The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-06-09
HELIOPOLIS.
Rey, Mr.. Patton Gave Another In
teresting Lecture.

L
Patton lecture The following is sy-
nopsis of it:
Heiopolis lies five miles north east
/ of modern Cairo. The Khedive has
built to it one of the most beautiful
macademized roads in the world 1t
runs through unbroken wheat fields
and clover fields. At the time we drove
over this Kings highway the plains
were like rich carpet; the flowers
were blooming their sweetest; the
shadows of evening were falling about
us; the beauty and solemnity of the
| hour had hushed us into silence.
| Passing the marble palace OF the
| Khedive, we were soon halted in front
of an iron gate. Lifting the latch, the
gate swung round upon its big hinges,
admitting us into a beautiful garden,
kept by an old Copt. Passing down a
gravel walk we soon came to the famous
"virgin tree" Tradition tells us it
was under this tree that Mary and the
child rested after their flight into
Egypt The tree is a magnificent syca-
more. We could not resist the tempta-
tion Of climbing up into its branches
and stealing lock from its hoary head
Hard by this holy tree is the ''virgin's
WE'LL" Tradition says in its waters the
Holy Child was bathed. Formerly the
balsam shrub Called in the Bible the
"Balm of Gilead'O grew about this
well. There is an old legend which
tells us that these precious shrubs
sprang from the drops Of water which
fell from the swaddling clothes of the
infant Jesus, which had been washed
in the we'll We could not believe
these traditions, and yet they awoke
the thoughts in our mind that some
where along the Nile, Joseph and Mary
journeyed with the infant Christ.
Getting into our carriages we drove
on one mile, where we reached the
coveted spot. Walking down wind
ing foot path we were led quite up to
the base of an ancient Obelisk, and as
soon as our eyes fell upon this granite
shaft we said, this is Heliopolis There
were originally five of these pillars !;
four have been removed. One stands
in the Hippodrome at Constantinople,
one in front of St. Johns Lateran
church at Rome, another in London on
the banks of the Thames, and another
in Central Park, New York. Only one
is left to mark the site of this ancient
city.
Standing beside this companionless
pillar we were reminded that this was
not only Heliopolis, but Goshen Co
shen was the land assigned Jacob by
that old Pharaoh, Amen-hoteps "
1t was here the white tents of Israel
were pitched, and over these fertile
plains their tlocks had fed 1t was here
Jacob lay down IA sick man in his tent,
and reaching out one hand upon the
head of Ephriam and the other upon
the head of Manasseh, he blessed them
Along these rich plains once stood the
, brick kilns of Egypt. But these events
are gone. The two and half millions
| of people that once groaned under their
| burdens in this land of Goshen have all
marched out upon the plains of eternity
and yet we were conscious that the
same sky that was then overshadowing
us was the very sky that covered them
As we fingered by this shaft we were
reminded of another fact: That here
| once stood the great University of
Egypt, that taught geometry, trigo-
nometry, astronomy, poetry, music,
literature, law, medicine and philoso-
ply. Thales, Scion and Pathagorus
were among the famous scholars to at
tend this university. 1t was here Plato
took his postgraduate course 1t was
here Moses was sent to school by the
kings daughter, and brought up in all
the wisdom of Egypt. But this great
institution is gone the voice of her in
struction is dumb. The fellownes' pillow
drawn by the stubborn OK, goes scrap
ing along over the ground where once
stood her massive walls.
The fabulous bird, called the Phoenix
had its origin in Heliopolis. The story
is that an Arabian bird of beautiful
plumage came every five hundred years
to Heliopolis. 1t would build its nest
of twigs and straws of dryest texture,
and then by some strange mysterious
process would kindle the nest into
flames, consuming the bird in its own
habitation. But presently out of the
ashes there would rise new Phoenix.
and spreading its wings of gold would
fly back across the desert to its I'M
known home. No doubt the ancients
used this allegory to set forth their
vague idea of the immortality of the
soul
Standing by this granite shaft, we
this was the home of Poti Pherah, the
priest of On. This priest had Il daugh-
ter; her name was Asenath she must
have been beautiful, for this is the
woman who stole the heart of Joseph
They met, they loved ;and on one beau
tiful morning in Heliopolis they were
married. From this union there came
two boys into the home-Ephraim and
Mamsseh-who carried away the rich
benediction of dying grandfather.
We cannot begin to describe our
emotion as we stood by the side of this
venerable father of obelisks. The sun
had just gone down behind the sand
hills of Sahara the twilight OF \ fad
ing day was playing amid the hero
glyphics which some hand had cut on
this granite shaft of n dead Pharoah
The temple spring, but few rods
away, was sending its waters along Il
gurgling rill, vocal with its sacred
memories; far over the plains we could
see the ancient head of Cheops banking
up against the sky and the moon with
her soft light falling against the pillar
WnS sending n shadow for ont inf tho