The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-05
HIS FIVE YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE.
Rev DIR u. =. Kerr Delivers an Interest
ing Lecture on Palestine

In the morning DR.. Kerr preached TO
an audience that filled the house on the
subject of Healing and Service"
Text, ST. Matthew, viii, l5-"And the
feve' left her and she afose and min
istered unto them"
Al night Or. Kerr delivered lis in
troductory lecture. the first Of s,r.es
of lectures on Palestine. o. Rominis-
cences of Places Connected with the Life
of Christ The topic Of The first lee
ture was THE Land and the Joid."
He showed that the geogrlqny of the
Holy Land is marked with the
sign of the cross by two val
leys running the entire length and
breadth of the country, crossing
each other at the foot of the Sea Of
Galiec. The foot OF the cross Ies in
the Dead Sea- and its head rests among
the fountains and flowers AZ me root
Of Mt. Herm0n. while its arms stretch
out east and west. as II 40 embrace
the world.
Palestine was the most suitable Tlace
On earth for the development If the
universal religion. 10 was central
among the great nations cf nntiIIty.
and tae crossing place II most II the
paths Of ancient con mtrce. At the
same time it was separated from them
all by barriers which rendered II easy OF
south ana east are deserts; on The west
the great sea: and on he rortn TIE
double walls of the Lebanon and anti
Lebanon mountains.
But the people became enervatel ~
idolatry. and. furnishing an easy prey
40 their enemies, their land became the
BATTLE-GROUND OF thr naf'Ols. Assylians.
Egyptians, Greeks, Romans. Turks. and
Crusaders fought I'm its plains. as
f.ff Of frr4..
and DO other portion Of the world has,
perhaps. been bathed in so much human
blood as this devoted land.
Palestine contains all kinds Of scenery
mountain, valley. plain. lake. desert,
river and sea. by it's elevations ana
depressions above and below the level OF
the sea. 81 becomes pOssessOr of ali
habitable climates and OF the Negeta-
ton of every country. Here are found
fhe products Of the tropics and OF the
tcmperato zones. Thus. a vast popu-
lation could be sustained. and the nat
ural setting of the story Of redemption
Is Ineligible 10 all races.
Under the blightng occupancy OF the
Turk. its glories have nearly all iaaen'
hut the flowers remain. and IN the spring
can be seen here the most gorgeous
display of floral loveliness of any couh-
try The prevailing color Is seatle''
which. in contrast Win ''v -.
mountains. has suggested the name VI
the "Saviour's blood-drops.'
Palestine contains no monuments leit
by the Israelitish race 10 Illustrate 'he
manners and customs OF the distant
past, but the people Of the country hve
today very much as they did two MIL
leniums ago. and sitting down anywhere
in the land. the traveller may read MS
bible IN the midst Of about the same
sights and sounds as those in the midst
~ which IL was written. This iand
has lived through the centuries I'M
chapoed I'm the customs Of its inhabitants.
ond Shows to-day the environments OF
the story Of. redemption and the lie
Of Christ.
,.,ce beautifully rendered 10y the choir
,,nder the direction OF Professor N.
Bowditch Clapp.
great congregation, containing rep
resentatives from various denominations
was present TO hear this Introductory
lecture. The subject OF the lecture TOT
next Sunday night will be "a VISIT 10
Bethlehem"