The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-06

restoring the holy places In the East. Ii
contains five rows of marble columns of
the Corinthian order, each of a single stone,
some of which are said to have formed a
part of the Temple at Jerusalem. The
mosaics on the walls are mostly faded.
The roof is made of beams of rough cedar
from Lebanon. The Chapel or Grotto of
the Nativity is a cave in the rock, over and
around which the Church or Convent build
ings are reared. 1t is 20 feet below the
floor of the church, and is approached by
two spiral staircases. By descending eth
er of these staircases the visitor enters a
vault 80 feet by IL feet, encased with Ital-
ian marble, and decorated with numerous
lamps, figures of saints, embroidery and
various other ornaments. On one side of
the Grotto is a recess in which a silver star
about two feet in diameter, on the pave
ment, indicates the spot where our Saviour
was born. On this star Is the inscription :
i'Hic de virgine Maria jesus Christus natus
est. This is the place where Jesus
Christ was born of the Virgin Mary
The other recess, the Chapel of the Manager,
is the place where was discovered the wood
en- Manager which is now kept in the Church
Of St Mary Major at Rome. The Altar
of the Magi marks the spot where the
Wise Men of the East presented their gifts.
Above the spot where our Saviour was
born l6 silver lamps are kept always burn
ing We stopped at the hostelry of the
Franciscans whose duty is to guard this
CHURCH But il is sad to think they are so
much interferred with by the Greeks and
+ Armenians who at times roh and steal
/ everything sacred The infdels and Turks
may doubt these holy places which they
have so often desecrated, but the Christian
goes forth strengthened from these sacred
precincts to fight the battle Of life, and re
joices to venerate the place where our Sa-
viour was born to redeem sinful world.
Having returned from Bethlehem TO Je-
rusalem, We began TO prepare for our jour
uey On Monday, March 9th, at 10 min
utes TO O'Clock, when it was only O'Clock
in the morning at Gettysburg, for it must
/ BE- borne in mind there is difference Of
hours and 20 minutes in time between Je-
rusalem and Gettysburg, our party on horse
+ back sailed out of the Jaffa gate to 90 to
Bethel. John Marcos is the name of our
7 dragOman Now, John Marcos may never
have his name inscribed on the page of
history. but he is certainly expected to be-
come our hero for thirty days, Weare now
four in number. Prof Love, of Missouri,
having attached himself to our party. Our
caravan consists Of Is horses II requires
all this number TO convey us and the tents
with necessary equipage, food and cooking
utensils The name of my sorrel horse,
for which | have taken great affection (and
trust be win reciproeate my feeling, Is
H,,skpd--not indeed very common name
in our country, but You know We have not
many Arabian horses.
The distance to Bethel is l2 miles from
Jerusalem. We came across a series OF
hills Of about the same esevstion rs those
of our South Mountain. But what roads,
Our horses could scarcely pick their way
At times on account Of the Loose stones and
rocks in the paths, for, there are no roads
here | used to think saw some stony
fields in the Soath Mountain, but | now
give up that notion. The whole country
Is series Of terraces and stone walls. Yet
there is a great deal Of land cultivated in
patches here and there saw numerous
strips Of land nca more than 80 feet wide
surrounded by stone fences 4 or D feet high
and 3 or feet wide, and the land still full
enough Of stones to make another fence.
In the evening we came 10 Bethel, where
Jacob had his vision in which he saw a
ladder that reached from earth TO heaven,
and upon which angels assembled and de
scended In the language of military men,
we pitched our tents there for the night.
We could not help but think We were far
more comfortable than poor Jacob, who
had only stone for his pillow. But then
he didn't pay Ave dollars day as we are
doing Bethel, with its 400 people, is ro-
nlanticaIlx situated on hin in dale that
has an amphitheatre Of mountains all
around
Next morning we continued cur journey
over paths that are almost impossible, un-
iii we arrived at Silo, where we halted to
see the locality so rich in ancient recollee-
tions Of the Promised Land Here the
Ark Of the Covenant rested for 32S years.
The ruins Of a church built during the
time Of the Crusades are found in this
place. We have travelled but three days
from Jerusalem and are astonished to find
how much the Crusaders accomplished in
the way Of Christianity. But their works
are now gone, and nothing but the sad re
fection remains that Europe did not sus
tain them in the East. In the afternoon
We came to Jacobs Wen, where the Samar-
itan woman met our Lord The country
here is very interesting. To the north of
the Well we admired Mount Hebal, which |
rises proudly 200 feet above the level of
the Mediterranean.
In the evening, after fatiguing ride of
% miles, we encamped at Naplouse, the
ancient Sichem. We have 3 duodecagon |
tents, about 16 feet in diameter, One of
these is used by the dragornan, cook and
six servants the second Is used for sleep /
ing, and the third, from which floats the |
American flag, is our dining tent. Camp /
life has its charms, especially when well
managed Wonder not that the soldier at |
times admires it. | shall never forget cur /
first evening out. The full moon arose in
sublime beauty over the mountains Of Pal |
estine. The air was calm and mild
Around our tents were grazing our Is 1
horses; near by hlazed the fire to prepare |
our meal, and the scene was enliyened by |
one of our party becoming patriotic in sing
ing the s.Star Spangled Banner. At Ma
plouse our tent with its flag attracted the
attention of Rev. Mr.. Carey, the Baptist
minister here, who was very glad to see us
to have chance to speak English, because
out of the 10000 people at NaplOuse only |
5 speak English.
Leaving Naplouse, We came into beau
tiful valley well cultivated and in part |
planted with trees. This valley has num-
erous streams which work several mills. |
We continued our course to Sebaste, where
Samaria once stood. The numerous bro
ken columns and ruins attest that it must |
have been a great city in days of old.
From Sebaste we went over an immense
mountain to SAVIOUR, the ancient Bethulia,
where Judith, one of the glories of the
people of God, lived. We crossed the
beautiful valley of SAVIOUR, which gave us
evidence how rich and fertile Palestine
must have been in former times The
wheat was as large as in Pennsylvania the
first week in May. Harvesting comes here
early in May 1t was refreshing to see