The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-22
PALESTINE EXPLORATIONS


PALESTINE EXPLORATIONS
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An American Expedition to bc Sent Out
Meeting Last Night In DIR. Crosby's Church
In It's Favor-Addresscs by Drs. Crosby
and j. r. Thompson.
The Fourth avenue Presbyterian church was
densey crowded last night with audience brought
together IN the interest ana behalf OF the society
which was organized here last October to explore
the Holy Land. Recent explorations in the valleys
OF the Nile and Euphrates In the adjacent coun
traes Of Palestine, Syria Elan and Armenia have
led to results OF 80 much interest that lively de-
sire has been awakened In all sections for further
and more syst ematic Investigations in this field of
research 1t Is now 80 generally admitted that the
most important records OF the beginnings OF anthem
tic history are to be found in the regions OF
Egypt and Western Asia, that every addi-
ton TO our knowledge OF their geography and
archaeology is sure OF instant appreciation in every
part Of the civilized world. What has been thus lar
accomplished, however serves chiefly to Indicate
that this work Of exploration Is hardly more than
begun, and that still richer results await a more
thorough investigation. To this end O society was
formed some years ago in England, which has done
good service in exploring the Holy Land While
cordially uniting In aim and purpose with the Eng.
lish Palestine Exploration Fund. II seemed to the
Executive Committee that an independent American
organization for this work promises better results
than could be expected from o mere auxiliary
branch OF the English society. 1t Is thought that
there are many enlightened and liberal persons OF
oil beliefs In America who need only to be per-
suaded of the practicabiity Of such undertaking
In order to secure az generous support as can be
obtained In any other country. Meantime, to render
such labor as effective as possible well as to fulfil
the original design of cooperating with the promo
tiers OF the undertaking In England 1t has been pro-
posed that the American society should choose its
own specific ded OF exploration and work by itself
in It's own way. Such field, in every respect wor-
thy OF the OBJ ect, may be found In the imperfectlY
known, but most important, region which lies east
OF the river Jordan and the Dead Sea, comprising
tie ancient lands Of Bashan, Ammon, Moab and
Edom. The district contains greater number Of
UNEMPLOYED SITES AND EXTENSIVE RUINS
than any other district o. equal extent in the world
Many inscriptions are also known to exis. through.
out The country, which have not been copied. The
incidents mentioned In the second Book OF Kings.
renders 1t highly probable that there still exists
to e Ut ana g aSs s aas
anu inscription, together with map and diagrams.
fun view OF Tie audience last niSh and Dp rosb V
explained the character OF The country and the
progress OF the explorations. SO far made, and
translated the Moabltlsh inscription.
Inc first step IN this exploration of the Holy
Land was made by our own countryman, DR.. Robin.
son, IN 1888, who published work which has ever
since been the standard work with all PSYCHOLOGISTS
VINO have freely acknowledged him as the pioneer
1864 the second Ina poltant step was Incidentally
taken, when Captain Lynch, OF the British
Royal Engineers, made Typographical exploration
OF the hills and valleys round about Jerusalem to
discover II possible the ancent viaduct, so that
water might be brought into the old city AGAIN lie
lighted upon some important subteIranean ruins
Which LED to the subsequent expedition in 1867
exploring Palestine for tniee years. MIR. Palmer
an Englshnan, whose long residence In the Orient
good service to thus cause The dnicuilies Of the
exploration were described by DR.. Crosby, and NAV
debris OF the ancient city OF Jerusalem has -
FILLED UP THE VALLEY OF THE HsITRAN
TO the depth Of seventy very frequently the
when, .la.isg down after them, prevents egress.
CaHtain Warren traced very narrow passage
to the valley OF The Kedron. And in searching Tor
them eighty feet below the surface OF the EARTH laid
upon the solid rock-the stones being twenty feet
thick and on the two lower courses were discovered
the Phenican characters which testify that |
build the Temple Ten feet Of eartn we're aug ~
away. and then two feet Of the rock was chiselled
and prepared Tor the foundation, ana from rose
a wal eighty feet above ground. that the Hauran
valley walls were Loo feet nigh from foundation to
was $3.50 feet above the subsirata and from this
point the Saviour looked down when the Devil took
him up TO pinnacle OF the Temple and showed |
Hem all the Kingdoms Of the world, &c.
MOUNT hORIAH Is HoNEYcoMBED
with vaults areas, passages, DC Captain Warren |
found q, least fifty such. 1t IL not without the |
bounds Of possibility that We may yet come upon |
the tombs Of the kings the ark OF the covenant and
the tables o!stone written by the finger of Cod
The Doctor then read ana explained the iuscrip- |
ton on the Moabitlsh stone, which tells the story
That 1t was set up oy Mesha the OF Shevaniah,
IN conlin emoration OF his independence Of Israel
Moab had been forty years subject to the sway OF
PAID large tribute but after the death OF Ahab and
tue troubles which then Mesha rebeled and sue
ceeded In gaming his Independence. But within !
three or four years aferward he was reconquered |
by Omr Isurper or the throne VI Israel The stone
was consequently set up about the year 500 D. q. ills
therefore the Oldest Inscription in the world The Dec
tor then explained its value 10 arch paleon-
toogisS, linguistS and Biblical students. IL shows
That the ancient Hebrew contained twenty-five let |
brought only sixteen or eighteen into Greece. 1t |
also upsets other theories based upon this about
modern additions being made to the Old Testament,
much OF II alleged to be written about the time VI
the Maccabees. And II shows that our Roman
alphabet IL more
NEARLY LIKE THE ANCIENT HEBREW
than what we now call Hebrew. II also shows that
the name or the country was not Moab, but Ne Alb.
and hence upsets another theory founded upon the
letter o. and, furthermore II shows that the plurals
proslncialism. Its value in making the Bible
household book ana In destroying the prevailing i'll.
fidelity Of the age, was also pointed OUT
Drs. thompson and Hitchcock olsO made a few re-
marks, during which q collection was taken I'D for
the exploration fund, and the meeting then al.
jouined -
WEAKER REPORT.
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