Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-11

One OF the most interesting ana sug"
gestive q recent projects is that OF
railroad to run from Jatfa to Jerusa-
lem and thence TO Bethlehem. The en-
terprise is "A purely commercial one'
without trace OF sentiment or relig-
ion. Certain English and French spec
ulators propose 10 make money by
shortening the journey OF the numer-
Gus tourists who visit the Holy Land
every year, and by providing modern
cOnvenicnces OF travel where they are
now utterly wanting. The idea is log
ical and attractive from business
point OF view, it must be confessed.
One can readily understand how the
proposed railroad may be made 70
yield good dividends. And yet the
thought OF such an invasion OF that sa-
cred corner Of the world Is not pleas
ant. To fancy u locomotive thunder
ing through the valley OF Jehosaphat,
past the tombs of the kings in the
shadow of the mountains OF Moab, is
to feel an impulse OF protest against a
thing so foreign TO those scenes and
their familiar associations. 1t seems
in a measure to imply sacrilcge, SO
long has the spirit OF romance, the at
mosphere of sleep and dreams, pervad-
ed the country and all Of its interests.
The average heart can not easily dis
card the impression that the locality Is
consecrated one, which should be
forever exempt from alien and compro-
missing influences.
There cannot be any romance or SOL
emnity where the railroad goes, OF
course. 1t is, Of all ere tive agencies,
the most iconoclastic and utilitarian.
The philosophy of its existence does
not afford any room for sentimental
considerations. Ii is Needless of all
those facts and traditions which make
the Holy Land remarkable and
precious. In its theory Of things, Pal
estine is only a tract of territory II, 600
square miles in extent-not quite SO
large as Maryland-which presents a
certain amount of passenger traffic,
worth given number of dollars at
Gould r-tes with the customary reduc-
ton for excursions. The pool OF Sloan
is to it simply good place for tank
and nothing more. It's conception OF
the Garden OF Gethsemane is only that
OF a convenient location for a depot or
round house; the Mount OF Olives is
but an obstruction which involves diff
culties in grading; and Calvary. taxi
ing the latest and best conclusion as TO
the true site thereof, is merely hind
erance to switching facilities in the
vicinity OF Damascus gate. The Jordan
means to it only the necessity OF
bridge, with trestle approaches. Its
interest in the Dead sea, where Sodom
and Gonforrah are supposed to have
stood, is confined TO the fact that a
branch line of eighteen miles will car
ny tourists there from Jerusalem; and
Bethany. Jericho, Gilg |, and other
noted intervening places are only so
many names to be placed on its time
cards.
The matter has a still deeper mean
ing. however, than that which relates
to the coming removal of the spell OF
romance under which the Holy Land
has brooded ever since the present
population Of the world can remember.
1t conveys lesson Of serious and prac-
teal import. which the clergy in par
ticular should not fail TO heed. There
are miracles now that have quite as
much significance as those which came
10 pass in olden times; and the contin-
ued potency OF Christianity depends
very largely upon a correct under
standing and a proper treatment Of
them. The progress OF civilization
mas introduced new forces which can
not be dealt with according TO old
fashions. 1t will not do TO ignore the
revelations of science and the con-
quests OF industry and capital which
have wrought so many changes in the
world, spiritual as well as material,
during this century Of unexampled ac-
tivity and accomplishment. The
church is in duty bound to adapt itself
TO these changed conditions. 1t cannot
otherwise hope to maintain its SUI
premacy and duly perform its mission.
The railroad from Jaifa to Jerusalem
and Bethlehem is typical in its way of
general tendency of thought and
feeling which calls most urgently for
improved religious methods and appli-
ances. 1t is a question OF substituting
the teachings of experience for tho
precedents Of former and very differ
ent period. The test OF merit in re-
ligion. as in everything else. is success:
and success of the right sort is TO be
achieved only by placing the means in
strict line with the desired ends. st.
Louis Globe-Democrat.