Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25

The Town IL Already En- Fetc over
the Approaching Day of Nativity.


This is n great season in Bethlehem.
The picturesque old town where Christ
was born never forgets 10 90 honor to
the Saviour OF mankind as surely as the
year rolls around.
To this place. as the followers OF Ma
homet flock 10 Mecca, the followers or
Christ come annually on the day OF His
nativity Here they kneel and pray and
spend the time I'm holy meditation.
Pllgrimagcs are also made TO srotto
near the Church OF tho Nativity. which W
supposed TO be the site OF the palace OF
Justice where innumerahle oildren were
slain by order Of King Herod.
These pilgrimages ara not lightly UNDER
taken They began several weeks ago,
and even now the 600 Inhabitants OF
Bethlehem are enjoying a long, happy
festival. Many are the banques, the
social visits, and the joyous betrottals.
After the carnival there Is n fast. during
which there Is no self-gloriicaticn, nc
pamror'g OF the flesh. or love-makine.
Al "a OF the fast, which will close
next Is, the Christmas ceremonies VIII
take place.
on Cnristmas-Eve the Christians IN
Jerusalem will gather together, and fock
out OF the city with their faces set Tor
the Church or the Nativity, in Bethlehem.
They will march down through the Naiiey
OF Coin the old boundary between Benja-
min and Judah. They will see. as thsy
pass, the tree on which the traitor Judas
is said to have hanged himself and tho
well out of which he wise men drew
water after they had left Hercd.
Within their view will also be the Con-
vent Of Elijah, erected on the spot where
the prophet rested during his flight from
Jezebel As they come to the END OF their
march the people OF Bethlehem will come
out 10 meet them, and then, preceded by
| gayly-attired wand bearing heralds and
followed by an immense throng OF men,
women, and children, they viii march To-
| ward the Church OF the Nativity, the
Oldest monument Of Christian architec-
! ture In the world.
There mass will be celebrated while
| armed Turkish soldiers In full uniform OF
red fezzes blue Jackets, and bagsy trou-
sers stand on guard beside the altar and
| around the brilliant silver star. where
| Christ Is supposed to have lain In the
| manger.
This star CLEANS up from the pavement.
and IS the most conspicuous object IN the
| grotto lamps. the figures OF many
saints and other ornaments are In this
grotto. and IN one corner are lamps which
are always kept burning.
GUARDED BY SOLDIERS.
Close by this altar are the manger and
another altar. on which the wise men arc
said to have presented their gifts TO
Christ. All these objects are considered
OF inestimable value by the members OF
the different Church sects, and were II
not for the presence Of the Turkish SOL
diers It is more than likely that disputes
would arise as to the right OF proprietor
ship.
With this visit and mass in the grottc
| the Chr,stmas-Eve ceremonies end. Or
Christmas-Day the regular Roman Catho
lie service Will be Hold in the sans
church. and the remainder of the day
will be spent in merrymaking.
During the evening friends VIII vist
each other and exchange courtesies. tn
spirit OF peace and Joy Will brood over tn
old town. and when the ceremonies en'
the Christians OF Bethlenem may say U
them selves: Verify, for US as for -
many generations OF our ancestors, thi
has been happy season
During the visiting period an abundanc
OF coffee sweetmeats. and tobacco. VII
be consumed. and many youns men an
maids who become betrothed before IA
fast will be Joined IN the bonds OF matr'
; mony. Cymbals are favorite instrument
in the East, and their music Il neye
louder than during Christmas week
i Bethlehem.
With such music the pilgrims are We
: coined and the same music Is heard con
tinually as long as the ceremonies las
The Turkish soldiers who guard the hol
I relics during the ceremonies are not met
figureheads. That the members or th
various Christian sects I'm the East al
3 not over friendly 10 each other Is we
, known and the soldiers are considere
absolutely essential to guard against a
. outbreak OF fanaticism.
, The trouble lies in the fact that eac
sect claims possession OF tho holy places
and naturally regards any other sec
. which worships in them an interlope
Thanks. however. TO the vigilance or III
soldiers and the other authorities. n
; serious outbreaks have ever arisen a
! this season, and as the years pass ther
are many indications that an amicabl
q understanding will be finally arrived a