The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-12-21

sions Everywhere the ardor of the faith.
full has shown itself In upsetting and inn
proving things in n deplorablc manner
Passing through the narrow and crooked
street which cuts bethlehem into two
parts one finally reaches the extremity OF
tho burg and finds himself in an oblong
square, which in Its turn opens into an
esplanadc paved with stone here and there
showing openings into cisterns which
served for haptisms and for additions
among former generations of Christians.
In those days 1t was tho usage to wash be-
fore entering the sanctuary.
A curious scene is hero ON the very Dor
der of the place Of the Nativity On ono
side n burial ground with white tombs, ON
two other sides rows of bare, high walls,
like a fortress or prison. Here and there
windows pleree the walls, hut no doors.
One locks about him mystitlcd, but finally
discovers u hlnek hole In and out of which
people aro passing almost ON all fours, so
low is 1t. This is tho chief entry to tho
sanctuary of the Nativity. Having passed
through this hole, ono finds himself in
large hall divided hy four oolonnades and
surmeunted by roof thanked by heavy
beams People stand about talking and
smoking, ohildren play, Turkish soldiers
sew up their uniforms, women give suck
to their infants, falirs oifor oranges beads
and candies for salo while Greek and
Franciscan monks hurry about rs IL ON
business of pressing Importance. Former
ly, l am told, tho Arabs used to stable
their sheep hero.
But this is not tho stable where Jesus
was born, and one IL soma time in dlscoy-
cring IL. On tho loft two Turkish soldiers
with rifles are stretched lazily ON n bench
Ono a. aslnpu tho otbpr ynNype In, front
of them IA circular stairway goes down to
door which seems To indicate u crypt
The door passed, ono continues the descent
by u narrow staircase until he comes to
two othor Turkish soldiers. this time
standing up, with guns on the floor and
on tho left, lighted by hanging lamps, Is
tho following inscription: lie do Nirgine
Maria, Jesus Chriatus, Natus Est" there
Jesus Christ was horn of the Virgin
Nary. We are in the stable
This discovery is much of u surprise,
and ones first movement Is for protosta-
tion, for the simple reason that nothing
mt all llko IA stable is apparent. We are
In II grotto. 70 this objection tho reply Is
mado TINT In oldon times it was tho GUS
tom in Palestine To use grottos for stables.
AT night tho Christmas service in Beth
lohem begins at 10 O'Clock with pontif-
church near tho basilica The richest
vostments are worn for this office, these
having boon presented in the name of the
Froneh republic by Marcohal MnoMahon.
This first ceremony Ia concluded about
midnight, and thcna long procession with
candies In hand moves toward tho grotto
of tho Nativity. First comes tho cross
bearer followed hy Franciscan monks and
members of other religious bodies The
patriarch comes lust, and directly behind
him, Mt tho hoad of the lHymcn, walks tho
French consul with his attendants
Only those who proocde tho patriarch
carry candles, but that dignltary bears In
his hand with Infinite prccaution n beau
tiful littlo child In wax, which with sweet
smile seems almost ON tho point of crying
out Tho divine child rests in manger
on sllken cushions rose colored and en-
broidored with gold, At its fee. ARC cloths
of ilne lace, and under tho cushion stands
II straw bed, whose projecting thorns call
to mind tho memory of Christ 4 sufferlngs.
Tho oortogc, having traversed tho tran
sept of tho basilioa md descended into tho
fHo spot wh6fo tlio ohitd Jesus Was Born
Tho patriarch places tho manager and child
in tho hands of ono of his followers and
begins To chant tho story of the Nativity
as told by ~. Luke Ihen tho prelato
takes tho child again and, placing It upon
silver star, continues tho service with
notifications Of tho sacred text appropriate
to tho occasion and tho special surrognd-
inRs. AS tho prelato says the words which
tell how tho Holy Mother brought Into the
world her ilrstborn Son no takes the child
again, wraps II in flno laces and chants
And hero they wrapped 1t In clothes. F"
Then ho walks TO tho marble manager
and places In 1t the imago of tho newborn
child, at tho Same time chanting the
words:
And hero they laid IL In manger be-
cause there was no place for Thorn at tho
inns.
This service often lasts until 2 o'clock
in the morning and Is finished by "a ITO
Doum" and God Save tho Republic"
All Bethlehem watches this night, and
the peoplo--men, women and children
remain until day breaks with lighted can
dies In their hands in tho noRhborhood of
tho basllica. Everywhere one hears cries
of joy and brcathos tho fragrance Of In
oenso. Tho festivities become moro and
more animated as tho hours wear away,
and 1t would be difficult TO estimate tho
quantity of candies and hard boiled eggs
which aro doyoured by tho participants
during tho night,--New York Herald.