The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-09
DR.. HENSON
SPOKE ON
PALESTINE

A lecture on Palestine ana the orient
was the splendid treat enjoyed by the
members OF the Veteran Citizens associa-
tlon yesterday afternoon at the audi
torium of the Mathewson Street NJ. r.
church The president. eX-Gov. Dyer
being absent, Hon. Thomas w. Bicknell
was elected temporary chairman
After the reading OF the records by the
secretary. the names OF Chief Justice
Tillnghast, ex-Chief Justice Stiness and
Judge Carpenter were proposed by Mr.
Chaffee
Very touching and lengthy obituaries
were read OF the much esteemed mem
bers Edward M Waldron. Alma Goff) and
william J. Martin. Col. Eaton moved
that committee be appointed on place
OF meeting, suggesting the public library
rooms, and Hon. Amasa M. Eaton, John
ii. Brown and H. A. Atkins were appoint
ed. Col Eaton also moved that an
auditing committee be appointed. and
Hon. John NJ. Rounds Il. NJ. Everett and
E. NJ. Pierce were appointed. President
Bicknell then read the report OF the com
mittee on the accounts Of the treasurer.
Mrs. Hattie w. b. Chaffee. for the past
- years.
REPORT A DEFICIT.
The expenditures were Sl05s, a deficit Of
se7 81 being reported. The committee
found that the association II indebted To
Mrs. Chaffcc TO the amount OF $67.5 We
are not surprised 10 find that Mrs. Chaffee
wishes TO leave the society free OF debt
and that she Is willing to make the coll
lections TO secure that most desirable end.
In view therefore Of her generous and
self-sacrihcing labors during the 13 years
Of haf rNFfg "A al aegfn f,f
our confidence i'm her ability TO clear the
association OF its small Indebtedness. your
committee recommend that Mrs. Chat
fee be elected TO the office OF treasurer OF
this association.
I'VE also recommend that an auditing
committee be appointed for the current
year 10 audit and approve OF all bills be-
fore being paid by the treasurer and 10
examine and audit the treasurer's ac-
count from 1891 TO the present time"
Remarks were made by the president
by Col Eaton and by Mr.. j. H. Brown,
who spoke I'm very high terms OF Mrs.
Chaffees sef-sacrihcng labors for 13
years for the society and her continued
efforts and interest for it's welfare and
prosperity i'm the future. and who moved
that ~ be accepted and IL was so voted.
Mr.. Brown then moved that the com
mittees recommendation be adopted that
Mrs. Chaffee be elected treasurer for the
ensuing year and the motion was uuanl-
mously carried.
The president then introduced Rev. DR.
Henson of the Cranston Street Baptist
church who has just returned from a
visit to Palestine with % others of the
Chicago university. and who delivered a
very able and eloquent address, entitled
"a Glimpse OF the Orient"
He said In part as follows
HISTORY OF PALESTINE
Whenever Egypt and Assyria were at
war with each othe the attacking part~
always marched through Palestine So
~ has been with other nations as the
Hittites, the Ethiopions. the Scythians,
the Persians, the Moslems and Others
Alexander went through Palestine TO
Egypt The Seoncids and the Ptolemles
secured her I'm war. Pompey over-ran II
with Roman arms. The crusaders tried
TO rescue IL from the infidel and Nepo-
leon made 1T the pathway OF his ambi-
tion.
He next spoke OF the fact that Palestine
lying between the sea and the desert is
made up OF four parallel bands running
from north TO south. There is the Mar
atime Plain, the central range OF noun
tains, the Jordan valley and the eastern
range Of mountains.
He also spoke Of Jaffa, the modern
gateway to the land. He said this was
not formerly a gateway but the western
boundary. The sea in ancient times was
q barrier and protection. and not a high
way. He called attention to the fact
that no invader had ever entered the
country except by land. He next spoke
OF Jerusalem.
This city il situated on the top OF the
central range OF mountains, i'm the midst
OF a narrow tableand. which has an
average height from Bethel TO Hebron
OF 2+O0 feet Jerusalem at its highest
point is 1853 feet above the level of the
sea. but Hebron, 20 miles TO the south.
IS 340 feet high. East OF the city is the
valley OF Jehoshaphat. down which runs
during the winter the brook kedron.
West and south OF the city is the valley
Of Hinnon. which joins the Kedron south
east OF the city. Near the centre Of the
city runs the Tyropoeon. which separates
the eastern hill Morlsh from the western
hill traditionally known as Zion.
The first mention OF Jerusalem. he said.
was I'm Gen. l4:is When Abraham re-
turning TO his home I'm Hebron met at
Jerusalem Melchizedek king OF Salem.
Next Jerusalem is spoken Of I'm letters
received from Abdkhiba, king Of Jeru-
salem. by Amenophis III and ", kings
of Egypt. These letters were written
at1ot+t ll01-R-G-and were discovered a
few years ago az Tell el-Amarna.
Jerusalem next appears as the strong
hold of the Jebusites, too strong TO he