Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-21
HAS CAPERNAUM BEEN FOUND7
Nay. Not . Temple That Has Echoed to the
Words Of Jesus Have Been Found?

May. Not Temple That Has Echoed to the
Words Of Jesus Have Been Found?
Christian archaeologists for many
years have been trying to fix the site
of Capernaum. the city OF Jesus, where
be preached his first sermon, cast out
the unclean spirits, and taught as one
having authority and not as the
scribes."
Tradition pointed TO the ruins known
as Tel Hum, little to the west Of the
north end Of the Sea of Galilee, but
the evidence was so unsatisfactory that
scholarship has hitherto reached no
united conclusion.
Through the recent researches OF
the German Oriental society at the
ruins of Tel Hum, as detailed in the
German quarterly published at Jerus-
alem in the interest of an orphans'
home, it would appear that the tradi.
ton may be confirmed and the site Of
Capernaum definitely located.
The principal feature OF the Tel
Hum ruins is the foundations of what
was plainly q massive and splendid
building. The existence Of these ruins
has long been known. About ten
years ago the Franciscan monks OBJ.
tanned authority to protect them
against the depredations Of the neigh.
boring peasants, who were making
them a quarry from which to build
their houses.
The recent excavations of the Ger.
man Oriental Society have uncovered
at Tum the remains OF large square
building. through which ran two rows
of heavy columns supporting the roof.
The arrangement Of the building de.
parts materially from that OF . Chris.
Iian church, and in many respects
suggests Greco Roman temple archi-
lecture.
A frieze OF considerable size, facing
the lake, and richly ornamented, has
been found. In fact. all the remains
are lavishly sculptured, the designs
being mainly OF trees, plants and
fruits, and especially OF grapes and
palms. The character of the decora.
lions shows that it could not have
been the work Of Mohammedan build
ere. As is we'll known, the Koran for
bids, as tending to idola.ry. any real
istic representation of natural objects.
On the other hand, Judaism does not
and never has put any such Limitation
upon the artist. Furthermore, the dec
orstive designs indicate an origin dis
tinctly jewish. The sculptured palm
trees, for example, are exactly of the
form OF those found on the Maccabear
coins and on the medal struck by Yes
pasian after the final conquest OF Judes
and tho destruction OF Jerusalem
There was also found the six pointed
star composed OF two equilateral trian
gles-the csbalistic symbol known o.
"the Arms of David"
The inference is drawn that the Te
Hum ruins are the remains OF an an
cient Jewish synagogue. As the Jew
left in Palestine were hardly in posi-
ton to build costly synagogues aite
their overthrow by Titus in ~ AID, th
further inference is that this buildinl
must date back to time Of Christ.
Now we have in the gospels some dis
tinct references to the synagogue o
Capernaum in the time OF Jesus. Th
Jewish community there would seem &
have been specially favored by tn
local Roman authority. For we or
told that its elders begged Jesus t
heal the servant of centurion, saying
"That he is worthy for whom he shout
do this: For he loveth our nation an
hath built Us synagogue"
Hence, it is at least possible that tn
Tel Hum ruins are those OF the syna
Rogue which their Roman friend bull
for the Jews of Capernaum. and tina
the pilgrim to the epot, now made ea'
lily accessible by the opening OF th
Halfa railway, may gaze upon tn
stones which echoed to the words an
were trodden by the feet OF the Master
THE land is being cleared at Arcadi
for the latest irrigation project, locate
about three miles southeast of Wall
Walla and 20 miles north Of SPOKANE
and before spring is we'll begun th
promoters say they expect to hav
800 Of their 1000 acres beswee
Gemmill's mill and the San Fraucisc
& Northern Railway cleared and se
out in orchards. Arcadia is intende
to be q model community. The Al
csdia Irrigation Association expect
10 irrigate the whole Of it's ZOO acre
and have it set to apples, mostly
the winter variety, by next Octobe
They will then cut il up into five an
ten acre tracts. The Associatio
cultivates the land and cares for Ii
trees for period of four years, at IN
, expiration Of which the orchards WI
no hearino and the new owners wi