The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-24
His Zoe
Pilgrims KneeI at Manager
WorShiping Nativity
of Christ.

By United Press
BETHLEHEM, Dec. a. - The
- thoughts of the world centered
today on a tiny stone cell, barely
capable of holding a hundred
worshipers, in this tiny village.
Devout pilgrims focked to Beth
lehem from early morning to late
night.
The two broad macadam high
ways that lead out of Jerusalem
were thronged with peoples of all
nations.
Their destination was the spa
cious, raftered Church of the Ma
tivity, to worship and reverence at
the sacred grotto, built on the spot
where Jesus Christ was born in a
stable manger.
Although myriads of pilgrims
have passed along these roads since
the time when they we're no more
than camel tracks, yet they present
an ever-new, r-changing page
ant Of color and history.
Where once they stumbled on
foot over hills, or rode in chariotS
and carts, on donkeys and camels;
where once the bishops and car
dinals of Rome came in all the
panoply of the church; where the
crusaders rode on their liVeried
chargers, bearing the cross triumph
antly before them; where King
Baldwin of Jerusalem, attended by
his knights and eSquires, made
humble pilgrimage to the one-time
stable where the Son of God first
saw light of day-along that time
less route, transformed by modern
enterprise into an enduring asphalt,
run the automobiles and vehicles,
whose honking and raucous noises
die to a humble murmur as they
wind their way through the cobble-
stoned streets of Bethlehem.
1TERE we're Abyssinian Chris
i i tianS, from the land of Prester
John, now known as Ethiopia,
black skinned and black clothed,
with their weird chants and pray
erS.
There, the fair-haired, aquiline-
featured Anglo-SaXon, erect and
sustere. Yonder the black-mitered
Armenian, with Semitic features
and patriarchal beard, mumbling a
half-heard prayer.
Roman Catholics, priests, monks
and laity, carrying their rosaries,
strobe along in devout contempla-
ton.
The picturesque and narrow
streets of this Judean hillside
townlet, near which Rachel, wife
of Jacob, lies buried at the foot
of that field of Ephrath, in which
she mourned her lost and scattered
sons, and where many centuries
later shepherd boy defeated Go
Hath and grew to be the mighty
King David-in practically the
same winding streets, there is a
hustle and commotion only expert
enced once a year.
Thousands are vending their
way to the Church of the Nativity
until midnight Their heads bent
in piouS remembrance of that night
on which a mother held her Holy
Babe, centuries ago, they stream
through the crypt containing the
actual manger in which she lay.
Out over the hills and valleys of
Judea twinkle the very stars that
lighted the three wise men when
they came bearing myrrh and
frankincenSe and splendid gifts to
the newborn King.
A ROUND the walls of the tiny
"A crypt are ancient paintings,
worn and blurred by the passage
and erosionS of time, showing the
madonna and the child. They
testify to the JOY and humility of
famous painters for whom the
miracle Of the birth was vivid
enough to be put to canvas.
Solemn and tall hassocked and
black-gowned Protestant and Ar
menian priests, black and white
clothed nuns, adorants OF all
classes and walks of life, pray
quietly in this hushed silence.
only an occasional sob from some
kneeling woman breaks the still
ness.
Both outside and inside the
church, khaki-clad English SOL
diers and burly British constables
mingle with the pilgrims from
Palestine and abroad.
MANY Americans from the liner
Empress of France, halting here
for the Christmas festivities before
resuming her world cruise, join the
ever-growing stream to and from
the church.
A ND so, coming forth into the
N night through the low portal
of the church, they trudge YEARLY
back to Jerusalem.
On these very slopes the "shep-
herds watched their flocks by night
so long ago; and, as though his
tory we're but mirror of our own
times, silent Bedouins go by with
their massed flocks of sheep and
goats. keeping close to the fenced
road over which the automobiles
speed to the Holy City.
Behind, the stars that lighted
the birth of a new era, new re-
ligion. are dimmed by the electric
lights and automobile lamps that is
Bethlehem today.