The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1903-12-25
THE CHURCH
WHERE THE
MANGER STOOD
The Oldest Christian Church
in Christendom at
Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, Palestine, Dec. 25.-
was born Is the privilege not extended to
the majority of the citizers of the United
States. Even those who could afford it do
not seem to fancy the idea-they. prefer
the more worldly pleasures centralized on
the Christmas tree and turkey in their
own home
Imagine Christmas spent in the oldest
church in Christendom where the follow
ers of three religions assemble tc sing
the praises of Hum who died for men,
guarded meanwhile by the soldiers of the
sultan OF Turkey, representing fourth
religion.
1his church of st. Mary, or the Church
OF the Nativity as it is called, is said to
be erected over the grotto where the
Christ child opened his eyes more than
1890 years ago, according to our western
calendar
The followers Of the Roman Catholic,
Green Catholic and Armenian churches
believe the church to be erected over the
site of the original stable IN the cave
ants, while they may doubt this, have
never claimed any other site to be the
authentic birthplace, and SO the grotto in
the Church of the Nativity has been &C
eepted practically universally.
The early Christians erected an ora
tory over the grotto of the Nativity and
Adrain RACED it and had erected a statue
to Adonis Helen in turn destroyed the
statue and with Constantine built the
original Church of the Nativity.
Since that time, centuries ago, Chris
tan princes have commemorated events
by adding to the church, until it has
spread to enormous proportions. The or
iginal building still stands, time-defying.
Its very walls cause the mind to re-
vert through the centuries to the time of
Abraham, when individual parts of the
edifice are said to have seen their share
OF history-making. This at least is what
the devout say TO the tourist.
They tell that come of the columns
are from Solomon's temple; that some of
the slabs over which tourists feet have
wandered carelessy were trod by tie Ieet
of Him whose birth the world celebrates
today.
Greek Roman and Syrian converts have
sung the praises of the Master within the
walls of the church for centuries and cen
turtles. Christmas has been celebrated here
by the victorious Crusaders under God
frey of Bouillon, Robert of Flanders and
other men of might who carried the cross
on their shields and the word of God
on the points of their long swords.
1t was in the old church on Christmas
day in ll0l that Baldwin L.. professor CT
the holy sepulchre and baron of Jerusa-
lem, was crowned. Often ransacked and
battered by armies of different religion,
the old church retains its mark of indi-
viduality. Grim, sturdy and threatening
as fortress, its entrances are barricaded
even to this day, grim reminder of the
eventful past.
Although the walls have withstood the
ravages of time, the interior decorations,
draperies and curtains have been replaced
time and again by fac-similes OF the origi-
nal hangings, even as the hooded monks
have replaced those of their brethren who
have faded away.
The church is built in the farm of
cross, and in the nave are the 48 pillars,
some of which are said to have been taken
from the temple of Solomon, supporting
the arched roof, in the ceiling of which
are some of the cedars of Lebanon.
Marking the spot where the Star of
Bethlehem is said to have come to
standstill while guiding the wise men is
a star, sunk in the floor before the main
altar.
Strangest of all the strange things the
traveller sees in Bethlehem and in this
wondrous church is the triple celebration
of Christmas in the grotto of the Nativity,
which is inside the walls of the church.
To the west Christmas comes on Decem-
Der %, and so it does here to the Latins,
who ON this day celebrate the greatest
IN, oil ha he
church of Rome is capable of.
Twelve days after the celebration, the
Greek church calendar recognizes Christ
mas and the day is celebrated with pomp
and worship after the ritual of that re-
ligion.
Again II days pass. when the Armenian
church celebrates the birth in fitting
manner. Nowhere else under the sun do
three religions hold services and sing the
praises of Him who died for men in one
edifce.
1t would be next to impossible for the
followers of three religions, as different
as are the three here represented, to meet
in one place, even to glorify Christ, with
out trouble resulting, as it has resulted
so often here.
To prevent a repetition of the bloody
battles that have desecrated this holy of
holies, the sultan of Turkey has estab-
hshed a garrison in Bethlehem to guard
the one during the services from the at
tacks of the other two.
AS the Christmas season approaches,
the garrison is added to from the troops
in Jerusalem. On the different Christmas
days the fez-topped soldiers of Mohammed
fill the church and line the road approach
ing it from Jerusalem, to prevent rioting.
The Latin as he chants the mass must
be protected from the Armenians and
Greeks, the Greek must be protected from
the Latin and Armenian and the Ar
menian must be protected from the Latin
and Greek.
To guard the Manager, said to be the
identical one in which the child was born,
two Turkish soldiers stand guard day and
night Think Of -Mohammedans stand
ing guard over one Of the most precious
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