Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-03-11
Valuable Research Work Is
Started Under British Rule
in Palestine.
SHRINES WILL Be RESTORED
Fortress of the Crusaders May Be.
come Memorial to Lord AIlenby-
Excavations in Garden of Geth-
semane Started Last Spring.

misunderstanding to q Liverpool
correspondent Of the Times the dis
cOvery of very early Christian
church in the Garden -Gethsemane
has directed attention to the valu-
able work which is being carried out
In Palestine under the direction Of
the newly formed department Of an
tiQues- Sir Herbert Samuel recOg-
nlxed from the outset of his career
as high commissioner that the whole
world was anxious that all possible
care should be taken Of the mOnu-
ments, and every facility afforded for
investigating the history Of the Holy
Land. He called to his aid the di-
rector Of the British School Of Archie
ol0gy In Jerusalem. who Is now home
once more after strenuous work which
he has had the qualification of seeing
bear fruit
Excavations in the Garden Of Geth-
semane were begun by the Franciscans
In the spring Of last year, and they dis
covered a church of the thirteenth GEN.
fury. In digging the foundations for
q new building on the spot they dis
covered traces Of much earlier
church on slightly different axis.
They duly received permission to ex-
envate this earlier building. which
proved to be church Of about the
fourth century, and one of the oldest
monuments to Christianity in Pales-
tine. The whole Of the outside wall
can be traced. together with the two
rows of columns which supported the
aisles, and three apses, the central one
being the largest. Here and there
are well preserved, though small, re.
mains Of the original mosaic floor.
The Tranciscans have undertaken to
preserve these remains in such a way
that they will be permanently visible
oven though a new church be built, II
VIII be designed to inclose the old
church, and steps will be taken to dis.
tnguiAh the outline Of the ancient
structure and to preserve the pavement
and the bases Of columns in way that
IL quite satisfactory. The central apse
Of this building reaches out Just be
yond the modern limits Of the garden
toward the rocks which are usually as
ISOLATED with the Agony Of Christ. II
has been arranged that the work shall
be completed by the Board of Antiqui.
ties on behalf of the government
Some architectural fragments, includ.
ing columns, with capitals In CORN.
THAN style, came to light in the course
Of the excavation.
Plan Memorial to AIlenby.
One Of the first acts of the new gov
eminent under Sir Herbert Samuel
was to organize a department Of antiQ-
uities, the principal function of which
70 the protection Of all the historical
sites and monuments In Palestine and
at the same time to encourage learned
societies to make scientific excava.
lions. The historical monuments OF
Palestine are not merely interesting
nom an antiquarian point Of view, but
have human and a religious interest
Tor the great bulk Of humanity. Ac.
cordingly. an International board has
been established to advise the director
OF antiquities on matters Of common
interest to the different local societies
and schools of foreign powers engaged
In archaeological research.
One OF the most holy places of Mo.
hammedanism, Familiarity known as the
Mosque Of Omar, which IL also one Of