The Carbon County news., 1931-01-15

the sail ship and the desert camel
when the merchant did not write
or telegraph for his goods. but in
stead took long journeys. selected
and bargained for his wares, and
with them returned home by cara
van.
When about to start for foreign
land, Bethlehem youths still think
much of Ridda Waldain, the parting
blessing of their parents; they at
tribute their success to it. 1t re
minds one often of the patriarchal
blessings as recorded in Old Tes-
lament narratives. We read that
when Rebekah had chosen to leave
the land of her nativity and jour-
ney to be the wife of Isaac in
Canaan. her mother and brethren
blessed her and sent her away
with the words, BE thou the moth
er of thousands of Millions"
Again we see Jacob supplant his
elder brother and receive the par
entail blessing, causing Esau in the
agony of his soul to cry with a
great and exceeding bitter cry" and
say unto his father. BLESS me.
even ME, also, o my father!"
Usually parents counsel their
sons not to marry of the maidens
of the land in which they soiourn.
just as Abraham, in his declining
days, while Isaac was still young.
made his "oldest servant, that ruled
over all he had, swear by the Lord"
enjoining him. "Thou shalt not take
wife unto my son of the daugh-
ters of the Canaanites among whom
dwell; but thou shalt go into my
country, and to my kindred, and
take wife unto my son Isaac"
Church of the Nativity.
The Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem is one of the oldest ex-
listing churches in Christendom. If
not the oldest, one of the few used
in common by the three eastern
denominations and revered by all
sects of Christianity. The best au-
thorities doubt not that it stands
on or close to the site where Jesus
was born and the place of the first
Built A. D. $50 by the Emperor
Constantine and added to by JUS
tlnian, it became in the Fifth cen
tury the home of st. Jerome, who
here translated the Old Testament
from the Hebrew. Since that time if
has gone through many vicissitudes
and restorations.
The present entrance to the Ma
tivity church is so small that in
passing through it one must bend
very low. 1t is closed by heavily
irOn-studded door. But
)ne person can enter at a time. The
original entrance must have been
In imposing one, for over the pres
snt miniature door is large portal
hat repeatedly through the ages
las been made smaller.
STOPPING to enter, one comes into
IN interior of great simplicity.
There are two double rows of pink
sh limestone monolith pillars, said
o have been brought from the
uins of the Temple of Jerusalem.
Above the supporting columns is
he old wooden roof, the gift of Ed
yard the Fourth and Philip of Bur-
tundy. About two walls are scat
cred patches of gold and colored
Byzantine mosaics, contrasting
With the white plaster that was
He'd in as portions of the mosaics
ropped off. Particularly interest
1g is a fragment depicting a row
f half figures intended to be por-
rats of the ancestry of Joseph.
Why Vandals Spared 1t.
A pretty story is still told by
ne Bethlehemites, which, though
lacks historic backing, may ac-
cunt for the sparing of this church
hen the hordes of the ruthless
ersian Chosroes burned and de-
-royed all the other churches in
alestine, including the Church of
le Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
1t is said that among the earliest
osaics over the main entrance
ithin was large panel represent
lg the Magi making rich offerings
the infant Jesus. Seeing this,
nd recognizing the costumes that
lie Three Wise Men were Persians
le vandal hordes spared the
lurch.
Today the pilgrims and visitors.
we'll as the natives, enjoy
lick run from Jerusalem to Beth
hem over smooth, dustless road
modern cars; still it is pleasant,
thinking of the first Christmas
let memory carry one back to
lys when there were no vehicles
any kind to mar an ancient set
ng, when camel and donkey trails
I'd footpaths were the only high
ays.
Leaving Jerusalem, with its en-
rcling walls, towers, and bul.
arks behind, the traveller crosses
e plain of Rephaim and starts
adual ascent. From the TOP of
is hill he catches his first glimpse
Bethlehem, called Belt Lahm, :
me House of Bread" by the an
ents because Of the fertility of
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