Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-30
CRUISE TO HOLY LAND
REV. C. H. BUTLER TELLS OF mis-
sIoNARY PILGRIMAGE
Convention Held Outside the Ancient
City Of Jerusalem and in
Shadow of Calvary

AeSN. u II. Butter, pastor or Keller Me-
mortal Church of this city, one of the
washington representatives on the rccsne
missionary cruise through the Mediter-
ranean and to the Holy Land has returned
and brings an interesting account of the
three days convention outside of Jerusa-
lem Speaking of the journey, Mr. Butler
says:
"As seen from Mount Scopus on the
north Jerusalem is pleasantly dsappofnt-
ing Accustomed as you are to the
wretehed stone and mud huts of the land
all the way down from Damascus to Jeru-
salem, the large, fine-looking buildings of
the holy city make a deep and pleasant
impression, for one expects something
wholly different. Closer inspection, how
ever, reveals the fact that these fine build
lnSs with their str. king red-tiled roofs are
not IN the city proper. but without the
walls, and belong to the Jewish colony
russian consulate and hospice, and, con-
vents and monasteres of various Roman
and Greek Catholic orders.
The convention tent, capable Of accom-
modating 1,1OO people, was pitched outside
the walls If for no other reason than for
lack OF space within. The Mosque of Omar
occupies the site of the Solomon's and
Herod's temples. and this Enclosure could
easily nave accommodated the convention
but, OF course, it was out of the question.
Ihe site chosen was just outside the
believed to be the real Calvary, at the foot
of which, on the opposite side are the
garden and the tomb. For centuries the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher was supposed
TO be on the site of the tomb in which the
body of Jesus was laid. But opinion has
changed, and eminent men, and, indeed
the average traveller, believe that Gordon's
Calvary and the garden tomb as the for
mer are called, harmonic better with the
Scripture narrative than does the former
convention in land like Palestine is
radically different from one at home. There
is no building large enough to accommo-
date 1t, and the population is hostile to any
such idea. The large tent used belonged to
French pilgrims and was in three sections
which had to be assembled from different
parts OF the land. This in itself was no
small undertaking, as all transportation is
by means of camels and donkeys.
Moreover, the preparations of friends at
Jerusalem itself We're by no means insignifl-
cant. Mr. Selah Merrill United States consul
general in his address of welcome told us
what must be done in such a case The
shieks of neighboring villages are called up
and their assistance asked. The police are
requested to send away all pickpockets and
they are always obiging. Also they are
asked to put quietus on the beggars, and
any one who has visited the east knows
is waited upon and his permission sought
to pitch the tent and then the owners of
carriages are interviewed and the Jehus
given a Observation-Disclosures several
pants badly Injured. But all Jehus are not
confined to Jerusalem!
What the Convention Did.
The convention began Sunday. April II,
and continued for three days. At the open
ing service Sunday morning the sermon
was preached by the venerable Archdeacon
Sinclair Of London. He spoke of the pecu-
liar significance attaching to the place
Twenty-seven times the city has been cap
tured and sacked. In the year G37 the
standard of Mahomet was planted there,
and with the exception of few short in
tervals under the Crusaders 1t has ever
lens. Since 1887 it has been part of the
Ottoman empire. He spoke also of the
hope for children through Christs teaching
not even the Hebrew ideal measuring up to
what is considered best and highest. Chill
dren are the type of heavenly citizenship,
and no service is too great to undertake for
them. Sunday afternoon communion
service was held-one of peculiar solemnity
and inspiration, just within the shadow Of
Calvary and the tomb and the Mount of
Olives from which Christ assembled.
Sunday evening Mr.. F. F. Belsey Of Lon
don presided. The Protestant Episcopal
bishop of Jerusalem brought greetings, so
did United States Consul General Merrill,
as already stated Responses were made
by Rev. DIR. John Potts of Canada, chair
man international Sunday school lesson
| committee; Rev. DIR. Monroe Gibson, who
spoke for Ireland and Scotland; Rev. Will
lam Frizzell for Canada; Mr.. w. A. Harts-
horn, Boston, for the United States; Rev.
Richard Burgess for India and Rev. DR..
Bowen. for Constantlnople. One Of the most
striking incidents was the response by. the
Samaritan high priest, Jacob son of Aaron.
He had come from his home, Nablons, an
cent Shechem. He read his address in the
| Samaritan dialect and 1t was translated by
| a Christian Jew. Others participating were
Rev. Chauncey Murch of the American
| United Presbyterian Mission in Egypt,
which is doing splendid work, DIR. Murch
being an Psychologist of no mean repute;
| Rev. ]. F. Clark, Bulgaria; Rev. Scott
| Whittier Of Trinidad, w. l.; Rev. ]. G.
Dole Mexico; Miss Frances Phelps Japan;
| Miss Margaret Deane Persia, who joined
| the cruise at Constantinople, and who
| learned that the missionary and his at
| tendant who accompanied her part of the
| way toward Constantinople were murdered
| on their homeward journey; Rev. Jacob
| Leighton, Nova Scotia; DR.. ]. B. Devins,
| Christian missions which he is making;
Rev w. HI. Brooks, DID,, a colored pastor
| OF Chicago, who evoked great enthusiasm;
| Rev. A. l.. Riggs OF Nebraska, on behalf OF
| the North American Indians Cheering
word was also brought from Korea.
.tOther prominent persons present during
| the course of the convention were Faydi
Effendi mayor OF Bethlehem; Ismael Bey.
| SUPERINTENDENT of public instruction and
press censor for Palestine; Dedjag Masche
| Meihechua Warkie, one of King Menelek's
| distinguished soldiers. who, with his Abyss
| snian warriors, not long long ago defeated
! an italian army. He and his stair were in
| Jerusalem attending business for his king.
1 and upon invitation visited the closing ses-
|, sion Of the convention. and expressed his
| brtsf address by saying. through the inter
prakoR. that sHa holds that Chg1Dt3an1tH =