The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-25
Bethlehem.
The Place OF the Nativity.
nv PRIV cnoRGE H. RAY, ID. ID.

BY REV. GEORGE II. RAY u ~
bethlehem is situated four or five miles
south, or a little west of south from
Jerusalem A beautiful causeway leads
to 1t from the latter place.
There IS a gradual ascent for two miles'
till you reach the shseptower place
where some Leyite shepnedrs used 70
watch the flocks in which were pfed
and kept the lamas for the temple SER
vice. II may have been these shepherds
that saw the sudden light shine in splen-
dor and first heard Messiahs noted song.
From this point this lovely macadamized
road that leads as far as Hebron, makes
a descent to the Bethlehem. You pass
Eachaers tomb on the line between Judah
and Benjamin-and through the valley
OF Rephaim-where was fought IL Abra-
hams day the battle of the kings and
where David defeated the Phlllistines
Tne cultivation Of the SOIL here
seems better than in other parts Of Pal
istine. Viewed from the plains, Bethle-
hem makes an imposing appearance
built as Il is on a hillside eminence. The
fields and hills are terraced and the cul-
tivation is like as in the days of Boaz
on these TERRACES besides the grain for
bread, the grape, the fig the olive and
citrOn still grow I'm abundant yield, and
the boys of city of David are said TO be
the most stalwart and best looking ur
chins of Palestine The church of tie
Nativity was built somewhere between
the year 300 and 1885, A. D., by COnstan-
tine the great who erected the structure
either as u matter OF policy, or in devout
sincerity You recall the legend, that
he saw I'm the sky, on a glowing cross
the brighter words "in hoe signo vinces."
He may have used what he regarded
the superstition Of his subjects to c'iLauce
his powers over them. We may iuT pose
that as an expression Of gratitude for
success in battle, or a decll-ltlln of his
faith in the son Of God La buils this
church over the grotto whore Jesus was
born. In Palestine we also have the
grave marked by the IN l.c1 Il the Hoy
Sepulchre. 1t is by no 1aans C tain
that this the spot OF the burial. or the
new tomb Of Joseph: but there Is almost
absolute certainty that this is the spot
OF the birth of Jesus. The heather be-
lieved it-Hadrianus-an impious prince
and a shrewd Emperor Of Rome beliey-
cd it.
He caused n grove TO be planted near
and tsmple to be erected over the cave
which he dedicated TO Adonis the tabled
lover OF Venus about the year 100 A. d.
He did not embrace Christianity as did
Constantine. nearly 200 years later: but
he did think Jesus a brilliant and virtu-
Gus man. Justin Martyr, whose genera
ton over Tapped that Of ST. John, and
who had opportunity TO talk with rim
and with children of the contemporaries
Of the Christ. believed Il. and st. Jerome
who lived IN a neighboring cave to make
study of this very question believed IT,
The Church Of the Holy Sepulchre near
Jerusalem and that of the Nativity at
Bethlehem. were both built almost sim
ultanously by Constantine about 325 A.
ID. We have no record of doubt as to the
grotto OF the Nativity. There is doubt
about the other. 1t is said TO have been
in honor OF Helena, mother OF Constan-
tine who personally following a dream
discovered the cross on which Jesus was
crucihed. She Is said 10 have identified
IL for she found the other two crosses
also) by having A sick woman touch It
who was healed by the touch.
Constantine pondered To what he con-
sidered the superstitons of his people 10
Increase his power: was possibly char
atan in religion as in politics. When all
Europe was moved by the eloquence or
Peter the Hermit, and thousands of cru
saders rushed 70 the rescue of the Holy
Land from the dominion of the Saracens
in the eleventh century, they found this
church In state of dilapidation and re-
modelled IL.
The old rafters, blackened by the CEN
.urles since a. ID. 325. and the red stone
pillars, which support them. and a few
mosaics. are all that is left of that an
cient church Of simple architecture. II Is
kept I'm repair now by France. The IN
sigma and names Of knighthood on those
rock columns are wearing away by the
touch Of the centuries. For nearly loco |
ha In ha
lechoed within these walls, and organ
and pipe and harp. and voices Of choirs. |
and the murmured chant OF the multitude |
OF people on Christmas day. all repeating !
the song OF the angels. are heard again |
and again as the years pass by. II is |
day Of pageantry, a day OF excitement |
IL is the annual whirl of Bethlehem. The |
bishops, the clergy gowned and aj.tired in |
costliest costumes are there leading a |
great multitude on these weird services |
But the day IS past; the multitudes have |
Slowly retired the thundertoned organ |
is still: the murmur OF voices Is huShed. |
You are alone as the twilight gathers in, |
save a sacristOn, who, with lamp In hand |
guides you down the thirteen steps 10 /
the grotto. where Christ was born.
The antique Khan of two thousand |
years ago. that stood to the right OF the
mouth OF the cave, whose hospitable |
halls. were so crowded that there was no
room for Mary, the mother OF Jesus, has
long since fallen TO decay You do not |
see the bundles OF provender. some OF
which were arranged In manger for
the holy family. Ecclesiastical
taudry OF gold and silver has made the
sacred place unnatural and vulgar; but
In the light OF a semi-circle OF silver
lamps. you see a bright silver star that
marks the spot OF the incarnation. II
Is kept bright by the tears and KISSES
u pilgrims. You do not kneei to kiss or
weep; but you do kneel and forget all