Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1915 — Page 3

WAR MAY FREE RELICS SACRED TO CHRISTIANITY

I- — 1 —NE of the most desirable results of the present world war will be the eliminanon of Turkey as a power and the liberfl fl ation of the territories under her yoke, M ■ including the Holy Land, with all the sites of Biblical history and the Savior’s life, for so many years In Moslem hands. ■ jr Then, at last, we shall see an end of the outrageous conditions that allow (ftyv jfrt the barbarous Turks to control the holy city of Jerusalem, with tjie sepulcher of 4 the Savior, the temple of Solomon and itu other almost innumerable sacred sites Christian civilization has gained some rights in

Jyrusalem, but tn other altered places of the Holy Land Christians are entirely shut out by the Turks or must venture there at the risk of their lives. In Jerusalem the American tourist could, before the war, visit such sites as the garden of Gethsemane, with the olive tree where the Savior was betrayed by Judas and the garden tomb of Jesus, near Mount Calvary. Many of the most interesting parts of Jerusalem have, however, not been open to the visitor or the explorer. Chief among these is the site of the temple of Solomon, which cannot be touched by a ■Christian or a Hebrew because it is occupied by a Mohammedan mosque.

Excavations in the temple area may still, reveal the altar of sacrifice, the brazen altar, the table of shew bread, molten sea and various other sacred objects mentioned in the Bible.

The palace of Solomon, where he received the queen of Sheba, is a building concerning which great interest is naturally felt. It was “built of the cedars of Lebanon." When the stories of Herod’s palaee are unearthed it Is not improbable that beneath these may be found the cedars of Solomon’s building, for in those times they had a habit of building on the ruins of their predecessors. A notable instance of a Biblical site of extraordinary interest from which investigators are entirely excluded Is the tomb of Abraham and the Hebrew patriarchs at Hebron in Palestine. It was here that Abraham, the forefather of all the Israelites, dwelt with his family, as the book of Genesis tells* us. Before he died Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place for himself and his family (Genesis 17). The site of the cave of Hebron has been known from time immejnorial. It was known in early Christian times, and In the days of the Savior. No confusion has aver arisen as to its position, such as has occurred in the case of other Bible sites. The cave of Machpelah is •'situated within an inclosure called the Haram, formed by a gigantic Herodlan wall. Above the cave stands a church built by the crusaders in 1187, but since converted into a mosque and for many centuries in the possession of the Turks. In the cave were buried Abraham, his wife, Sarah; his son, Isaac; the latter’s wife, Rebekah; Jacob, son of Isaac; Leah, wife of Jacob, and Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel. In the mosque above the cave are monuments in the form of toD>bs to Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Leah and Joseph, but they do not inclose the actual bones. These are presumably in the cave below. The Mohammedans venerate the Hebrew patriarchs, although they oppress their descendants. Ordinarily Christians and Hebrews are not even allowed to enter the Haram surrounding the mosque. Occasionally Christians of great influence, such as the king of England’s heir, have been permitted to enter the mosque. Recently photographs were taken for the first time of the six cenotaphs or memorial tombs of the patriarchs within the mosque. These are reproduced in a recent report of the Palestine exploration fund, which gives some very interesting information about the building. ” z..: “In the church pavement,” says the Rev. A. 5. Grimaldi in this article, “are three movable slabs which give access by ladder or rope to the cave. But two are fastened* up, and not even Moslems are allowed to enter by the third. It is used to throw down written petitions to Abraham; and, looking down, the floor is seen to be Covered as with snowflakes; "When King George V (then prince of Wales) visited the mosque a light was let down, and the rocky sides were seen and a doorway entering out of this antechamber into the tomb cave itself. With the granting of freedom to the inhabi- . tants of Palestine the representatives of religion and science will be able to enter this mysterious cave and disclose its contents to the world. Around .Hebron center all the interesting events ’of the patriarchal age recorded in*the Bible. Here Abraham prepared to sacrifice .his own son, Isaac,' in obedience to the will of God, Jacob labored seven years for Rachel, and Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. From here Joseph started on his fateful journey to Egypt. A remarkably interesting relic affected by the war is the monastery of St. Catherine, on Mount Sinai, shown in one of the accompanying photo- - theLorddeliveredthe ten commandments to Moses. .. In the library «C this monastery was recently

