The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-12-24
Christmas in
Bethlehem.

HWENTY years ago today the
writer stood on the hill upon
which the town of Bethlehem
is located and looked on that
spot which seems not to have changed
in 1900 years. Heithonght what debt
or the world is to that little village;
thought of the Babe born there whose
words have comforted, elevated and
stayed suffering humanity through all
these centuries. He thought that what
ever we may OF may not believe Of the
written record Of His life, we must adj
NIT at least that of all men He was the
greatest; that we can conceive no high
erwisdoms and excelience thah il cod
tanned in His life and tprecepts; that
He has been, the sole aupport and In
spiration of nnmberless thousands Of
weary, suffering and despairipg ones.
i'll the past, and is today.
vAs che writer stood on tie hilltop
that calm morning thinking of all tho
village before him bad witnessed, gaz-
ing upon itrising terrace above, terrace.
around the oval hill, these words of the
poet came to him, seeming to reflect
the spirit of the place Of the nativity:
..o nttie town ii Bethlehem, .'a'1-'SA
) How still we seesthse lie; :sgtss,s4L@s.sssf
Above thy deep and dFeamless sleep, ~
The silent stars 60 ~: -
u, Yet in thysdark kstreetsshinethets "a II
The everlasting light, ,,e.,s,,x
asi The hopes and fears 81 allthe years
Are met in thee tonight u s1Ea sAFs>fs : /
Il The lower terraceslof the hill arecti-
tiyated az gardens and, orchards, while
on the upper ones. are the houses form
ing the town. The streets and lanes
wind III and out among the buildings
and along the terraces in bewildering
confusion. The honaes are built Of
stone and mud with low, fat roofs and
the style is similar to that which pre-
vailed i'd Christs time. knowing this,
one is impressed BY a sense OF tile fact
thatlhe isIooking upon the same sights
that greeted the seyes ofss, Mary and.
Joseph 1900 years ago. .ss,f sse,tst.ssx,s .
The magnificent Basilics Of st. He
lena is the most impressive and impos-
ing edifics in Che town. It was erected
by the mother ofsConstantine the Great
In thefourth centufy,and it's four rows,
of twelve pillars, it's choir ornsmented
with mosaics, its swinging lamps of,
gold and its general appearance Of age
and sanctity are not iost upon the least
pious visitor. g AT. each side of the altar
are steps leading downtto the grottosof
the nativity, over, which the church, is
built. The grotto is about forty feet
long BY twelve wide and nine high.
The walls are hung with red and gold
brocade and decorated with appropri-
ate paintings. Here the most Impress
i've part of the Christmas festivities at
Bethlehem take place. -. /.
The pilgrim is fortunate if he finds a
lodging withthe hospitabies monks of
st. Francis in charge of the church, For
at this season. they receive many guests
and entertain them in spite of the re-
strictions and contentious Of which
they are the victims. For ID the birth
place of Him whose message was,
aPeace on earth, "sthere.is no peace.
Our first surprise came when we
found that no service was to be held in
the basilIca itself. That was occupied
BY Greek Christians whose Christmas
is nearly two weeks later than the day
celebrated by the Western schurches.
Even the grotto Of nativity. is, divided
between. the Greeks and the Armeniaps.
Catholics are allowed very limited
privileges there, tho they have been
permitted to erect afdaaheeE Eand altar
sefstheir church aleafsby. az ss1sssysssgEssi a b
The Christmas seFyices began atlD
o'clock Christmas eve; the Patriarch of
Jernsaiem officiatIng. The interior Of
the church is extremely pfctdresd due.
Only asfsM seats tars provided 'sand
those arssoccupiedshv forsigns Walters.
Ths,coneregatjon iss largely compcsed
Of women residents Of Rethlehem. clad
il bright blue dresses with red fronts,
the married women wealthy peaked
! hats and the A6hasfI5d sssarfnE - hat
cap withainhifssssal b, Ast4haH enier