Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 30, 1893. HANUCAH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3167, 30 December 1893, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 30, 1893. HANUCAH.

During the Christmas holidays there was to be seen (and still is, for that matter) in Mr Salek's window an old Jewish lamp, worked in gold and silver. The lamp is a masterpiece of ! the silversmith's art, and is well worth seeing. It is built in the form of an alcove, the back wall in beautiful filagree work, while on a shelf at the bottom stand eight lions, the carving of each of which is simply superb. The lions are each about the size of a lady's j thimble, and the bodies of the lions are the reservoirs for the oil, while the wicks are inserted in the months. The reservoirs are filled at apertures in the headsofthelions,andtheßearestoppelled by tiny crowns of gold. Suspended across the alcove by a silver chain are a funnel to fill the reservoirs, a measure for the oil, and a pair of little snuffers for the wicks. The whole is a work of art. and a relic of days when more attention was paid to this kind of handicraft than is now the case. The lamp was used in celebration of the Jewish festival Hanucah, and as this feast is but little known outside the Jewish faith, a short historical sketch of it may not be uninteresting. The feast of Hanucak commemorates events which took place in the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes during the period of the second Temple. Throughout the dominions of this potentate the worship of God had been ruthlessly interdicted, idols were erected in the Temple, whilst its altars had been descrated by offerings of swine's flesh. In thu, as in every other period, martyrdom paid special tribute. At length a family, consist* ing of one Matthias, with his five sons, rose up and stern'y refused to comply with these orders. The news of this family's disaffection must at least have reached the King's son, for one of the tyrant's officers came to Mod in, the town in which Matthias lived, in order to flaunt his master's demands the offering of some abominable sacrifice. In a moment he was struck down bj the brave old man, and he, shouting to jbhe crowd about him, " "Who is zealous for God's law and will keep His Commandments, let him follow me," hoisted the standard of revolt. This step taken, a great many joined Matthias, but as they were unprepared to fight the Syrian soldiers, they fled to the mountains. They took for their motto on their flag " Who is like unto Thee among the gods, Oh Lord." The initial letters of this in Hebrew form the word in Hebrew " Maccabseus." As soon as Matthias had enough men round him he sallied down and met the enemy in battl#. Ho defeated them, pulled down the altars raised jfco jtbe false gods, and thus revived the drooping courage of the Jews. But his end approached, so calling his five sons together be charged them tq continue his work, and soon aitey appointing His fen.

Judas Maccabneus, the captain, v who is to fight the battle of the people," he died. Thus onward the little handful of men still pursued their path of glory, gaining victory after victory, until at last they found themselves within marching distance of Jerusalem ; but only to find ie deserted. The sanctuary was desolate, and the altar profaned; the gate 3 were burned, shrubs had grown up in the courts, and every kind of offal and filth iv every particular had f found a resting place in the beloved spot. But Judas was not one to indulge in long and useless grief. He was a man of action, and soon he divided his men into two bodies. Some of these were told off to fight, the rebt were set to work to cleanse the sanctuary, and to build a new altar in the place of that which had been defiled. By the 25th of Kislev (Dec. 11 of our year, and the date for celebrating the "Dedication of the Temple,") the work was completed and to be dedicated, so they lighted the holy lamp, which had so long been extinguished. There was just one little pot of oil found for the purpose, enough for one day's use, but, marvellous to relate, it burnt for eight days. In commemoration of this fact the Hanucah lights are burnt for eight nights, a fresh light being added for each consecutive night until the last. Judaism thus dedicates her veneration to the memory of her bravest, for in the annals of the world the history of the Maccabteus shall always find an abiding place so long as faith, patriotism, and bravery continue the true adornments of our best manhood. But a few weeks ago our Musical Society sang Handel's immortal choral, tribute to the memory of those heroes of Hebrew history, and just at this season, when ail Christendom has commemorated the birth of the Child of Hope, the stem of Jesses rod, the Sbiloh of whom the prophet said "to Him shall the gathering of the people be " —it seems right that over such an ancient and valuable relic as this Hanucah lamp, the story of its ceremo- | nial origin should be told, as well as the fragment of history it recalls of the people of whom Byron so tenderly sang: — And where shall Israel lave her bleeding feet? And when sha'l Zion's songs again seem sweet? And Jndah's melody again rejo:ce The hearts that leaped before its heavenly voice? Tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast How shall ye flee away and be at rest. The wild dove hath her nest, ihe fox his cave— Mankind their country—-Israel but the grave 1