Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-22

Ard suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude OF the heavenly host p~raisins
God. and saying glory to Gcd in the high
est. end on earth peace. coed viii toward
men"
This. the first Christmas greeting, hnds
echo this week in the hearts Of millions OF
Christians in all parts Of the world who
celebrate the birthday Of Jesus Christ. the
Saviour. To each one Of these Palestine
that portion OF syria in which is situated
Bethlehem. where Jesus was born; Nazar-
eth. where He grew to manhood. and
jerusalem. where He met His death, is
the holy land. Il is also the holy land 10
the millions Of Jews who do not accept
the faith Of the followers Of the greatest
Of the Jews. for jerusalem Is now. as II
has been since the day OF David. the capt
tai and the holy city Of Israel Palestine
is also the holy lard to the followers Of
Mohammed. for Islam as well as Chris
daritv and Jewry, Is builded upon the
faith Of Abrsham. who offered up as a
sacrifice his son Isaac upon Mt. Moriah.
the hill where stood the temple Of Solomon.
where Jesus taught. from whence No
BANNED assembled into ave- and where
today stands the noble dome OF the mosqu
Of Omar.
In the world today there are 100000
/ Christians, 1O.OO0.OO M-ohammedans and
10000 Jews, making together one-half
Of the total population Of the world and
more than a third Of the civilized world.
who look upon Palestine as holy land. Il
Is a tiny bit Of country, perhaps a hundred
and fifty miles long and fifty or sixty
miles wide. Within this narrow compass
is contained a startling variety Of topo-
graphical wonders From the mountains
Of Lebanon at the north stretching to the
desert which girts Mt. Sinai at the south,
the country is divided into four narrow
strips. Along the coast a ribbon Of green
beauty; then a rugged range OF brown
hills whose verdure has long since been
stripped away; then the depressed river
valley leading down into the sbyssmaI
horrors OF the Dead sea and beyond tina
the purple peaks Of those mountain.
vhereon stood Moses when he was vouch.
safed that one glimpse OF the Promised
Land which was to him forbidden
1t is difficult for the twentieth century
man, be he Jew or Gentle, to realize how
small was the stage upon which was en-.
acted those great events which have shaped
religious belief and which have moulded
political action in all the occidental world
for nearly 1900 years. It is even more diff.
ficult to realize that Palestine today Is he
home Of the miserable descendants Of thos,
same people who were there when it be.
came. by successive dramas, the Holy Lant
Of Israel, Christendom and Islam: and tina
those people now are engaged in a strugKI,
FOR political freedom which has for N,
first time united many men Of many faiths
In this country OF religious strife.
1t is difficult for Christians in America
hearing at this glad holiday season the eve
new message announcing the birth Of tn,
Prince Of Peace, to realize that in the Hol,
Land it is necessary every hour of ever,
day for Mohammedan soldiers to stand OF
guard in Christian churches to prevent tLt
rival sects OF the followers OF the iowI
Jesus from cutting each others threats
and from staying the Jews in their owI
city.
1t is difficult, in this modern lay. to re
alize why the physical misery and degrade
ton Of ths Holy Land should not be over
come and aIleviated by the hosts Of Chris
tian pilgrims who annually make N
journey TO the scenes Of the everyday VII
Of their Saviour. 1t is difficult to reaIz
that in this country where was reveaIe
the religion Of cleanliness that mortal me
should be more dirty than In any orbe
place on earth. 1t is difficult to reali7
that in this land where the Great Physicis
healed the lepers and restored sight TO N
blind, that there should be more lepers an
more blind men than in any other countr,
II Is difficult to realize that IN PaIestin
from whence came the inspiration for II
three religions which have made possfb
every progressive step in the western wor
that men live and have their being am
conditions practically unchanged fro
those which obtained 1900 years ago. 1t
difficult to realize that among all the pc
pie Of all the world the people OF Palestil
should be least responsive to the ~civfIixfl
influence Of the railroad and the rennll
inspiration OF the telegraph.
But at this particular Christmas seas,
in the year Of our Lord nineteen hundr
and nine, the Christian world. the remna
OF Israel and the household Of the proph
Of Allah may rejoice together for the fir