The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-03-21
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that Jacob gave to his son Joseph
There also is Jacobs well where
Christ met'the woman of Samaria who
was from the little village of Sychar
which is still pointed out. Joseph's
tomb is also close at hand.
Those who are privileged to be the
guests of the little Samaritan com
munity on the memorable occasion
Of their Passover. make their way
from the little town of Nablous in the
late afternoon up the fruit slopes oi
Gerizim Passing above its well-wa
| tered base, from which gush forth
/ scores of springs. one Is forcibly re
minded that this was the mount OF
| blessing on that memorable occasion
/ in the history of the children of Israel
/ just alluded to. while il the eye is
cast across the valley on Ebal, the
mount OF cursing, no springs or fruit
fulness are seen, but only barrenness
and rocky desolation.
Reaching the top, we find the tents
already pitched. Round this camp has
already gathered a considerable COM
pany of Moslems from Nablous who
have, like ourselves, come to witness
the ceremony They form a curious
and not very respectful assembly We
also detect little group Of Ameri-
cans. both ladies and gentlemen, a
titled Englishman and his wife. three
other English tourists, including the
nd fat
Germany AS if by instinct, the
Europeans gradually form themselves
into a little company apart from the
othe" spectators. We are quickly OBJ
served, however, and two of the Sama-
rltan officials make their way to us.
They invite us into the tent of the
high-0riest to see the Samaritan treas
ures, an invitation tha. is eagerly ac-
cepted
Chief among these, of course, is the
famous Scroll referred to. The high
pries& informs us that it is locked up
in his cupboard pointing to a some
what plain receptacle over which two
men stand guard. It appears he is
apprChensive of its being stolen by
his cousin This young man has serv-
ed term of Imprisonment for steal
ing ancient manuscripts and would
not hesitate to steal the precious
scroll If he had a chance. The tent
doors are carefully closed and made
fast. The high priest then unlocks
the cupboard and produces the sacred
manuscript 1t is very old and wrin-
kled and tattered. The parchment is
brown and brittle. The lines are ir-
regular and the ink has faded so near
ly as to be illegible, though in places
it has been re-inked by newer parch
ment The whole is backed with 9TH
er parchment and enclosed in a silver
case, on which are engraved pictures
of the ark of the Covenant the golden
the altar of sacrifice, the
knife for killing the sacrifice, and GER
tain other engravings and emblematic
designs. The whole is covered with a
green silk cloth and veiled from ordi-
nary sight. OF course no one must
touch it, 1t is not quite orthodox that
any one else should see it save on GER
tain great festivals, but this is one of
the occasions when it may be seen
though guardedly.
In the little interval that remained
before the service began the high
priests son showed us over the noun
tain top, pointing out the famous ruins
there. Half an hour before the sun
goes down the service begins. Near
by the rocks where the Samaritans
say that Abraham offered Isaac the |