The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 22, 1935, Page 32

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” JUNEAU, ALASKA, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1935. miles. Mary, seated sidewise on a across the d nkg 3 their way h} gH then up to hely on to the Plain of Rephaim. Midwa would stop there led by camel to their flocks, noted the old stone watch towers where the f to look far across their lands in all directions. Thenl\they ¢ a small and humble villace whose romr;. o/bt/)l gray and uninvitin’ iy 0 /&;%\ The man and woman w..déd/their way ™t rough/"tfi hro} L] SN AN the bazaars and found the inn where tihcy so\ugh odgihg.~\Th < People were having tg/Sleep b@ yside. Now Mary/was wi h child and Joseph wanted to protect her and m’@%\hut}mw\na{ to\b had. So the couple sought shelter in the sta/b{e besilde t/he&ti\\\y dcr/xke Thqstal{le wa{ a ine or grotto in the rocks with crude wooden mangers fil\ d{ year of the reign of Herod the Great,\J. S1S0| Pty B0 LI T . i . N et swaddling tléthes and laid HImQ a/mang g }e\t € shepherds, to whom angels hdd P V} e B o TR announced the Saviour’s birthcame 'to/kneel 1ow beside the humble bed andTay their gifts o — \ before the Babe/w om.they adored. Because this Babe was’ b/or{1 the peace, love /{\umfity /allfi;e great birth. The béis &f modern civilizatiop li %en as the Wise Men 2000 years ag i shrine, so pilgrims, tour- ists, believers and non-believers journey | Q sarne road, still the main art of Israel. They see and the old, old watch Land, particularly to ancient Bethlehem, whose grayness has increased with centuries of dust and erosion on its leaden-hued stones. But dull as is its outward appearance, few approach the city without a thrill of reverence and awe, without renewing acquaintance /’with the Holy Scriptures and gaining inspiration and faith. Today they cross the lively bazaars where “objects of piety” made of shells, mother-of-pear} and olive wood have wide space among the food-stuffs and goods for sale. They go to the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem‘s greatest relic of antiquity. In 330 A, D. Constantine built this basilica above what is believed to be the grotto-stable in which Christ was born. The church looks like a fortress and its entrance door is so small aven a short person must stoop to enter. It was made thus not, as some say, to cause thoughts of humility and reverence upon entering so holy a place, but to prevent the ancient Saracens and Turks when they were in power from desecrating the place with cattle. Five different nation- alities of Christians now guard this church and hold services here. The place is strik- ingly simple. The Greek Qrthodox and the Armenian and Syrian churches occupy the main floor. Two circular stairways lead to the dark caves below. gThere is a chapel in the grotto. On the floor is ‘ great silver star with silver nails over a hollow where Mary i§ said to have given birth to Jesus. Around the star is the inscription: “Hic de Viirgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est.” / " Fifteen silver lamps unkeasingly burn day and night over this holy place. Four belong d to the Latins, six to the Greek Orthodox, and five to the Armenians and Syrians. Repre- : /sentatives from many Chrigtian nations kneel in common before the little altar. Seldom is " the grotto without worshlippers. Whether or not they believe this to be the authentic spot of the Nativity, it carries the atmosphere of holiness and spirituality.\‘ The handsome, proud natives of Bethlehetn seem always a happy people, but at Christmas time Bethle- | hem radiates Joy. 2 i ¥ 3 X \ : s e