The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-03-05
Valuable Research Work i
Started Under British Rule
in Palestine.
SHRINES WILL Be RESTORED
Fortress Of the Crusaders May Be-
come Memorial to Lord Alienby-
Excavations in Garden Of Geth-
semane Started Last Spring.

misunderstanding to q Liverpool
correspondent of the Times the dis
covery of a very early Christian
church In the Garfen -Gethsemane
has directed attention to the vaiu-
able work which is being carried out
In Palestine under the direction OF
the newly formed department OF an
tioues. Sir Herbert Samuel recog-
nized from the outset Of his career
AZ high commissioner that the whole
world was anxious that all possible
care should be taken Of the monu-
ments, and every facility afforded Tor
investigating the history Of the Holy
Land. He called to his aid the d.
rector OF the British School OF Archie
ology in Jerusalem. who is now home
once more after strenuous work which
he has had the qualification OF seeing
bear fruit.
Innovations In the Garden Of Geth-
semane were begun by the Franciscans
| In the spring Of last year, and they dis
covered q church Of the thirteenth CEN
tury. In digging the foundations for
| a new building on the spot they dis
covered traces Of a much earlier
church on slightly different axis.
They duly received permission to ex-
cayate this earlier building. which
| moved to be a church of about tine
| fourth century, and one of the Oldest
monuments to Christianity in Pales-
tine. The whole Of the outside wall
can beS traced, together with the two
rows Of columns which supported the
afsles. 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 Franciscans have undertaken to
preserve these remains In such a way
1 that they will be permanently visible
1 even though new church be built, Il
will be designed to inclose the ole
church, and steps viii be taken to dis
tinguish the outline Of the ancient
structure and to preserve the pavement
and the bases Of columns In way that
IL quite satisfactory. The central apst
Of this building reaches out just be
yond the modern limits of the gardei
toward the rocks which are usually as
ISOLATED with the Agony Of Christ. /
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 cours'
Of the excavation.
Plan Memorial 70 AlIenby.
* One OF the first acts Of the new gov
eminent under Sir Herbert Samue
/ was to organize department Of antiq
uities, the principal function Of whicl
] Is the protection Of all the historical
sites and monuments In Palestine ant
at the same time to encourage learne
societies to make scientific excava
lions. The historical monuments Q
4 Palestine ares not merely interestin
from an antiquarian point Of view, bu
have human and religious interes
Tor the great bulk Of humanity. A
cordingly, an international board ha
81 been established to advise the directc
Of antiquities on matters Of comma
interest to the different local societie
and schools Of foreign powers engage
In archaeological research.
One Of the most holy places Of Nj
hammedanism, Familiarity known as ii
Mosque Of Omar, which i also one