The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-12-07
Marion Harland in Beth lehem
Interesting Christmas Experiences in the
City OF Christs Birth

OltI VI bHliaN ONW
The little city of Bethlehem is
set upon hill which is crowned by
the Church of the nativity. writes
Marion Harland in the Deeem6er
LibbiHcoHS. The Grotto which all
sects OF believers have agreed upon
as the birthplace Of cur Lord, is
directly under the church and Ell
tirely dependent for light upon
artificial means. A silver star is
let into the pavement of semicir-
cular niche, ABOVE which is an altar
adorned with the usual churchly
symbols. By the light Of fifteen
colored lamps suspended under the
altar we read the inscription in
Latin:
"Herc Jesus Christ aoaS Bern Of
tie IVgiH Mary"
The long line of pilgrims pros.
trated themselves, one by one, and
kissed the star, some with dropping
tears-all, silently-solemnized be-
yond the range of speech. 1t did
not add TO our solemnity to be
shown the manger, decorated with
lace and an embroidered altar
and defended from sacrilegious
fingers bv a gilded railing The
really impressive things were oc-
casional glimpses of the rough
stone walls and roof of the ancient
stable, visible here and there be-
tween the gaudy decorations.
The service of ChristuiasEve
began at half-past ten at night and
concluded at half-past two in the
morning AT midnight lullaby
from the organ preluded the su-
preme moment of the occasion--the
sudden folding back of a curtain
above the altar, revealing a manger
cradle and a big wax doll. The
exultant outburst of organ and
choir in a magnificent Gloria in
Excelsis accompanied the stately
professional of the entire staff of
priests and acolytes, chanting and
swinging censers while they bore
up one isle and down another, back
to the high altar, the same doll,
dressed in cambria and lace, nest
ling in the embrace of the richly
apparelled bishop.
Every incident of our last night
in Jamals camp in Beth -lehem
recurs to me with peculiar distinct
ness. How, as the darkness deep
encd, the red, blinking eyes of the
charcoal craters of the wonderful
portable stove presided over by Our
accomplished chef in the door of
the kitchen-tent-the night being
breezeless-snone upon the under
sides Of the olive boughs over our
heads, while our quiet talk went on
of what had happened in the old
town behind us.
We spoke longest Of David's
Greatest Son, and of the Birth
that was to draw the eyes and
thoughts Of all nations to the little
city on the hilltop in the land of
Juda.
At midnight, kept wakeful by
the rush and burden Of thought, l
arose to look from the tent door
upon the watchful stars that here
have a conscious majesty have
never recognized elsewhere, and
wondered anew where, amidst the
glittering hosts "marshalled on the
nightly plain" had flashed the Star
of Bete- e-lehem. For the last time
in our eventful journeyings we saw
the dawn redden the Mountains of
Moab, the thin crescent OF the wan
ing moon dying, while we gazed,
before the brightness of the coming
sun.
| shall always be grateful that
that night of inefable calm and the
beauty OF the new day are promin-
ent among the pictures conjured
before my mental vision, as at the
wave Of an enchanter's wand, by
the name of "Ephrath--which is
Bethlehem"