The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-11-05
Topic: BETHLEHEM.


The gospel record is dual. Two
evangelists, Matthew and Luke, bear
testimony to the holy borning. In
Bethlehem of Judea-it is still Belt
Lahm, "the place of food" and inhab-
tied mostly by Christians-in contra
distinction to that Bethlehem which
is in Galilee, occurred the event which
lifferentiates distinctive ages and that
is commemorated until this day.
"And thou Bethlehem, land of Ju-
dab, art in no wise least among the
princes of Judah: for out of thee
shall come forth governor, who
shall be shepherd Of My people
Israeli
The scene of a pre-eminent birth.
Bethlehem is, as always it has been
since prophetic days, of interest and
inspiration to those followers Of the
risen Lord who are privileged to gaze
upon it.
You reach it from Jerusalem by a
road, which no doubt Joseph and
Mary and Jesus travelled, leading
past the upper chamber" meath the
battlements of the city's southern
wall; wells notable with "reminiscences
of the magi, of David, and of Mary,
near the tomb of Rachel. 1t is trip
not to be forgotten. A journey link
ing the first and the last days Of the
earthly ministry Of the Son of the
ever living God, to whose life and sac
rif1ce the world owes such debt.
In the Gospel according to st. Luke
the second chapter and the fourth
verse, We read: And Joseph also went
up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judea. to the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem, be-
cause he was of the house and family
of David"
The statement is as concise and as
clearly made as it is geographically
correct. Nazareth is about 1000 feet
above the level of the Mediterranean;
the highest point in the immediate
environment is the Jebel es Sikh,
hill rising to a height of 1902 feet
and just to the northwest of Nazar-
eth; Mount Tabor, the most conspicu-
Gus, as the nearest, mountain within
easy distance of Nazareth, is only
1913 feet above water level at it's
summit. The little town of Bethle-
hem" is, however, 1850 feet above the
surface of the seas. Comment is I'M
necessary to indicate the precision Of
a record which states that Joseph
went UP from Galilee to Bethlehem.
He went down south, but ne went up,
as the traveller must do to-day to go
down. The rise from the plain of
Megiddo, over which of necessity
Joseph would have crossed, to Bethle-
hem is nearly half mile.
Likewise, with characteristic Bibli-
cal fidelity OF description, the story
states that Joseph went up INTO Ju-
dea. Nothing could better mirror the
fact. Jerusalem is near the northern,
as Hebron commands the southern,
border Of Judea. But to get to Beth
lehem you must go"into Judea," even
as to arrive at Hartford you must go
into Connecticut or to reach Pekin
you must travel into China.
Luke also relates that Joseph
went up to the city of David, WHICH
IS CALLED BETHLEHEM. The
student of Scripture will remember
that at Jerusalem-ina all human prob
ability on the site of ancient Mount
Sion on the east hill-there was
district called "the city of David" 1t
is to differentiate Bethlehem from
that region that, no doubt, the Scrip
lures read "the city called Bsthle-
hem"
Here, indeed, Jesus was born.
Among these quiet hills, from the re-
freshing western winds of this ra-
diant countryside, the infant Shep-
herd drew His earliest strength. It's
lineage lent Him access to the best
there was in Jewish life; He gave to
the pleasant hamlet imperishable
fame Hither the wise men came
with regal gifts. Out of its lanes
they went seeking their homelands
by another way. From thence His
parents took Him sup to Jerusalem"
it is a double upward journey by
reason of the hill and valley north of
Bethlehem-whowa was in dozen years
to return to confound sages. From
thence came forth the Eight for reve-
lation to the Gentiles." Here Con-
stantine built a basilica, remains Of
which exist. Here priests struggle
for control of sacred caverns. To
this picturesque locality the pilgrims
set their ways.
Overlooking the tawdry, forgivins,
while regretting, ecclesiastical jeal-
ousies, with federation for fraudulent
tradition, and with an open mind for
that which bears the marks of hon
esty, let us also look toward Bethle-
hem. 1t is the birthplace of Christ,
one of the most majestic spots for the
Christian in all the world. Without
it there would be no Calvary, no East
er morn, no Pentecost, no living
Christ.
And as. at evening, under the ra-
diant heaven, we gaze southwark
across the fields from the city of His
death to the city of His birth, let us
sing:
"Oh, little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep