The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-12-26
THR0NGS VISIT
BETHLEHEM
MANGER
By FLOYD GIBBONS
Copyright 1885,
Nv International News SerVice)

BETHLEHEM, Dec. ga life
size, life-like image Of a newborn
child lies today in golden basket
on the traditional spot where stood
the manger which held the infant
form of One who was to be called
Savior and give His life upon a
cross of pain for all mankind.
For the last two days, while the
eyes and thoughts of the Christian
world turned on this most sacred
shrine, thousands of devoted wor-
shippers bent their knees and
kissed the stone upon which rests
the reconstructed cradle Of the
Christ Child.
Thousands on Road
Many came stricken with fear,
seeking a renewal Of faith and
hope for a war-weary world. sick
of captains and kings and the
clash of arms and the cries Of the
suffering.
From early Christmas Eve and
all night and all day, thousands
of believers have followed the
road to Bethlehem to pay rever-
ent homage to the birthplace Of
the Prince of Peace.
Over the ancient hills of old
Judea they come by camel and
donkey, even as in days Of old,
and likewise many of them wear
the same robes and garments that
the distant world knows only in
Biblical illustrations.
American Tourists
In the crowded paved place
In front Of the Church Of the
Nativity, they rub elbows with
Smartly dressed American girl
tourists and pilgrims also, who
have flown to Palestine from
Alexandria and must hastily re-
turn by plane to catch ship at
Port Said-or Suez.
Actively helpful in the colorful
throng are the PaleStinian Boy
Scouts, with khaki shorts and
sleeves rolled up and wearing the
flowing white Arabian head-dreSs
we connect with Lawrence of
Arabia.
And there are Arab Christians
wearing fezzes and hooded monks
In drab brown robes belted with
thick white rope, and black
draped nuns with large, white
headdreSSeS that2mark them like a
flock of swans threading their
way in single file through the
cloSely-packed humanity.
With Prayer Beads
Within the church and grotto
that once was the stable, 1 saw
a French diplomatic officer with
o monocle and wearing q brilliant
row of ribbons and medals on
the breast Of his silver braided
coat kneel reverently before the
cradle to offer a prayer, while
nearby stood a tall, kahki-clad
Mohammedan guard wearing a
tall brown-dyed sheepSkin hat
like a CosSack, and at the same
time lingering the amber units Of
Moslem prayer beads.
Yes, MoSlem guards maintain
peace at this Christian shrine,
and these are the last days of
the Moslem lent, called Ramadan.
Light from Christian candles
and the flames of holy lamps
6hone upon the guards swarthy
features.
I saw Scotch plaid-trouSered
Cameron Highlanders, mem
bers of the British garrison here,
standing silent and bare-headed
before the cradle, while British
police with brass buttons gleam-
ing against their blue uniforms
looked on.
Coptic RefiIIs Lamp
saw a Silver-haired italian
consular officer in formal evening
dress with the red star of Com
mander of the Crown of Italy sus-
pended below his white dress tie
make humble obeisance at the
same shrine.
saw a lack-garbed Ethiopian
priest of the Coptic Christian
faith carefully clean and refill
with oil the golden lamp which
those of the Coptic confession
keep lighted here in worship.
Yes, all meet here at the birth
place of the Prince of Peace
even the EngliShman, the italian
and the Ethiopian-even while
the bells of Bethlehem ring out
the joyous news that Christ is
born to spread the word of peace
on earth, good will to men.
N,,aI-A - Ella