he shook his
head. We waited awhile and then
asked him to be seated, but he still
shook his head.
"Can YOU not come at all?' we asked
"Yes, | can come, but the days are
not over until can count six stars"
A. ,t
last lie turned round with bright face
and said, Now | can eat with you
He certainly had not lost his appetite
while waiting.
Naturally the Jews keep their testi
val the most quietly, but they are very
earnest about it, especially those il
Palestine, who have gone there in or
der to live as nearly rs possible like
their ancestors Of thirty centuries ago
They are poor, but very religious
and every Friday the year round they
meet in place behind the wall of the
Temple, and shed tears over their mis-
fortunes, and pray that they may have
their city again.
The MosIems, the followers Of Mo
hammed, would not be likely to have
any part in the Easter festival bu
they do have great celebration at thai
time, and their large hunters make il
very imposing. Their feast is caIlet
Neby Mousa, that Is, the prophc
Moses. The Bible says that Moses dice
and was buried over the 'ordan, il
Moab, but the Moslems say that hi:
tomb is down in the wilderness Of
Judea. Possibly the place to which
they go is where funeral ceremonies
were held for Jacob. as Is told In tht
lae+ Ohm ntap a. (yanagie