found the oldest known manuscript of the Bible. The monks have occupied this ancient monastery for about 1,800 years, since the foundation of the Christian religion. This monastery lies along the route by which the Turks were reported to be advancing to attack the British defenders of Egypt. It is possible that- the peaceful 'inmates of this very ancient sacred building may be driven out by war. At the foot of the mountain lies “the plain of assembly," where the Israelites waited for Moses to bring down the laws to them. Persons who have read about certain mofiern enterprises in Jerusalem and other parts of the Holy Land may have gained an idea that the Turk has become more amiable in recent years. This is a mistake. ' Yoir can only get anything from the Turk by paying him exorbitantly, and this is not always possible. “Until recently," writes the Rev. Lewis B. Paton, professor of Old Testament history in Hartford Theological seminary, “no permits for excavation were given by the government, and when, under European pressure, firmans were at last granted, these were hedged around with so many restrictions that they were of little practical value. According to the present Turkish law of antiquities, the consent of the local authorities must first be secured before a permit will be issued in Constantinople. To obtain this a lavish expenditure of money is necessary in order to overcome the fanaticism and prejudice of the provincial authorities. “The site desired for exploration must be purchased at a price estimated by the owners. After local permission is secured endless delay and bakshish are necessary before an edict can be secured from the central government When at last it is obtained a Turkish commissioner, whose expenses qre paid by the excavator, must be constantly in attendance to decide what may and what may not be done, and all antiquities discovered must be turned over to the imperial Ottoman museum. These conditions stand in disagreeable contrast to the liberal provisions in' Egypt, where any competent person is allowed to excavate, and <is required only to divide his finds with the Cairo museum. "At the beginning the exploration of Palestine was confined to the study of places and objects that remained above ground. Edward Robinson, the distinguished American archeologist and professor in Union Theological seminary: New York, in a series of journeys carried on during the years following 1838, * and the French scholar,, Guerin, ascertained the modern names of many localities, and succeeded in identifying them with places mentioned in the Bible. The Palestine exploration fund, founded in England in 1865, and largely supported by Amerlcancontributors, conduetedanelaborKteßurvey of Palestine, whose results were embodied in their,‘Great * Way 6f Palestine,’ which is still the standard. “Other explorations were carried on at Jeru-

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSBELA ER, IND.

salem since 1867, and a little digging was done outside the present city limits to determine the lines of the ancient walls. In the course of the superficial study of the land a number of Important monuments were discovered still standing upon the surface. In 1868 the German missionary, Klein, discovered an inscription of Mesha, king of Moab, who is mentioned in II Kings 3. In 1880 some boys, playing in the conduit which leads to the pool of Siloam, discovered an inscription in ancient Hebrew characters dating from the time of King Hezekiah. In 1891 Schumacher discovered a monument of Rameses II (1292 B. C.), who was probably the Pharaoh who oppressed the children of Israel in Egypt; and in 1901 Prof. George Adam Smith discovered a beautiful stele of Sett I, the father of Rameses II." The Harvard expedition at Samaria in 19091910 discovered remains of the palace of the Hebrew kings Omri and Ahab, and in one of its chambers potsherds were fpund containing business accounts written, in a character similar to that of the Siloam Inscription. These discoveries are only a beginning of the exploration of Palestine. The sites excavated, except that of Samaria, are relatively unimportant towns. The great religious centers of antiquity, such as Hebron, Jerusalem, Bethel and Dan, remain unexplored. Hundreds of large mounds exist all over the country, within which the records of ancient times are deposited one above the other in chronological order. It is not unreasonable to expect that, if these mounds could be explored thoroughly ihany more Babylonian tablets such as those found at Tanach would be discovered. Perhaps even a whole library might. be unearthed in such a place as Kirjath-Sepher, whose name means “Book Town.” Since Hebrew inscriptions have been found already there is no reason why more might not be found, or why even manuscripts might not be discovered sealed up in earthen jars, which, as we know from Jeremiah 32:14, was the custom of the Hebrews. Think how the world would be startled if some of the lost books mentioned in the Old Testament were rediscorajed, or ancient manuscripts of some of the canonical books! Not only the sacred places of the Holy Land but the most famous sites of the ancient and classical world, barring those of Greece and Rome, lie under the clutches of the unspeakable Turk. Among them are Constantinople, Troy, Babylon, Nineveh, Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, Arbela and many others. Before the war French archeologists had just begun some very interesting researches at Constantinople. They have now partially laid bare the ruins of the palace of Constantine, which, of course, js of great Interest as the residence of the emperor who gave his name to the* city. This amazing building covered a space of many acres, including quarters, baths and every luxury for the one thousand persona who composed the imperial household and the guards of the palace. It surpasses incomparably both in extent and splendor the palace of the Caesars at Rome, and yet' it is probably equaled in interest by many of the other ruins in the city. Few Americans realize the extraordinary interest of Constantinople and the strange manner in which the wealth of the ages has been locked up in it Constantinople has a longer continuous history than any other great city in the world. Everybody hopes that one of the first results of the war will be to free this ancient center of culture and Christianity, as welt as the Holy Land, from the horrible, barbarous Turka,

