The daily gazette., 1877-03-02
-Paiestinelaaa the HOLY City.

LECTURE Or WIN. c.AAUcHINcLoss ESQ.
SAT MASONIC HA1L, A PLEAsAN1
TREAT TO A LARGE AND FASHION
ABLE AUDIENcE
The Opera House was crowded las
night, To listen to the discourse of VIM
G. Auchincloss, Esq, on the interestin
topic Of his travels in Palestine, and Il
Illustrations of Biblical history and scene
ry associated with the old landmarks an
the existing customs and traditions Q
the present Inhabitants of the holy Land
The lecture was profuseiy illustrated b
selected stereopticon views; and the &C
companying descriptions Of the speake
were fully appreciated. e a.
Preparatory TO the address, the aud
iepce united in singing, "A charge TO keel
l have" under the leadership of Prof
Clemmer; after which, Rev. J. Latime
delivered an appropriate payer.
Mr.. Auchincloss was than introduced
to the meeting by Mr.. Thomas McCorkl'
Jr., President of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association "A large screen had beer
adjusted over the centre of the stage fol
the purpose of presenting the stereopti.
con views illustrative of his subject, which
the speaker, preceded with few, appro
pirate, Introductory ideas.
He said that there was no experience
that took so strong hold on the chris
tian traveller as that which was coupled
with first visit to the land of Palestine
and the realization that he stood on the
locality where so much, sacred TO the be-
levers had transpired. The desire of a
visit to this followed soil was confined
to no age or condition of mankind, but
existed in the young scholar as well as
the aged christian. All classes of chris
tians in ages past had naturally cherish
ed a peculiar interest in the scene of our
Savior's earthly sufierings, and the speak
er alluded briefly to the ancient crusades
as an example; and the Hebrew of to-day
endures great difficulties that he may
reach and be buried In the land OF his
fathers.
A map of the world as known TO the
ancient was then exhibited on the.
and the lecturer pointed out localities
Iamiliar to Bible history and traced the
usual route of the eastern traveller to
Joppa, as starting point for the tour.
From Joppa, the distance to Jerusalem
vas about thirty miles. Here it was es-
ential to secure the services of a good
lragoman as guide, interpreter, guard,
tic, continuing the journey, we reach the
uins iof Hebron, from which poin
Lbraham witnessed the fearful judget
nent on the cities Of the plain Hebron
vas also one of the old Jewish cities of
efuge and the site OF the cave of Mac
helah, where Abraham and his imme-
late desendan S were inferred.
Passing the pools of Solomon, We come
0 tho modern village of Bethleham, the
irth place of our Saviour, which is only
ateresting from the associations cluster
d around it. Leaving Jerusalem to the
orth at this point, we may journey east
Tard to the Dead Sea, whose clear but
isolate waters, lie, sunken TO a dept Ii
I 1890 feet below the ocean level. No
wing thing exists therein, and the water
ontains twenty one per cent. CT saline
natter, being seven times as salty as the
cean itself.
From the shores of this deserted lake
nd onward to the limpid waters of the
ordan, where John baptized; and the
peaker turned westward to Jerusalem,
Tracing the route over rugged and
ocky country, he came to Bethany, a
hort distance beyond which place the
raveller obtains good view of the city.
lodern Jerusalem, as every one knows |
but feeble shadow of the Jerusalem
f the past, panoramic view of which |
Tas presented to the audience.
The grand temple of Solomon, with its |
ourts and gates, has long since disap-
cared, but the vast wall that encircled |
ne sanctuary still remains, and the Mos
us Of Omar founded in the year COG oc-
upies the spot, where, 2000 years ago. |
le Israelites assembled to worship and |
ffer sacrifice.
Many interesting views Of localities in |
he city were shown and the speaker also
escribed the excavations which were be-
ng made, and the results with which
hey had been attended. These excaya-
ions were Of great interest in the work
II aseertaining how much was truth and
low much falsity in the generally received
andmarks Of sacred history. As an in
tance he mentioned the riven rock in the
'hurch Of the Holy Sepulchre, famed as
memorial of the earthquake attendant
N the crucifiction. BY inserting his
land some distance into this rift he had
ncountered rubble masonly-a clear
roof of the deception. These excaya-
ions had shown the debris around the
emple walls to be nearly one hundred
eet deep.
In conclusion, he remarked that the
Biblical student Of the future would find
n the results Of the explorations now be-
ng made, vast mine of evidence cor
oborative Of the truth of sacred history.
Pain A.. The Rreaat