The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-21
SundaJ.SchoOl Lessons.
A SABBATH IN HODERN NAZARETH.

bCe. ~~o-iCdtu vi cuui cohu-
Dec. 5o-Review.
A SABBATH IN HODERN NAZARETH.
1t was Saturday, April 9, 1881, when
we camped at Shunam, on the Plain of
Esiraelon. Only little cluster of di-
lapidated huts show us the site of the
ancient city. We recall the story of
the s'Shunamite woman and of her
little boy who was with his father out
on this plain. and can appreciate how
not was the heat which then beat down
at noonday upon his head. We recall,
too. how the true, trusting mother,
with Mount Carmel in sight, went rid
ing over the plain, the western sun
blazing in her face. She must see the
prophet of God, and He rewarded her
faith.
just beyond Shunam. in an unframed
grove of fig trees, we encamped. The
sowner thereof had followed us, and
came boldly forward to protest, but our
s'dragoman, with real Oriental Justice
CD ordered him away, and because he
did not start at once gave him some
smart boxes on the ear; and when the
eXiled landowner, driven from his own
orchard. demonstrated from a distance
with stones. 'sSallie'' of s.Faroh"
(our dragoman) drove him into the
village, and we saw him no more. The
dragoman of Palestine is monarch where
he marches.
An hours rest, and then an hours
ride. and we are at the base of the
mountains of Galilee, up which, over
rugged path, we ascend tc Nazareth,
and riding through the town find our
tents near the Spring of the Virgin"
Before "table d'hoten (Which always
greets us at sunset) we went down the
hill from our encampment and stood
upon the stone wall from beneath which
the fountain wells up. The water is
abundant and pure-the only unfailing
supply in this city of four thousand in
habitants. sScores of maidens were
gathered-their earthen 'swater-pots"
poised on their heads-each waiting her
turn to approach the fountain, from
which the Virgin Mary ESQ tradition
says) used TO bear the cool water to her
home. Human nature i'm both its selfish
and generous spirit was here. One
bright girl. with bronzed but rosy
face, was for long time busy in help
ing the little folks press their way to
the fountain.
At an early hour on Sabbath, and be-
fore breakfast, Mr.. R., our English
conductor, called me away to visit the
Church of the Annunciation. We
threaded our way through the narrow
streets TO the other end of the town, and
entered somewhat stately structure
this morning alive with the Latin serv-
ices which commemorate palm Sun
day." There were hundreds of Syrians
present, and almost without eX-
ception they were seated on the stone
floor, though there were many unoccu-
pied chairs They seemed to have a
revereut interest in the service. Pres
emily we passed quietly down beneath
the altar, and saw the great gray gran.
lite pillar which hangs from some sup
port above. The monks say: "Thc
infidels tried to hack it down, and broke
away the base, but it hung in mid-air
and tie rude people believe it is still
upheld by miracle. Past this pillar,
which marks the reputed spot where
Gabriel made the annunciation,' (see
Luke j., 26), we proceeded by a dark
passage up a rude stairway to the
Kitchen of Mars." 1t is a chamber
in cave, with fireplace in one cor
ner, and in the opposite corner "the
door through which Mary used to 60 to
the founta r." Somewhere in Nazar-
eth Mary had home and kitchen.
but not in this dismal cave.
Returning to our tents we refreshed
ourselves with good breakfast, and
then. joining a half-score of our party,
attended service at the English Mis-.
sion (Church of England), and listened
to a genuine Gospel sermon, in good
English, from q young Syrian who had
been educated in England. Commun.
ion services followed. We all knelt
at the altar and received the precious
emblems. Though of different de
nominations We were one in spirit
.'One Lord, one faith" There wa:
deep solemn;ty attached TO tht
occasion; not in reality more sacred
but in historic association more impress
i've, because we were in Nazareth. Ii
the afternoon l wandered about il
search of spot that would correspond
10 Luke w., 90. l found two SHARP
cliffs, each at least fifty feet in depth
and each 1.-the brow of the hill WHEREOF
their city was built" They are a
sharp in descent as the Tarpean Rocl
at Rome, and nearly as deep.
Having satisfied my mind upon Thu
point-oVer which there has never beer
ground for doubtful discussion-witl
my fellow-travelers I climbed to tn,
hill back of Nazareth, and looked GU
upon the wide expanse of sea, mount
aims and valleys upon which Jesus Otter
looked-Carmel and the Mediterranean
to the west; the waving era of Esdrae
Ion, like a yellow sea, far to the east
south and west; and yonGer to the east
toward Jordan, Tabor and Giiboa
What an expanse! Surely Jesus usec
TO frequent this spot! What a vision
for the inspiration of Nature and of So
cred history! And now, turning about
far away to the north the white home
of Safed-the .'city of refuge"-appear
4sthe city set upon an hill. and beyonC
it kingly Hermon, to whom the mount
sins Of Galilee and Naphthai are onl!
foothills.
Descending the hill by more direc
path we rea II, halfway down. be slof~s
1.-THE Orphanage." founded snc -.