BRUNETTE OR BLONDE

Girt Always Dreamed of LightHaired Lover, Got Dark One.

By HARMONY WELLER.

(Copyright, 1915, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) During the 18 months of her engagement and preparation for her marriage Martha had never quite become reconciled to the fact that she had chosen for a life partner a man of brunette type. Always, from her earliest dreams of love, she had pictured a mate whose hair reflected the glory of the sun and whose eyes were blue — blue as the night sky. But alas for 'ideals when flaunted by facts. Martha had fallen in love with David McVicker, and hid hair was as black as the raven’s wing and his eyes were the deep brown of the Arab’s dusky orbs. “Oh, dear!” she sighed, “I seem to get so weary looking at dark hair.” Martha cast a fleeting glance at her reflection, which revealed tresses as black as the shadow of the mountains and eyes only less dark because of the glow of dull red within their lovely depths. “But I suppose since I am to sail Saturday for London and to meet David again, I had better cheer up and forget my golden-haired knight of fancy." Martha had not seen David McVicker for 18 months.

Martha blushed over the fact that she had succumbed to David’s wooing after a scant two weeks’ acquaintance, one of which had been spent on shipboard. After a second week David had returned to his native land, leaving Martha with a most lovely solitaire on her finger and a more or less startled acknowledgment of her engagement. The six months that were expected to intervene between meetings had dragged into 18, and it was with slightly lessened enthusiasm that Martha made preparation for the long-de-layed trip. When the New York sailed into British waters and the mail came on board Martha got a letter from David in which he regretted the fact that he could not meet her at Liverpool. He had been sent to Belfast for at least three weeks on business. Martha sighed, but was not desperately disappointed. David had Informed her that Andre Lequeux, a Belgian, who wad stopping with him, would meet her and pilot her safely to London. Martha found herself wondering what Andre Lequeux would be like, and thinking that she would rejoice in knowing anyone from the now famous country of Belgium. She pondered on the question as to how he would be able to find her among the passenger list, but Martha had not reckoned on David having provided Lequeux with a photograph. It was not difficult then, upon reaching the wharf at Liverpool, to find herself facing a most wonderfully golden-haired young man who introduced himself as Andre Lequeux. Martha smiled and enjoyed the firm grip of the Belgian's hand. She smiled again inwardly when she observed that his eyes were the deep blue of the night sky. If she sighed, Andre did not know that she was comparing him favorably with her dream man of past days. ■>> Lequeux seemed a most capable person and had seen to her luggage, and a customs inspector had put her and her small bags on the train before Martha quite realized It. She found his slightly foreign accent delightful, and realized that she was going to like David’s friend very much indeed. The trip up to London passed without event, save a swift sense of understanding between Lequeux anp the girl to whom David was engaged. The Belgian did not leave her until he had seen her comfortably ensconced in the little private hotel in Holland Park.

After Uat it seemed, as if all life centered in that which concerned Andre Lequeux. Perhaps it was the absolute calmness with which he accepted the fact that he was a refugee, deprived of his home and robbed of the business he had built up in Antwerp that first attracted Martha to him. He had been in the civic guard at the time of the bombardment of Antwerp and after seeing his home and his business premises blown up by the enemy's shrieking shells he had come to England—that haven for all refugees. David McVicker had taken Lequeux into his home and friendship.

