National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-14
THE HOLY LAND
Described by the Fervid EloquonCO Of Scholar
and an Orator.
Bishop KcSncs Narration or Ills Pill
sriniage TO the Country or the Bible.

So great was the desire to hear Bishop
Koano lecture upon the holy land last night,
that long before the hour of commenOem ent
Lincoln hall was packed to its doors and
many were turned away. The lecture was
for the benefit of the orphan boys. A few
minutes after o'clock the bishop, arrayed
in his purple robe, came upon the platform
accompanied by number of well-known
priests. He needed no introduction, as the
round of applause greeting his arrival plainly
indicated his popularity.
Drawing near to the footlights, and with q
look indicating the oarnestnoss of the
thoughts within him aud the grandeur of tho
theme to be spoken of, he began in clear
tone to take his audience upon an imaginary
journey to the land Of the Orient. He knew,
said he, the desire in every heart was to visit
the Holy land. 1t was desire filled with
reverence, and by Gods grace and power, in
his feoble way, lie would lead them on such
u journey. Leaving New York on the fifth
of April he landed in Marseilles on May 2
following, and then by steamer to the city of
Alexandria on Wednesday, May Q, whore he
remained for three days. A birds eye view
was given of the place made noted by recent
events. Uo spoke of tho devastation occa-
stoned by the bombardment of tho English,
followed by the burning of tho city by the
Arabs. Orientalism was seen on all sides.
Tho strange costumes, manners, and methods
of tho people were commented on. Tho
"bak-sheesh" beggars were on every side
Thence he went to Tyre, which was described
with minutest detail, alludiug to its Scrip
turc significance and Importance. Leaving
there they arrived at the pyramid of
Cheops which, with the Sphinx, was graph
ically pictured the one as the accomplishment
of mans vanity, the other as the genius of
the east, awaiting the light Of the Orient
At Alexandria he found the American consul
to be wealthy Hebrew who could not speak
4 word of English. He got the position for
the sake of getting into society After men-
tioning other cities aud events incident to
his journey, he and his companions reached
tho city of Jerusalem. Tho Franciscans,
whose guest he became, were kindly spoken
of. lie gave q history of their order. Every
pilgrim arriving at the Holy City becomes
their guest for two weeks, matters not what
his race or creed. The stories of tho turbu-
lonce of tho monks was to him like the fable
of tho lamb and the wolf.
The sacred spots in the city were pointed
out, and at great length. With fervid and
splendid eloquence he pictured his emotions
as he stood on the memorable and hallowed
places of his Masters earthly pilgrimage.
marked by temple, o church, and chapel.
Here, said he every one prays. 1t is a
city of prayer. man who enters its portals
without praying is despised, even by the
TURK. Daily could be seen tho devotions of
the Christian, the Armenian, the Copt, and
the Jew." lie was panied to speak of the
irreverencc of classes who did go there There
was q class who read Mark Twain, in
search of joke. and another class
who did not search for joke, but for
objects Of ridicule. He did not SEQ how such
could stand in holy places and with the
facts of centuries around him make light of
the sacredness before them. For a long
time his hearers listened to word painting
of the city of sacred memories, and as detail
after detail was given the panorama became
almost real. Leaving Jerusalem, Nazareth
was reached, which also received full do
scription and afterward he led his audience
to America-the land of his love.
During the lecture incidents wero men
toned occurring in the journey which occa-
stoned much laughter. The bishops health
seemed much improved. and his voice seemed
to be at its best, and for two hours or more
his audience was attentive to his eloquent
expressions of thought.