The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-21

were when the star appeared 10 Jnen.
With Infinite care the Church has
preserved objects Nk as the stone
which the angels are said to nave
rolled away from the mouth o. the
tomb at the Resurrection. Tradition
is probably correct when 1t selects
certain grotto In the Garden of
Gethsemane as the grotto of the
Agony.
There is, too, the stone of the
Anointment on which they body of
Jesus was prepared for burial, out,
there are many doubtful points con-
nected with the various cities and
sites of Palestine.
The Turks guard with jealous care
any attempt to examine the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre and ascertain
what tombs are there. They will not
permit the examination of the tomb of
Rachel. Neither Jew or Christian is
permitted to approach nearer than the
grating. 1t would be great triumph
for the Bible, If IL were possible to
open this tomb and find there the en-
baimed body of the wife Of the patrt-
arch, but Mohammedan prejudices OPP
pose the suggestion unalterably.
IL has been estimated that there are
at least three hundred Tells or mounds
OF ruins scattered over Palestine await
ing examination. IT is known that the
Arabs wherever they find an ancient
tomb. rife II for Jewels and sell any
ancient object found in II to the first
Pngrim that passes. In this way tha
historic value of the tomb Is lost, be-
cause 1t is most necessary to know
where these objects are found in order
20 date them and place them histor-
icaily.
1t has been suggested that the great
mound covering what is supposed to be
the site OF ancient Samaria would be
a most fruitful field of investigation.
Here once stood the ivory palace of
Jezebel. looking out over the sea, the
discovery OF which would go far to-
ward esta blishing the value of MANY
statements in the Biblical Books OF
Kings.
The climate has prevented any at
tempt to examine the remains of Jerf-
emo, yet that interesting southern can
itaI viii some cay yield valuable finds
10 an excavator who win brave the
perils not only of Arab chiefs. but OF
tne tevers OF this low lying district.
IL is not enough for the investigator
20 receive permission from the Sultan
10 work upon any OF these buried cities
put he must gain the good will of the
arabs around him, for the Turkish SOL
diers are so few and scattered that
their control of conditions is limited
as result, preserving the peace de-
ponds more on the tact of the excayator
ana the way In which he distributes
pribes to neighboring chieftang than
upon the good will OF the Sultan.
mere are many scenes which of
course. are open to no question. such
as the Sea of Galilee, and Jerusalem
itself; but whether men are right In
locating the ancient Cana where water
was turned into wine, as being on the
road to Liberals four miles east Of
Nazareth. or. as others would have n.
az Kama El-Jelli near Sepphoris. nine
miles north of Nazareth. can be de-
cided only by excavating.
Catholic tradition has marked ont a
spot upon the Mount of Olives as the
place OF the Ascension; but many Bib
ncal scholars win not accept this, be-
cause 1t lis said in the New Testament
mat Jesus during his last meeting with
the Apostles lied them out as far as
to Bethany"
A careful study of Topography at
times leads to more or less exact idans
tihcation of certain spots. AS was
natural, Nazareth is filed with ira
dltlonaily holy places, such az the
Virgins House; but there is one
special incident of Jesus life at Naza-
rein which points to a definite locality
whereon the city was built down
which the Infatuated men OF Nazareth
sought to cast Him headiong.
The Monks transferred this scene
10 the so-called Mount of Precipita-
tion, half an hour southeast Of the
town, but high up In the older village
there is senni-circIe of steep cliffs
now concealed partially by under
growth which scholars now believe
was the scene of this attempt. Ia ex-
cavating the upper platform there re-
Gently, many traces of ancient build
ings have been found, and 1t is sun
posed that they were erected while
10 -
fresh.
The value OF a careful study not
merely OF the modern town bearing
an ancient name, but Of the country
sometimes mile or two away Is nee
rect.
1t is admitted that the MOSQUE =,
Omar is founded on the site Of the
apcient temple OF Solomon. and the
sinking OF shafts at the south wall
OF the platform has shown that there
was remarkable wall there nearly
1000 feet long and $50 feet in hight.
AS II now stands this wall is consid-
cred marvel and only half of IL Is
exposed. What must II have been
when the tall towers of the temple
stood high above 1t and thousands
Rocked toward 1t from all parts of
the land?
IL is thought that Solomon's palace
originally stood at the south end Of
the platform, for IL is there that the
excavators found great vaulted crypts
The temple OF Solomon, as far as
men can tell from the buried walls
must have been an oblong 900 by 500
feet, with his palace 600 by 300 feet to
the south of 1t.
Many years must pass before il can
be said that Palestine has been ex-
piored. Better than agitation, for its
comDiefeN political n0esaessfft, win ~