Woodward County Democrat and Palace Weekly Pioneer. (Woodward, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 19, 1907 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Woodward Democrat and Republican and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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Near by u anotner small altar orna-
mented with lights and silken draper-
lea It is the chapel of the Manger,
built upon the spot where the manger
stood. Here the Infant Savior, wrapt
in swaddling clothes, was laid. As
the genuine manger was carried to
Home, a marble one now la seen where
a wax Image of the lufant lies upon a
pallet of straw.
We turn from here to another altar
more richly ornamented and draped
with silk and velvet curtains The
soft rays from golden lamps above
flood the shrine with a glorious light.
Drawing near we nee a large silver
star set in the marble floor beneath
the low arch of the marble altar, and
with awe and wonderment read upon
the pavement this inscription, "Hlc de
Virglne Maria Jesus Chrlstus natus
est.” (Here Jesus Christ was born of
the Virgin Mary,)
How your heart leaps with Joy as
you find yourself at this sacred spot
where Christ the Lord wa3 born. With
an Irresistible Impulse you fall upon
your knees and prostrate in the radi-
ance of these golden lamps? and in the
quiet peace of this hallowed spot you
think of that first Christmas night
when Mary and Joseph sought shelter
wi&in this cave, where, her days be-
ing accomplished, she gave birth to
the Savior of mankind.
THE SIXTIETH CONGRESS
| A Coodensrd Account of Transac-
tions at the National Capital.
The Moot Important Items Gathered
From Each Day's 8etsion of
Senate and House.
• n
I'ja mrYjrr .
Field of the Shepards. Bethlehem.
r
T THIS season of the
year, the Christian world
reverently turns to the lit-
tle town of Bethlehem and
lovingly recalls the story
of the Savior’s birth as set
forth In the simple yet
beautiful language of the
gospel narrative. In spirit
let us go over to Bethle-
hem and view the place
where ChrlBt the Lord was
horn.
Bethlehem Is situated about six
Biles south of Jerusalem. Starting
from Jerusalem by the Jaffa gate, the
fourney la over a rough and hilly
country road amid scenes that awaken
In the mind reverent memories
And fill the soul with loving emo-
tions. Along this very road Christ
Often walked, and here and there at
different turns of the road are places
associated with some interesting and
atlrrlng event in the history of the
people of Israel. On the west. Is the
Gihon valley, where Solomon was
frowned and on the south-east Is the
▼alley of Hlnnom, where nearby. In
the field of Kephalm. King David de
(eated the Philistines
But a short distance from King
David’s well Bethlehem greets the eye
There on a high hill it stands, with Its
closely clustered houses of white
•tone, Its massive walls and towers
looming forth in the brightness of the
morning sun. while below is a rich
▼alley with Its green grass, olive trees
and vineyards reaching up |n terrace*
to the summit of the hill
announced to them the glad tidings
of the Savior’s birth. Leaving the
roadside and crossing over to "the
field of the shepherds’’ one looks about
the peaceful valley and beholds sheep
feeding there upon the grassy alopes
and youthful shepherds still watching
their flocks as the shepherds did in
the time of Christ.
Near the field of the shepherds Is
the field of Boaz, where Ruth went
forth to glean aud where Boaz fell In
love with her. It was from this union
of Boaz and Ruth that the ancestors
of David and Christ sprung. With the
mind thus awakened by these histor-
ic spots, one Journeys along to the
gateway leading into the town.
Bethlehem has about 6,000 Inhabi-
tants. The streets are narrow, poorly
paved, with scarcely a level stretch
anywhere, while low-sized houses of
stone line both sides of the streets.
The lower floor of many of the houses
is used for a booth or workshop,
where natives are principally engaged
in making rosaries or trinkets of
pearl, coral and olive wood.
The Inhabitants are for the most
part Christians. They are bright ap-
pearing, neatly dressed and more fav-
orably Impress one than the people of
Jerusalem. It Is said that the blood
of the crusaders flows in the veins of
many of the Inhabitants.
Looks Like Fortress.
The outside of the church looks like
a fortress with Its high stone walls.
A little door leads into the church,
which Is divided Into three sections,
belonging to the Latins, Greeks and
Armenians. The first section of the
church is the Greek Basilica. Here
two raws of marble pillars support
the roof and divide the nave Into two
aisles. These pillars are said to have
been taken from the temple of Solo-
mon. Along the walls are traces of
ancient mosaics.
There are two entrances leading
to the grotto, one by a marble stair-
case near the choir In the Greek sec-
tion of the church, and the other from
the Latin section, which is known as
the church of St. Catherine.
