The Dickinson press., 1896-12-26
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ger tenIerly over the scenes 80 full OF
sacred associations. Bethlehem, or
Bait Lahm. as 1t is called in the Arabic.
tongue. is most often approached from
the Jerusalem road, extending from the
famous Jaffa gate Of Jerusalem south
to Bethlehem, II distance Of six miles.
The guide calls attention to that
huge stone pile so conspicuous in its
location on the eastern extremity of
the ridge and separated from the
crowded village by an open esplanatle.
THE Church of st. Mary or of the Ma
tivity." he says, and as he gives this in
formation all tongues are silenccd for
the moment and all hearts are filled
with awe. The Church of the Nativity
stands directly over the traditional site
of the manager, hut it is connected with
three converts. being respectively
Latin. Greek and Armenian, the group
resembling a large feudal castle. 10
the left and east Of the church lies the
field or valley where shepherds were
night. and 10, the angel of the Lord
came upon them ana the glory of tho
Lord ShOne round about them and they
We're sore afraid"
The people Of Bethlehem number
3.WN, and are generally p,ufessul
Christians. AS one makes all these oh
Servations and learns these facts from
Il native. perhaps lie lives his life with
them for a short span; hut he has not
forgotten the center of all interest in
Bethlehem. the Church Of the Nativity.
AMI now. as lie is slowly nearing that
Mecca Of all Christians. he studies it
with greater care. He sees before him
and to the west IL square-loOking struc-
ture of impressive appearance, hut
seeming more like a fortress or Il pris-
on than a sanctuary. He is struck by
the great strength Of the building all
Joining. as well as the church itself,
the thickness of the walls-wlich he
afterwards learns is ten feat-the conf
par,tively small proportions Of tho
door and The lack of exterior windows.
There are windows opening into an in
terror court. Trustworthy tradition as
SeriS that this church was erected III
the sixth century. by Constantine, who
was Influenced by his mother. st. Hele-
hi. hut it has been renewed many times
since. 1t is the oldest place erected
for Christian worship in the world.
The body of the church is nearly
square, being 100 feet long by 40 wide,
and IS entered from the west. AS an
ordinary person r,sSes through the
archway of stone barely four feet in
height. he is obliged to stoop.
Ones first impression on entering is
one Of disappointment Before him is
a long bare aisle or nave Nhrty-four
feet wide and terminated by Il parti-
ton, which divides the nave from the
transept, with a double row Of Corin-
THAN columns OH either side, having
aisles each twenty-five feet wide. on
the outer sides Of these columns. Many
of these columns are made from solid
blocks of marble. and were taken from
King SOlOmon's temple ut Jerusalem.
The ceiling of this part of the church is
hf cedar wood from Lebanon. hut many
Of the beams have been replaced by
oak. Above the partition, at the east
eln extremity Of the nave is visible the
upper part of the altar of the Church
Of the Nativity, which we can see by
passing through the single door Of the
partition and mounting two steps, the
choir being slightly higher than the
nave. Once inside. a far different and
more dazzling vision meets the eye.
Opposite the door is the altar, which is
elegant. The decoration throughout
tlie choir is elaborate, and lamps of
immense value are suspended from the
ceiling. These lamps are chiefly gifts
Of distinguished folkkings and queens
from various parts of the world. This
space is mainly in the hands Of the
Greeks. who have here erected I'M altar,
pulpit and a throne. The altar stands
III the center Of the choir. showing in II
niche under 1t n white marble STAR
over which the star Of the wise men
stood In the heavens. The !Arlnpnians
also have an altar here.
From the transcpt various passages
lead to the different converts. Under
this altar is the Cave of the Nativity
which is reached from both sides Of
the choir by flights of broad and beau
tlful steps. AS one descends he is daZ-
zlt.l by the multiplicity of beautiful
anu expensive lamps. which hang in Il
row along the whole length of the cave
the great variety Of treasures brought
here from the four quarters OF the
globc. the decoration everywhere pres
ent, and he naturally thinks of the
contrast between the cave Of eighteen
hundred years ago and of to-day The
cave, as 1t is now, is forty feet long
from west to east, twelve feet broad
and ten feet high. and is paved with
brick and retl-veincd marble But not
until ones eye discovers the grotto at
the farther end of the cave does the
full realization OF his surroundings
burst upon him. He walks eagerly to
the eastern side, and there. in a round
ca niche. before him. is the traditional
sight of the manger. The niche is
eight feet wide and four feet broad and
the pavement. which is few feet high
er than the floor of the cave, is formed
OF marble slabs on which there is "A sill.
yer star inlaid with precious stones.
Ihe Inscription which runs along the
edge 8: "Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus
Christus natus est
Fifteen lamps, always burning. are
suspended in the recess and one Of the
sultan's soldiers stands constantly on
guard. South from this spot in cor
ner Is small. separate cave. three
steps lower. and in this stands another
altar of the manager but as the wooden
manger, which was exhibited in earlier
times. was taken to Rome in 1856 by
Pope Sixtus ". very little interest at
taches now. even on ground of an
tiquity, to the crib Of colored marble
shown here. a printing of The Ado
ration Of the Shepherds" which covers
the rock behind, is Of greater interest.
Five silver lamps swing before this
also. Opposite is the ALTAR of the
Manger,' with another painting. 1t
throws additional distrust on the relia-
bility of these traditions that door
from the main cave opens into long,
crooked, rough opening in which are
various affairs In natural or artificial
recesses. There is one for St Joseph
and one for the Innocents. under whose
altar is square latticed window
which is said to lead to q cave where
are buried the bones of the slaughtered
babes. Also one for Eusobius of Gre,
mona. who lies there; and jn the caYe