The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-10-01
BETuLnHEM or JUDEA.
Rev. James w. Lees Lecture ut st.
Johns church Recently.

Rev. James w. Lees Lecture at st.
Johns church Recently.
From The St Louis Republic.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though
thou be little among the thousands OF Ju'
dab. yet out of thee shall he come forth
unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose
goines forth have been from of Old from
everiasting"-M V, Q
on Monday morning, April 81, III COM
pany with our dragoman we passed out
through the Joppa gate to visit Bethlehem
This road is travelled more, perhaps, than
any other entering Jerusalem, except the
| one from Joppa. A horseback ride from
Jerusalem in any direction is always IN
teresting. one meets people in all varieties
OF dress, sometimes walking, sometimes on
donkeys camels. sometimes sitting by
the roadside. They move quietly and lelS-
urely though they had plenty of time.
Bethlehem is about two hours ride from
Jerusalem. or about six miles. The walls
Rehoboam built around the town are gone.
Near it, however, is still to be seen the
tomb of Rachel where Jacob buried by the
roadside the lover of his early manhood,
the woman he married i'm Mesopotamia, and
who had shared with him the hardshps of
the journey from Ur of the Chaldees. Jacob
speaks with much tenderness Of Rachel:
And as for me when / came from Padan,
Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan
in the way. when yet there was but a lit
tie way 10 come unto Ephratah; and / bur-
led her there in the way of Ephratah; the
same is Bethlehem. Genesis Xviii, Z. This
SPOT was marked ia the most ancient times
10y twelve rude stones, corresponding TO the
twelve tribes Of Israel. The mon Iment
now above Rachcl's tomb was repaired ana
made beautiful by the liberality OF the late
Sir Moses Moute.iore, Of London Chris
tlans, jews and Mohammedans all unite in
generating the burial place of the mother
of Israel, and Or. Wilson says no doubt has
ever been raised respecting the grave. If
this be true, this tomb is an exception to
the rule. For many travellers 20 to Palestine
seemingly with no other purpose than to
raise doubts about every spot and monu-
ment. This disposition TO raise suspicion
about every holy site in Palestine is not
any sign OF depth OF nature, but of a shall
low, mechanical skepticism to be discount
cd and ignored. Bethlehem is an attract
ike, picturesque town. ii contains now
about $500 Inhabitants nearly all Chris
tians. 1T is the most thrifty place
in Palestine. The houses are well
built OF stone, and look perhaps,
very much as they did IN the time OF
David. II stands upon a hill running east
ami west ana both sides of this hill are
terraced all the way 10 the top and set in
liz trees, olive trees and vines. Scarlet
peppers. wild tulips and anemones stand
everywhere on the ground and give TO the
SUR bllll4lfS nillS Il luminous ana festive
appearance.
Bethlehem is one Of the Oldest cities of
Palestine, and its name means the house
of bread" 1t is about a mile long, from
east 10 west. The view from the highest
place in the town is very fine. To the
north is Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.
To the east is the Dead sea and beyond the
mountains of Moab. TO the south lie the
rich fields connected with the beautiful
idyl of Boaz and Ruth. To the west roll
ever the deep, blue waters of the Medi-
terranean sea. 1t seemed TO be distinctly
understood that the Messiah was to be born
in bethlehem. When Herod convened the
Sanhedrim after the visit of the wise men,
to find out whore the Messiah should be
born. they replied. I'm Bethlehem, for so it
is written
King David was born here, and here he
was anointed king. 1t was because this
was the city of David that Mary and
Joseph were here when our Savior was
born. 4 decree had gone forth from Au-
gustus Caesar, at Rome, that all the world
under the dominion of Rome should be
taxed. But before the taxing it was neces-
sary that the names Of all the people
should De enrolled. 4 messenger therefore,
had gone over Palestine proclaiming from
every hilltop and housetop the following:
"Go ye up every man unto his own natal
city, there to be enrolled. II IS the COM
manu OF Caesar" SO the scriptures say:
And all went TO enroll themselves every
one 10 his own city, and Joseph went also
up from Galilee, out of the City of NaZa-
rcIh, into Judea, the City of David which
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the
house and lineage of Davd-to enroll him
self. with Mary, his espoused wife, being
great with hid'-Luke il. Is The Church
of the Nativity, the oldest Christian church
in the world, is said TO stand upon the site
OF the mn where Joseph and Mary lodged
when our Savior was born. This church
is owned in common by the Latins. the
Greeks and the ArmenianS. Around it these
different denominations have converts and
schools. The shrine, which gives meaning
ana significance to all these buildings, is
IN the chapel of the Nativity. II is semi
circular, and lighted day and night by ff-
teen silver lamps. In its floor is silver
star, marking the spot over which the star
of the East is supposed to have once
rested Here, I'm Latin, is written the fol-
lowing: Here Jesus Christ was born in the
Virgin Mary" Pilgrims from all over the
world are drawn to this sacred spot. One
who can stand and them kneel to kiss
the silver star. without being moved to
tears is harder and more stupid than the
average mortal. Origen, at the beginning
of the third century, speaks of this place
as being universally regarded, not only by
Christians but by the heather also, as the
birthplace OF Christ.