The New York herald., 1873-12-06
PALESTINE EXPLORATION.
The American Exploring Ex pedition and
It's WOrk-An Appeal for Ard.

The American Exploring Ex peditlon and
Its Work-An Appeal for Ard.
A meeting was held last evening in the hall OF
the Young Mems Christian Association building
corner OF Twenty third street and Fourth avenue,
TO promote the American Palestine Exploration.
There was very large audience present. Judge
Brady presided. and after few remarks on the
Importance or the subject. introduced Professor
Hitchcock. The Professor began 1rst by referring
III general way to the grand explorations that
mad taken place OF late years. He reminded his
audience tnat only few months ago, as it were, the
HERALD had launched an expedition into the very
heart OF Africa. He said that he did not deem it
necessary to say that the explorations in Palestine
were the most sacred that could be undertaken.
short time ago the Americans were invited by
the English promoters OF Palestine exploration
to join them in their grand work; but after con-
sulratlon It was decided that while the English
might continue to explore the west side OF the Jor-
dan the Americans should establish an Independent
exploration instead OF auxiliary one, to explore
the east side. The west side was pretty well
known. yet the English engineers had found plenty
to do. They were correcting great many exist
ing geographical Inaccuracies and making a map
on a grand scale. an inch to the mile. The Ameri-
can expedition would perform their work on the
same grand scale. AT first the Geographical So
clcty mad dlf1lculty TO ma a competent engineer,
but finally lighted upon Lieutenant Steever, who
went 10 tue Holy Land about year ago, and
after five months OF nard work had succeeded
in making a splendid map which contains an area
at the rate OF an inch TO the mlle-ot 600 square
miles. This map was necessarily incomplete at
present, but it would give a good idea OF the un-
dertaking and its extent The Professor then
read letter rom the missionaries in Beyrout in
which they highly commended the work of Lien
tenant Steever. The cniel object OF the explora-
ton under Lieutenant Steever, he said, was
accuracy in mapping ont the country.
money would not be wanting In the future. There
was proposition on !ooL TO put TWO expeditions
in the held each with iive assistant engineers. He
plished in live years OF an expenditure OF $40, 900
year; so sl5oooo would pay for the whole
undertaking. n the waole work intended were
accomplished some $1,000 square miles would
have to be surveyed, but this work could be done
by sections, as the map was 10 be made by Sec
Lieutenant Steever was then introduced, and
after stating how he had been appointed TO the
command OF the eXpediti0n said that he left this
country in January last, ana when he arrived
IN Syria all the preparations were made for
coverles OF antique inscriptions were made aud .
good deal OF valuable work accomplished.
He gave an interesting narrative OF adven,
the work already accomplished and explained
the necessity OF having additional engineers as
assistants. He thought the whole work could be
accomplished in live years at an expenditure of
S150000 and II everything Went well, he said the
result would be that we would have q map OF Pal
estlne without which, so complete would it be,
the Biblical student would lind 1t absolutely inn
possible To obtain to a thorough understanding OF
his subject.
The Rev. DR.. washburn also spoke, urg-
Ing the necessity OF supporting the eX-
plOraton. lie said that gave away
thousands of dollars to see balloons that never
went mp and to examine galleries Oi paintings by
the Old mastersr painted last year, and even to
have peep at made-up mermaid. with tail OF
humbug behind It; hut when grand object like
tins OF the Palestine expedition was preached no
one came forward eagerly TO give lt his hundreds.
There could not be an object more worthy OF the
support OF Christians tnan this. DIR. Washburn
was followed by
DR.. Adams, who advocated o generous support
OF the exploration, contendlng that every new dis
covery made by science, despite the efforts of un-
believers to disproye the facts OF the Bible only
added to the strength OF the Christian faith