Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
MARKED INFLUENCE OF ZIONIST
MOVEMENT IN PALESTINE FOUND
"Y" Official Here, Back From
Tour. Describes
Results.
Introduction of Western
Methods Followed by Land
Value Gain.

The marked influence that the Zionist
movement has had for bstterment of the
economic conditions of Palestine is re-
vealed even in a short stay In the Holy
Land. according to Page NICK. Etchison.
religious work director of the Y M. C. A.
in Washington, who has just returned
from tour of the Near East. made in
company with DR.. Homer j. Councillor,
dean Of the School of Religion of the
Y. M. G. A. College.
Due to the popularity of the Zionist
movement which followed World War
days, the question today often is asked
OF those who have made tour of the
country there what have been the re-
suits of the project, he points out.
Mr.. EtchisOn said that his compare
lively brief study Of conditions in Pales-
tine lead to the conclusion that the
Zionist movement, for the present at
least, was at a standstill, but added:
The Zionists have accomplished
Modern farm implements were brought
| into the country by Zionists and they
have introduced efficient Western meth
| DDS. l was told that land in the Valley
of Esdraelong which brought 81 per
, acre before the war now sells for $780,"
Impressed With Beauty.
with the marvellous beauty Of the coun-
try and the advanced state of cultiva-
ton of the valleys.
THE efficient, civiliZing. methods of
/ Great Britain can readily be seen in Je-
fusalem," he said The whole city has
| evidently been cleaned up since the
war. Sanitary conditions are good and
one may come from the West and live
in much comfort in Jerusalem. Under
Great Britain'S control the Holy Land
has been opened up to Bible scholars
| and students, and we may expect much
to come from the .work of the eXca-
vators in the near future.
AN outstanding endeayor that the
| American people may think of with
pride is that of the American Near East
Relief
Il saw the work in operation in
Athens and Cairo and some of the re-
markable results that have been ac-
complished. In the latter city, I had
rather good opportunity to observe
the work and reached the conclusion
| that the American people must keep
this work in progress for another five
years We must not turn these boys
away from our doors there until they
have reached the age of later
adolescence.
AS VIC CdHc up tiliouSh 1Idiy OIl Jul
way home. and touched the five i'm
portant cities, we were greatly i'm
pressed with the administration of
Mussolini. Conditions have been i'm
proved, especially in the cities, and,
above all, there has been born a new
spirit in the hearts of the Italian
people.
New Building Going Up.
81, iv,&a bxyt !,
work of the Young Mems Christian
Association under the leadership of DR..
A. C. Harte. Construction of a new
building is under way. This will oc-
cupy one Of the high points In the city.
This Is one building that will be erected
on solid rock and not shifting sand
There will be a great tower over the
central part Of the building. Dormi-
tories and lecture rooms will be in this
building, with one Of the finest libraries
in Palestine. Connected with the main
building will be an auditorium, with
large pipe organ and gymnasium,
with swimming pool.
When 1t Is finished it will be a
mecca for Bible students who wish to
spend some time In that country, at
very reasonable rate, to study at first
hand Biblical history. Great COM
memorations will be held at Christmas
and Easter. when parties will be taken
to the very spots where the events took
place and they will live over again
these days, which mean so much to the
followers Of Christ. This work Is UNI
der the direction of the National
Council of the Young Mems Christian
Association Of the United States and
work which may well be watched with
pride and interest by members of the
Christian Church in our own land.
After visit to Bethlehem and look
at the fields where the shepherds
watched their flocks on that eventful
night we went southwark from JeruSa-
lem through the country OF Samson and
Delilah, where David fought Goliath.
across the Plain of Sharon. impressed
by the rich fields under cultivation. We
passed near Beersheba. the most south
erly point in Palestine, on to Cairo.
Series Of Surprises.
Palestine was series Of wonderful
surprises. AS we expected. more rocks
| are found there than any other bit OF
ground OH earth, but the beauty OF the
RESORTS.