The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-11-11
Topic: BETHLEHEM.

Matt. 2:1: Bethlehem OF Judea."
The gospel record is dual. Two
cvanEeliSts. Matthew and Luke, bear
testimony to the holy borninS. 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 Galile". occurred the event which
differentiates distinctive ages and that
is cpmmemorated until this day
And thou Bethlehem. land of Ju-
dah, art in no wise least among the
princes of Judah: for out Of thee
shall come forth a governor, who
shall be shepherd of My people
Israel"
The scene OF n pre-cminent birth,
bethlehem is, as always 1t 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 n
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 notabi" with "reminiscences
OF the magi. of David. and of Mary,
near the tomb of Rachel 1t is a trip
not to be forgotten. \ 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
rifce the world owes such 4 debt.
In the Gospel according to St. Luke
the second chapter and the fourth
verse. we read: And Joseph also went
up from Galilec. ont of the city OF
Nazareth. into Judca. 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 il is geographically
correct Nazareth is aboHt ] 600 feet
above the level of the Mediterr2 can;
the highest point in the immediate
environment is the Jebci es Sikh, a
hill rising to a height of 1902 feet
and Just to tho northwest OF Nazar-
eth; MoInt TahO:, the most conspicu-
Gus. as the nearest. mountain within
easy distance of Nazaro :, is only
1Si3 feet above wat,a at its
summit. The little le-
hem" is, however. %:
surface of the seas.
necessary to in@iCat
record which -,
went Up from Galile, ~
He went down south, h. -
as the traveller must do to-
down. The rise from ;he,
MeGiddo. over which of necessity
Joseph would have crossed, to Bethle-
hem is nearly half mile.
Likewise, with characteristic Bib1i-
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
le' .Sm You must Go"into Judea," e-en
as g ,%rive at Hartford YOU must 20
into 50 .necticut or to reach PeSin
yom must travel into China.
Luke also relates that Joseph
! went up to the city of Da I'D, WHICH
: is CALLED BETHLEHEM" The
| student of Scripture will rer,smber
abi~ 5h1t at oe 16e sie n9 all
! Sion on the east hill-there
district called tho city of DaN
| is TO differentiate RethleheL
! that region that, no doubt. the
| lures read the city calledu
| hem" IL
Here. indeed. Jesus
Among these quiet hills. ht
| freshing western winds ~
! diant COUNTRYSIDE. the il NS
! herd drew His earliest st Af
| lineage l"nt Him access SS
! there was in Jewish life: f
/ the pleasant hamlet III. M
! fame. llither the wise II. M
! with regal gifts. Out of
they went seeking their hS
! by another way. From FxS
! parents took Him up to J
it is a GOuhl" upward j. ~
| reason of the hill and VALLEY ..,.
| hlahem-wEowas in a dozen We
! 70 return to confound sages. Fl
} thence came forth the light forr
| lation TO the Gentiles." Here
| Stantine built q hasilica. remair
| which exist. Here priests str
| for control of sacred caverne
| this picturesque locality thc pin
set their ways.
Overlooking the tawdrv. forgi a
while regrcttinC. ecclesiastical
! ousies. with federation for fraudul
! tradition. and with an open min6
| that which bears the marks of =
esty, let us also look toward Bet.
| hem. 1t is the birthplace Of Ch
one OF the most ajestic spots foN
| Christian in all the world. Wis
it there would be no Calvary, nAk
: or morn, no Pentecost, rS
| Christ TN
And rs. at evening. I'LL N
! diant heaven. we gaze ~
| across the fields from the Eh
, death to the city OF His ~
sing: ~
"Oh, little town Of Ee ~
How still we see thee lIaN
Above thy deep ~
And 1rpa m less cIeap