estroyed all the goodly vessels
thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away
to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons, until
the reign of the kingdom of Persia."

At the close of this there was a representation of the destruction of
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the carrying captive of the children
of Israel to Babylon. We were seized, bound in chains, and confined in
a dungeon.

Q. What followed? A. We heard rejoicing, as of good news; the
proclamation of Cyrus, King of Persia, was read in our hearing.

Ezra i. 1-3. "Now in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, the
Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia, that he made
a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in
writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus, King of Persia, the Lord God of
heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He hath
charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and
let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house
of the Lord God of Israel, which is in Jerusalem."

Q. What was then said to you? A. We were unbound and requested to go
up to Jerusalem to assist in rebuilding the Temple, but objected, as
we had no pass by which to make ourselves known to our brethren.

Q. What followed? A. The third chapter of Exodus, 13th and 14th
verses, were read to us:

"And Moses said unto God, Behold! when I come unto the children of
Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent
me unto you, and they shall say to me, what is his name? What
shall I say to them? And God said unto Moses, I AM, THAT I AM. And
thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me
unto you."

We were directed to use the words, "I AM, THAT I AM" as a pass-word.

Q. What followed? A. We arose to go up to Jerusalem, and traveled over
hills and valleys, rough and rugged ways, for many days; during which
time, as we stopped occasionally, to rest and refresh ourselves, the
following passages from the Psalms were read in our hearing for our
consolation and encouragement [Psalms cxli, cxlii, cxliii]:

Psalm cxli. "Lord, I cry unto Thee; Make haste unto me; give ear
unto my voice. Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense,
and the lifting up of hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch,
O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door