The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-09-23
VIA DOL0ROSk
Interesting Account of Pils
grimages 10 the Biblical
City Of Jerusalem.
FOLLOWING IN HIS STEPS
H1RDsHIPs THE FAITHFUL ENs
DURE IN THEIR EXPORTS ro
GO THE WAY OF rHE GROSS.

Mr. H. R. Hilton has received ans
other letter from his friend. Jacob Eli4
ahu, who heads religious movemsnt in
Jerusalem. 1t follows
Your very kind letter of the 27th ult.,
inclosing clipping of the papers you
kindly sent, have reached safely and I
wish to thank you for them.
I'VE are having an Austrian Pilgrims
age in the city now; they number about
400. We had visit from an Austrians
who said it had been the desire Of his
life to visit this city and to follow the
Via Dolorosa Way of the Cross. He
told how induIgences We're meted ous
to the Pilgrims on payment.
These pilgrimages are increa sing from
year to year. We have such an annuaF
one from France called pilgrimage de-
Penitence,' when several hundred to-
gether come. Usually these have a larges
cross, measuring about 16 feet, which
they carry around with them and them
place in some church in Europe Be-
side these, there are German. Bavarias.i
Greek. Russian, Spanish and lastly. Jew@
ish organized pilsrimsgss.
The Russians seem most devout aud
are very generous 10 the poor. They
save during a life time to be able sonic
day to come here. They endure ali kinds
of hardships, walk sometimes for six
months, that they may get here. and go
on foot throughout the country, being
thankful for bread and tea; in some cases
they have been known to be so moved
by the priests story of the needs Of the
Church at some reputed or additionally
historical site. that they have given the
last farthing they had and could nor
return home. The Government (Russian)
has now taken means to prevent the re-
currence of such things; on landing they
are required to deposit enough for their
return journey.
The Russian Government has extern
sive premises and buildings-one of the
landmarks of the city-where all these
are freely housed. Most Of the other
pilgrims that come are better-to-do.
I'VE had young boy with us to learn
English. from the east of the Jordan.
from Essalt. the ancient Ramoth Gilead.
which recalls the wonderful history Of
the Kings Ohabt, Jehoshaphat and of
the Prophet Micaiah who foretold that
the King would be deceived into going
thither in order to perish.
.'As Abraham Sukkar was returning
home for the vacation he took two of our
boys over for visit.
.You, of course. are aware that on
the East of the Jordan up to few
years ago. there were no stationary set
tied inhabitants, the country was roved
over by nomadic Bedouin tribes. the de-
scendants OF Ishnael whose hand was
against every man and every mans hand
against them Since the Turko-Russiaa
war of 1877. when certain districts in
the Black Sea were ceded to Russia. the
Circassians living there preferred Turk
ish rule and We're given the districts Oh
the East Of the Jordan-Gerash, AmmoR
Philadelphial. Wady SER. etc. sincs
their arrival the country has been much
more settled. Our boys visited thess
parts and bring glowing accounts of the
ancient Roman and Maccabean remains.
with thanks for your kindness and
every good wish.
yours sincerely.
JACOB ELIAHU."