Letter from Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct. 23rd 1895

W. S. Long:

Dear Bro.

Your letters both received when we arrived at this place and as I have a minute to spare I will drop you a note enclosing a sprig of Olive that I got yesterday while in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Was sorry to hear of Sister Long's illness and glad that she is better. Give to her the olive branch with my best wishes for her good health and power in the care of the old children. Dear brother and sister, I hope in regard to the unpleasant things you mention you will always try to keep the bright side uppermost and cast all the sunshine in the "home"(1) that divine grace will enable you to do. There is no position in life in which motives will not be misconstrued. But duty well performed will in the end bring its reward. I'm deeply interested in the home(1) and don't want argument(1) if it can be avoided. Endure hardness as a good soldier.

Well we are in the Holy City and wish we could have you and many others here if only a short time, to see and hear. This place is most terribly defiled by the Turks, Mohammedans and Christians, so called, as well.

On yesterday we had a donkey ride over to Bethany via Gethsemane and Mt. of Olives. Bethany is now only a miserable village of mud and stone huts and people to correspond. Superstitions and base(?) misrepresentation reigns everywhere supreme. The curse of sin and desolation is apparent, and the people constitute a conglomeration of all tongues and nationalities. The city out side of the walls is growing rapidly and great changes are being made to Holy City, and is so called but is not so now. Our overland trip from Damascus to Jerusalem took us 13 days. It was quite an experience in camp life being in the saddle 6 to 7 hours each day except one day I spent on the Sea of Galilee.

I also send you a few leaves of hyssop(1).

Yours in hope of eternal life,

W.B. Brumbaugh(2)

Eld. W.S. Long
Shirleysburg, Pa.
U.S.A.

note 1
The writer's hand was illegible at points. For his detailed examination and review and interpretation of the handwriting of the original document, I am indebted to Howard F. Long, grand nephew of Walter S. Long without whose assistance the reading would not be complete. The reference to "home" seems to coincide with Walter S. Longs stewardship of the Rockville Old Folks' Home of Middle District, the office of which he served for 3 years beginning 04-01-1894. This office overlaps his ministry, Aughwick Congregation, beginning 05-21-1892, and follows the date of his church membership, Aughwick Congregation: 04-01-1890. One other coincidence which I find intriguing is: That approximately threescore years and ten following the penning of this letter with the obscure handwriting of the word "Home", Howard F. Long visited the "Shirleysburg Old Folks Home", acceding to their request to have their piano tuned in which he obliged them gratis in honor and memory of his great Uncle Walter, continuing the path of ministry established by his ancestor, and now, fourscore years and three having passed, provides a proper historical recitation of the same. (Monday, September 07, 1998 02:08 AM, PEM).
note 2
I do not know the identity of WBB, perhaps he is a bishop or elder in the Aughwick Congregation. The fact that he was traveling this extensively in the Holy Land is of interest and deserves additional inquiry. He mentions including "many others" in wish; this seems to imply some educational investment. (Monday, September 07, 1998 02:57 AM, PEM).

Shirleysburg Congregation