New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE

EXPLORATIONS IN THE Holy LAND.-For a
long tlme the location of Kadesh- barnea on
me southeastern border of the Promised Land,
mas been disputed question among Biblical
scholars who have paid particular attention 10
the geography Of the Holy Land 1t is site of
encamped with the intention of entering Pales-
tine, and from which they were twice sent
back. in, 1912 the Rev. J. Rowlands, of
Queens College Cambridge, discovered a foun-
tam which he was confident was the site of
hadesh- bainea: For nearly forty years this
discovery has been a fruitful topic of discus
SION, and 1T is a singular fact" says the Rev.
statement of the English Palestine Exploration
FUND, that in all these years the site thus dis
, covered 10y Mr. Rowlands has never been re
this site in April of this year, while crossing
me Desert OF Exodus; The place, he says, was
all that Mr.. Rowlands pictured it. ait was
an oasis" says Mr.. Trumbul in his report,
unapproached by any had seen in the desert
since leaving Feiran, and not surpassed, within
ITS limits, by that. 1t was carpeted with grass
and flowers: Fig trees laden with fruit rose
against its limestone hillsides. Shrubs i'm rich
ness and variety abounded. Standing out from
the mountain range at the northward of the
beautiful oasls-amphitheatre, was the large
single mass or small hill of solid rock which
how lands looked at the cliff (sela) smitten
by Moses to cause it to give forth its waters
when its flowing had ceased. From beneath
TINS elm came the abundant stream. A we'll
walled up with timewom limestone blocks was
the first receptacle of the water. Not far from
TINS was second we'll similarly walled, sup
plled from the same source. Around both
tthese wells were ancient watering troughs of
limestone. Several pools not walled up were
also supplied from the stream On from the
line OF these pools gurgling stream flowed
physically Tor several hundred yards, and then
lost itself III the verdure- covered desert. Tie
water was clear and sweet and abundant.
Two of the pools were ample for bathing Mr.
1rnmbuli then tells how he found the two other
wells described by Mr. Rowlands Ain Kadeirat
y kasplmph rst lpip laI
Am Qadis), and comes to the conclusion that
Mr.. Rowands was correct in his reference to
the three wells. yet" he adds "it 10y no
means follows that the site of kadesh- barnea
is settled by this new contribution of facts
bearing on that question"
TIE OLDEST MEETING HOUSE IN AMERICA
AT bingham, Mass, Oh Monday there was a
notable gathering of men in the +" Old bingham
Meeting house." to ccle brate the two hundredth
anniversary of the building of the church.
OF Harvard College, Mr. Il. ii. Stoddard the
poet and esSayist, the Hon. George b. Loring
and many other well known men, both clergy
men and laymen, of Boston, We're present and
delivered addresses. The exercises were held
III the church, which is the oldest now standing
III America. 1t is III an excellent state of pre-
servatIon. The building has what is called
hip roof, with baustrade around the top and
with heXagonal bell tower surmounted by
spre- shaped steeple rising from the centre of
the roof. 1t is in the shape of parallelogram,
seventy by hfty-tive feet, and has a seating
capacity of 700. Built in 1851, the church was
first enlarged in 1929. again IN 1855 and lastly
IN 1850. The old frame is intact. The main
tlmbers are OF massive oak, and the building
looks solid enough to stand for 200 years TO
come. The floors formerly rested ON the
ground, and the present sexton remembers
when toad-stools grew through the cracks in
the boards. The church was not warmed until
SD. On the right of the old-fashioned pulpit
Is tablet of brass bearing the following in
scripton: