Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-23

family, while there is no sign of partition be
and as one manger had no horse before it, An
tonic occupied it for his bed, and made no
complaint of his lodging. The neighing OF
one of the horses awakened me in the night,
but Antonio, whose ears were much nearer to
the animals, did not hear it.
But if Joseph and Mary had been persons of
wealth and consideration, undoubtedly Groom
in tie inn'' would have been made for them
and the fact that they were constrained to re-
peculiar circumstances of trialand peril, shows
the humiliation to which the Son of God be-
came subject, in taking upon himself the form
of man
And now We are in the midst of those scenes
which have been the occasion of conflicts in
volving not the peace Of the Bethlehem COM
munity only, nor of this Holy Land only, but
OF nations and the world. The present war,
convulsing Europe and threatening the stabil-
ity of thrones and dynasties, had its origin in
the miserable contests among these miserable
religiouists about the possession of these pla-
ces, which they suppose are identified as hal
lowed by the birth of Christ. If the disputing
parties loved the Saviour and cherished his
spirit, there would be more apology for the
pertinacity with which they cling to the spot
where his infant form was laid, and confess
to a strong feeling Of sympathy with those who
are powerfully moved when they stand on
ground that is memorable for such an event as
this. But the quarrels Of these superstitious
people were so incessant and violent, that the
government. and Mahometan government at
that, was compelled to interfere, and to appor-
ton to each it's share, strictly forbidding all
interference of one with the other. Thus the
Tnanger is in the hands of the Roman Catho-
lies, and the Greeks and Armenians have moth
is common to all, but may be used in regular
turns. The altar over the star Belongs exclu-
sively to the Greeks and Armenans. the for
mer having the precedence. Around the star,
sixteen golden pendant lamps are kept con-
stantly burning, of which the Armenans have
six, the Greeks six, and the Roman Catholics
four. Into the great church, the possession OF
which is divided between the Greeks and Ar
menians, these monks enter by different doors,
duu tueiE ScpCTdlS NOTSIID NllUlu iuC
same walls. The Roman Catholics have no
other privilege in it, but to pass through on
their way to the chapel below. But the div-
sion of the holy ground is carried even further
than this, and the cave where they pretend that
Joseph and Mary were hid, previous to their 60
ing to Egypt with the infant Jesus, belongs to
the Romanists, while that of the shepherds to
ha anna1a anpnnra6 is oiva to fba
Greeks. But if any of these three contend
ing sects could get power, they would quickly
drive out the other two, and such win be the
result whea the French take possession of Tur-
key, and in behalf of the Pope of Rome, as
sumo the protectorate of Palestine, which will
then be Roman Catholic See.
But how changed the birthplace of Jesus
from what it was on that night when Mary took
refuge here. The ssGrotto of the Nativity"
as the place Is now called, is gorgeous chap
Ell, and thirry-two elegant lamps, the gifts of
sovereigns and princes. shed lustre over the
polished marble manger and gilded altar, and
the paintings that represent the Magi offering
gifts to the holy child. Here the pilgrims
from other lands were prostrating themselves
before the altars, and when they had finished
their devotions, followed them up into the
church where the priest gave them the sacra-
ment of our Lords Supper from basket of
bread, talking and laughing with them as they
received it, and now and then slapping them
on the back, in the excitement of his glee!-
Blessed Master! do they thus degrade the
mystery of thy death on the very place of thy
BIRTH
And then with feelings more of disgust than
of reverence, with sort of sickness OF heart,
was led to the cell of Jerome, where he lived
for years and translated the Old Testament in
to the Latin tongue-and then to the tomb of
Eusebius, and still on till we were shown the
spot where by Herod's order the children were
slain. And here the folly Of tradition became
intolerable, as the monk showed us the skele-
ton hand of one of these little ones, set in
frame and covered with gauze. i turned away
relieved to get out of the presence of such fell
lows, and anxious to be allowed alone to wan
der and mediate among these scenes that are
more sacred to me than to these relic-monger-
ing monks and superstitions pilgrims.
TRAsKLIs was IN observing and sensible
man and his conclusions were seldom incor-
rect. He said that q newspaper and Bible in
every house, and good school in every dis