Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08
TRE aoLY LARD.
Lie n Modern PaIestine---Ruias Of
the Synagogue Al capumaum
Where Christ Taught and
Wrought Miracles.

HaIpA, January 21.-Perhaps the most
;nterestinr soot in the world to those deep
" under the influence Of that charm which
association lends 70 places hallowed BY the
mipistrations of the Founder Of Christian
ity ia 70 be found in q desert rock strewn
promontory on the northwest shore OF the
Lake of Tiberias; for among these piles OF
hevn blocks of black basslt stu remains
the ruins of great synagogue, within
whose walls, the foundations of which may
stiil be distinctly traced, were collected the
multitudes who Hocked TO hear the
teaching of Christ. While modern
tourists resort in crowds to Jerusalem
to visit the mythical sites which
are supposed upon the vague basis OF &C.
clesiasti:al tradition, to be identified with
episodes in the life of the great Teacher,
scarcely one ever finds his way to this re
mote locality lying Just out of the beaten
track along which Cook leads his herds OF
sightseers; and yet it is probable that the
greater part of that period in the life OF
Christ. the record Of which is contained in
the four Gospels, was spent at Capernaum,
which the most careful investigation, by the
highest authorities in such matters, has
identified with these ruins OF Tell Hum,
amid which was Just now standing Here
il was that Christ cured Peters mother-in-
law, restored the paralytic, called Matthew,
cured the centurion's servant, raised Jairus's
daughter from the dead, and obtained
the tribute of money from the
mouth of fish. 1t was here that he
spoke the parallels Of the sower, the tares,
the treasure hid in the field, the merchant
seeking goodly pearls, and the net cast into
the sea. Sir Charles Wilson, whose searches
on this spot led him to identify it as being
the site OF the city of Capernaum, believes
this synagogue was, without doubt, the one
built by the Roman centurion Luke vii, 81,
and, therefore, one of the most sacred spots
on earth" 1t was in this building, if that
be the case, that the we'll known discourse
contained in the sixth chapter of John was
delivered; and it was not without strange
feeling, says the same explorer, that on
turning over a large block we found the
not of mama engraved on its face, and re-
membered the words i am that bread OF
life. Your fathers did eat mamma in the
wilderness and are dead }"
This very synagogue was probably the
scene of the healing of the demonlac and
Of the delivery of many Of those divine lee.
lures on faith, humility, brotherly love, and
formality in worship, as we read at the end
of one of them: These things said he in
the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum."
Perhaps it was in the little creek where
boat was now riding St anchor only a few
feet from the shore, that Christ taught the
people from the boat so as to avoid the
crush OF the multitude. 1t was doubtless in
one of these inlets that James the son OF
Zebedee ard John, his brother, we're mend
ing their nets when, being called, they left
their ship end followed Him; and it was on
this coast that Andrew and Peter were cast
ing their nets when they were summoned
% become fishers Of men. 1t has higher
claim to be called the birthplace of the re-
igion which has since revolutionized the
world than any other spot upon it; and it is
a matter of some surpriseto me that neither
the Greek nor the Roman Catholic churches,
in their zeal to discover holy places, which
may serve as levers for political intrigue
have yet thought of occupying this one,
which would seem the hottest of all. Per
hsps it would lead to comparison between
their practice, and the teachings of which
it was the scene, which might give rise to
some inconvenient reflections.
Apart from their associations the ruins
themselves are not particularly striking
They cover an area of about half mile 10
length BY q quarter in breadth, and consist
chiefly of the black blocks of bassltic stone
which formed the walls Of the houses The
traces of the synagogue however, remain
sufficiently Tor the building to be planned.
Built of white limestone blocks, it must have
formed conspicuous object amid the black
basslt By which it was surrounded. 1t was
IS feet By 81, built north and south, and at
The southern end had three entrances.
Many Of the columns and capitals have been
carried away, but enough still remain to
convey some idea of the general plan and
aspect of the building. The capitals are
of the Corinthian order, and there were
cpistylia that rested upon the columns and
probably supported wooden rafters. There
are also remains Of heavy cornice and
frieze. The exterior was probably dedor.
ated with attached pilasters.
Two miles north Of Capernsum are the
ruins Of Chorazin. There is no difficulty
in identifying the site, which may be deter
mined partly by the itineraries Of early
travellers and partly by the similarity Of the
modern name, Kirazeh. The path TO them
leads up the sloping rocky hillside, but
owning TO the peculiar character OF the
r ssonry, which is barelyto be distinguished
t ore hundred yards from the rocks which
surround it, the extent and importance OF
hese ruins have been overlooked until quite
recently. They cover an area as large as,
not larger than, those OF Capernaum, aud
are situated partly in a shallow valley part
OH rocky spur formed BY a sharp bend
the Wsdy Kirahez, where there is a
Wild gorge eighty feet deep.
From this spot there is q
beautiful view of the Lake of Tiberias to
:ts southern end; ard here, too, are gathered
the most interesting ruins-a synagogue
with Corinthian capitals and nicheheads
cut, not as at Cspernaum in limestone, but
in hard black basalt. The dimensions of
this building are about the same as those
of the one at Cspernaum, but the interior
is mass Of ruins. Two pedestals still re-
main in stu, and portion OF the wall. The
characteristic OF this synagogue is an ex-
cess of ornamentation Of rather a debased
klnu. Inc ulCue6 are mOSt eldUOEdJe, duu
remain as sharp as when they were cut in
the hard material used. The mouldings of
the door posts are similar to those used in
other synsgogues, and there are many
stones cut with deep mouldingS and pieces
of classical cornices strewn among the
ruins.
Many Of the dwelling houses are in a
tolerably perfect state, the walls being in
some cases six feet high; and. as they are
probably of the same class Of houses as that
in which Christ dwelt, description of them
may be interesting. They are generally
square, OF different sizes, the largest, how
ever, not over thirty feet square, and have
one or two columns down the center to sup
port the roof, which appears to have been
fat, as in the modern Arab houses. The
II ~ l,.I e