The sun., 1915-12-19


OF the IAt!ns. Greeks and Armenians
and the strife Of these bodies has often
caused trouble. SO that Turkish soldiers
have been maintained within the
sacred walls to preserve the peace
Now tho priests Of all three bodies
have been expelled.
The church Ia built over the cave
which tradition has accepted ~ the
birthplace Of Jesus. for tho khan, or
inn. in which the Saviour was born
was built on the side Of limestone
cliff. and according to tho fashion
which prevails to this day in various
parts Of syrh the inner room, or
stable. was partly dug out Of solid
earth. The 0rotto Of the Nativity has
often been described by travellers with
Its golden star and its lamps and
candles representing all the churches.
This h . site Of supreme sanctity In
the eyes Of Christendom: for here was
enacted the great event on which the
history Of centuries has turned. Now
all who have been associated with the
preservation Of this shrine havc been
driven out Of the country.
There are two caves within these
walls that. have u high place In Chris
tian history: for here, near the Cave
st. Jerome. under the sheitering care
Of Lady Paula. dweit for thirty-five
years.
Bethlehem abounds In Christian
schools and asylums and monasteries
and churches;' all under the care Of
men Of religion ranging from the Brit
ish V,issionary teacher to the Greek
or Latin Bishop. War has closed all
these.
Much Of storisd interest centres
about the Church Of the Holy Sep
ulchre. which is substantially az re-
built by the Crusaders. As one day
watched rough peasants kneeliny and
fervcntly kissing the stones Of thIs
church and recalled the kings and
warriors who have knelt on the same
spot there swept past my mental VI
sion panorama Of paimers and pil.
grims. Of Crusaders and knights, Of
ministers Of religion. Of famous au-
thors and travellers. beyond al, rcck-
oning who have prostrated themselves
here. Thoughts Of the unmaasured
volume OF song and sermon tina. has
been directed toward this spot move
, even the unima&inative person. Lat.
orally around the world to-day the
songs OF Christ and Of the resurrec-
ton tomb are being sung by all colors
and classes and conditions Of Chris
tians.
The care Of the Church Of the Holy
Eepulchre. like that Of the Church Of
the Nativity. has been divided among
various religious bodies: the Latins,
Greeks. Armenians and Copts have
had priests permanently under this
roof and maintained theff own mon
asteries in connection Herewith. Each
OF these groups chanted or read its
ohices daily and guarded with Jealous
care its apportionment Of lamps and
incense
Now all are under the ban. They
have gone from their homes within the
walls Of the enclosure: sent from the
country by the Truks.
J To enumerate the dozens Of Chris
tian schools. orphanages. monaster!es.
converts and churches in Jerusalem
would make this article read like a
guide book. As everybody who has
visited the Holy Land knows, these
are the outstanding features OF the
place. Practically all the orders Of
the Roman Catholic Church arc rep
resented in Jerusalem; so are the
Creeks and Armenians and Copts and
Chaldeans. and Jacobitss and Abys-
sinians. British and other European
Protestants also have many institu-
tions in Jerusalem. Practically every
station Of the Via Dolorosa IL marked
BY Christian memorial.
When ! recall these, institution by
institution. building by building. Il
seems incredible that all Of their GUS
todians should have been driven from
Jerusalem.
Works Of scholarship. as we'll a. Of
p'ety. have been performed by these
priests and monks. Only when the
visitor goes within certain Of the
churches is he able to penetrate to the
level OF the Jerusalem OF our Lords
day. In a Greek monastery along the
Via DOlorosa one may 80 down to the
very stones over which the feet of
Jesus walked as he travelled from
Bethany to the Temple. In a Jesuit
school for boys visitors arc taken
down into the cellar to see the re-
mains Of the wall built by Nehemiah
The American School Of Archeology
has also been closed by the war, and
It's director for the last year. the Rev
DR.. Allen Montgomery Of Philadelphia
has returned to his home.
The distress Of the city. which has
followed this paralysis Of its religious
activities, makes the plague Of locusts
which last spring visited Palestine
seem a minor affiiction.
One of the most beautiful memories
Of Palestine fer me II associated with
the Garden Of Gethsemane. Within a
high wall. on the slope Of the Mount
Of Olives, looking across the kidron tc
Jerusalem, this spot has been pre-
served as a garden shrine, certainly
since the fourth century. 1t has been
In the care OF the Franciscan monks
who have Q church there. and rever.
emily tended the plants and the trees
Ono great, gnarled old olive tree
which stands In the centre Of tho gar.
den, is believed by the monks to be the
very tree under which Jesus sweat
the drops of blood and cried. Father
, IL It be Thy will. let this cup pass
, from mel"
| The imagination Of preacher ant
poet and philosopher has dwelt upor
, this spot. concerning which Sidne,
, Lsnier wrote his "Ballad Of Trees ant