The state of affairs began to look ominous. Martha knew that she could never marry David. She had fought desperately against the charm of the Belgian but her struggle had been useless. It was as if a mighty torrent had rushed down from the mountainside and swept her completely into his keeping. Apart from his being the ideal of her youthful dreams in physical beauty he possessed a gentleness of manner, a keen sense of humor and personal charm that Martha loved in spite of herself As for Lequeux, the situation was tragic. He had never before loved a girl and now fate had elected to rob him of home, business and the right to tell that girl that he loved her. Life seemed a queer medley of untold sorrow to him, but his smile was. as ready and his manner as gentle as if the world of joy lay before It was beginning to be most difficult to follow David’s instructions in the matter of entertaining Martha. Lequeux was forced into the girl’s

! presence through David's desire that she be not lonesome while in London and until he himself returned to take her about. More and more the Belgian was falling in love with David’s girl, but he was constantly on guard lest he betray his secret and thus precipitate a crisis that meant a final separation from David and David’s sweetheart. In the meantime, David, over in Belfast, had lost his heart to a little Irish girl and felt himself a cad. The long time that had passed since seeing Martha had worn down the enthusiastic desire he had felt for her and now only a deep regard, such as he would have felt for his brother’s wife, remained. David cursed himself and his fickle nature, but knew not how to stem the current of events that seemed likely to hurl him and Martha over the matrimonial borders. He felt vaguely that Martha was not desperately in love with him and that it would not break her heart were he to be quite frank with her, but David recoiled from the hurt he might inflict. The little Irish girl smiled upon him and David’s business held him another fortnight In Belfast. Martha had intended to wait until his return to London before terminating her engagement to David. Upon learning of his intention to remain away from her another two weeks, she felt as if this would be a good opportunity. She wrote him a letter which blamed him not a little for his neglect of her —blamed him for having placed his friend in such a position. And then she told him everything. It was hard to post the letter and yet Martha could not help feeling that the hurt would not be severe; if David had cared so much he could have found excuse for seeing her before this. It was five days before she received her answer—David had been unable to put his answer to her letter on paper. He had wanted to be honest with her—to tell her all as frankly as she had told him. And it had been difficult.

When Martha read the letter telling of the little Irish girl she laughed. The Belgian was in the room when she received it and he had asked permission to read David’s letter. “It’s an Irish girl!” she said. The Belgian started. , “What—Da vid?” he asked, as if he had been guessing at the truth. Martha nodded. “Write him that it’s —a Belgian—with you,” he laughed. Martha blushed. “I —I've already done it,” she confessed. And then she explained everything to him to hi* entire satisfaction.

Wanted to Know Her.

Ida Hamilton, who will be recalled < by lovers of clever acting for her splendid work with Mrs. Fiske and other dramatic actresses, is now at the Little theater in Philadelphia, where she has been winning high honors. ’fhe other evening she went to the fashionable hotel for a cup of tea, and as she walked down Broad street could not help overhearing the conversation between two women who had just witnessed a performance. One observed that she had enjoyed the play immensely. “And I wish that I knew Miss Hamilton. I would give anything in the world if I knew her.” Miss Hamilton determined to gratify her desire, so she approached and an* nounced herself. “Are you Miss Ida Hamilton? Mis* Hamilton of the Little theater?” “I am,” was her modest reply. “Oh, I am so glad to see you,” she gushed. “I have so wanted to know you. Won’t you tell me the name of your dressmaker ?”

Science and Patriotism.

No nation has done greater service to science than the German. And the world of science, which is cosmopolitan, not national, gladly and freely recognizes it. But does anyone who known anything of the conditions of scientific work, suppose that work would not have been done by Germans unless there had been a German empire? To state the notion is to refute it. A man of , science may be a patriot, but his patriotism has nothing to do with his science. He goes to learn where he ,can learn best, and to work where he can work best; and the result of his work Is a treasure, not for his country alone, but for mankind. —G. Lowes Dickinson in the Atlantic Monthly.

Funds for Infant Welfare Work.

New York city spends >250,000 annually in infant welfare work. For this purpose the city of Chicago appropriates only >4,000 a year. The claim is made by those who profess to know that if that city were to spend >125,000 a year for this purpose, virtually all of the 7,000 babies who die in Chicago each year might be saved, the money value representing the saving in human. Ilves being estimated at >7,000,000. Private organizations such as the Infant Welfare society of Chicago have shown how baby lives may be saved, but if further progress is to be made, it is.averred, the work must be concentrated in the municipality.

Cheap Land for Employees.

A large industry in Christiania, Nor* way, has leased its idle land at a cheap rate to its employees who will erect thereon individual suburban homes of their own. - f j ■

Couldn’t Play.

Lady—Gen where is your pipe? Shepherd (sheepishly)—ln the shanty, ma’am, I’m out of baccy.—Lippincott’s Magazine. 'n/. ..j: