Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-04-08
IN THE HOLY LAND

In my former letter | told you to
meet me, you via Genesis, and / via the
highway down to Hebron, the cave Of
Machpelah, Abraham's tomb. We go
by the Jaffa gate, along the outer wall,
cross Gihon, the house of Caiphas and
tomb Of David on the left. We pass
the English hospital, pass the upper
pool, up the hill of evil counsel, and are
out on the road to Bethlehem and He
bron. 1t is a hard looking country with
an occasional olive grove; a country
once fiourishing with cities, also milk
and honey. The cities went down in
earthquakes and at hands OF invading
armies, rebuilt TO fall again. The earth
is covered with ruins of once an inhab-
tied country. Desolation worse than
desolation. We pass out but two miles,
we halt at the tomb of Rachel, well
preserved tomb by the wayside that in
vaders have respected. Passing along
| this highway four thousand years ago
Rachel stopped by the way; her labor
pains delivered BENJAMIN, but gave her
own life And here her tomb was re-
| spected by all who have passed this
way. Here too, Elijah received his in
| spiration, as noted by an indenture j a
rock, made when ne sat down. re
! Russian Greek church has erected a
beautiful little chapel and convent to
commemorate the historical place. 1t
was here also that the Magi, who had
| been looking for the Messiah in Jerusa-
lem and not finding him, came in sight
of Bethlehem and saw the star that
stopped over the manger. They went
on and found the object of search, the
infant in a stable manger. We drive
or r. a. Iabopn tanirTrrr
way saw a Greek chapel in the field
where the shepherds were watching.
There also in the field Of Boaz and
where Ruth CLEANED the wheat. We
enter the Christian city Of Bethlehem.
The people are usy making and trying
to sell Ar their wares of mother
of pearl, az wood, etc. The women
have peculiar head gear, are fairly
good looking and belong - the Greek
and American churches. We go to the
church of the Nativity; we stoop low to
crawl in narrow door, and stand in an
old church said to have been built by
Helen and her son Constantine from
material in Solomon's temple. 1t is
old and shows age. We pass on to a
newer chapel, and here we come onto
Turkish and Mohammedan soldier in
uniform and musket | inquired the
cause and found that Greek, Armenian
and Latin priests had their chapels and
| tiisss appointed to parade and smoke in
cense and chant, and only the presence
of soldiers kept these priests from
rough and tumble fights, each claiming
the right Of way. We saw the process
sion, first Greek, then Armenian, then
Latin. They chanted, smoked me out,
the guard exclaiming 'Alla is Ala
MahOmet is the prophet. He smiled
when | asked him if he had to kill the
Christians TO keep peace. A taper is
lighted and we descend into cave cut
in the rock, and there was shown hole
in the wall, said to be where Mary lay
in the pains of maternity when the inn
maculate conceived infant was deliv-
cred from her womb. We were shown
another hole in the wall, called manger,
where the immaculate conceived was
lain to sleep. Close by is another hole
where we are assured Joseph was sleep
ing when the angel came and tod him
to leave the land of Herod and save the
child. Joseph arose, but Mary, the
child and an ass did not take the main
Travelled road to Beersheba, but went
over the mountains by a lonely path,
and joined caravan on the plain of
Sharon, going from Damascus to Gosh
en-. where we were as | wrote you from
Heleopohs in Egypt. We go back a
mile and then take the highway to
Hebron twelve miles farther on, to the
place where it is said was The first real
estate bargain recorded. Abraham
bought the cave Machpelah aud there
| Jacob, sarah, Isaac ana Jacob were
placed at rest. Jacob died in Egypt
and Joseph embalmed him and with
train of eamels brought his body here,
| then returned to his home in Goshen. !
| inquired why Rachel was not brought
down here, but no one seems to know.
| The Mahommedans have a mosque over
| the place and no Christian is permitted
to see the cave of Machpelah, which
Abraham selected for his tired body to
rest in after his pilgrimage. This was
Abraham 5 favorite route going north.
| stopping at the cave and next night at
Meriah, He usually took the wilder
ness route that led this way, pasturage
and water for his flock. while the bees
supplied Wild honey, the goats milk,
and his cantels burdened with his goods
to traffic enjoyed the route.
When we 20 inside the walls Of Jcru-
salem. | will tell lou of the rock where
Abraham was ? ,, ut to offer Isaac. 1t
was here that David lived and was an
nointea king here he went out to meet
the Philhstincs and WON. the great
victory with the sling; here David hung
five of Saul S sons because it did not
RAIN; here Jepthah came when his
daughter, delighted at his return, went
out to meet him with song, gladneSs of
heart and symbols, to be told of her
father 5 VOW. On the mountains she
went 20 prepare herself for the fulfill
ment of the vow
We returned to the city after a day
of much interest to me. having been on
historic ground. Now if YOU will meet
me ON Mt. Ogivet, will IN my next
tell you of the view from that place
and OF the city, the uuholy city OF Jeru-
salem. E. NJ. Il.