^ Some few years ago this church of
St. Catherine was enlarged and hand-
somely fitted up by the emperor of
Austria.
Descending the grotto, one ia re-
minded of the catacombs in passing,
with lighted tapers, through this dark
and winding cave to the various
shrines and tombs hewn out of the
sides.
Grotto in Limestone.
THE FESTIVAL OF THE NATIVITY.
Was Observed at Very Early Time In
History of Church.
The festival of Christmas was ob-
served at a very early period In the
I church, as indeed it could hardly but
be; for that which brought the Joy of
angels within reach of men's ears
could not but have been devoutly and
Joyously remembered by Christians,
year by year, when they came fully to
understand the greatness of the event
It Is most fit that the season so marked
out by angels by songs of Joy, such as
had not been heard on earth since the
creation, should also be observed as a
time of festive gladness by the church,
and in the social life of Christiana.
Christ Himself instituted this festival
when He sanctified the day by then
first revealing His human nature to
the eyea of mankind. The holy angels
witnessed to its separation forever as
a day of days, when they proclaimed
the glory that was then offered to God
In the highest by the restoration of
perfect manhood in the virgin-born
Jesus, and the peace that was brought
among men on earth through the re-
union of their nature to God.
It is to the nativity of our Lord that
all the pages of the Bible point as the
center on which everything there re-
corded turns.
Spreading Glory.
Christmas thoughts and affections
make our spirits a land of the unset-
ting sun; Its brightness and Its
warmth spreading a softened glory
over all the world.—Cunningham
Geike.
Charm of Bethlehem.
A mysterious charm seems to hang
over the town as one looks at It from
this point and reflects that this Is
Bethlehem, where Ruth and Boaz liv-
ed and loved, where Jesse and David
lived, and where Christ, the son of
God was born. What a feeling of Joy
cornea over one as drawing nearer
to the town he passes through this
lovely little valley covered with olive
trees and green grass, and la ahown
“the field of the shepherds ’ where
the angels appeared to the lowly shep
herds on the first Christmas night and
The Cave in the Pock.
Passing through the narrow streets
we finally come to the church of the
Nativity.
It was here that the Inn stood where
.Mary and Joseph, footsore and weary,
:tfter their long Journey, sought for
lodgings' but ’’there was no room for
them." They were obliged to seek else-
where for some resting place. The
chalk-hills of Judea are honey-combed
with innumerable caves. One of these
excavations, close by the Inn, was
used as a shelter for such beasts as
the stables of the Inn could not ac-
commodate. Mary and Joseph were
obliged to take shelter In this grotto.
Here, amid the straw which served as
bedding for the beasts, far from all
assistance, on a cold winter’s night,
Mary, the virgin mother, gave birth to
the infant Savior.
This cave is established beyond all
doubt as the place where Christ was
born. From the earliest times Chris-
tians have always kept sacred this
particular spot St. Justin, martyr
born In Palestine about 100 years af-
ter Christ, speaks of this cave, and the
pagan philosopher Celsus, writing A.
D. 150, also knew of It The emperor
Hadrian, about 137 A. D., In order to
keep the Christians away from it.
erected a statue of Adonis there and
established Idol worship In the cavern
The ejnperor Constantine removed
the Idol and erected over the cave a
church about 330 A. D. At different
periods since then the church has
been rebuilt, enlarged and renovated,
until we find the present structure,
with Its different sections belonging
to the Latin. Greek and Armenian
rites The courtyard leading to the
church Is paved with large square
stones and on the side are the ruins of
old columns where the former atrium
of thet basilica stood. This court
yard la frequently used as a market
place where the native* gather to sell
their ware*
The grotto Is formed in a ridge of
soft limestone and Is 39 feet long and
from ten to twelve feet wide. It Is
paved with stone flags, and the walls
are covered with white marble
Turning to the right we enter a pas-
sageway to the altar of St. Eusebius
of Cremona, which Is built over his
tomb. He was a friend of St Jerome
and came to aid him In the founding
of a monastery at Bethlehem He
afterward became the superior of It
and died in 422 A. D.
We next come to the chapel of the
Tombs.
On the east aide Is an altar, beneath
which are the tombs of St. Paula and
St. Kustochlum, her daughter. They
were descendant* of the Grace! and
Scipios, and had come to Bethlehem to
devote themselves to the service of
Qod. They distributed their wealth to
the poor, aided 9t. Jerome to build
monasteries, and studied the holy
scriptures under him.
Retracing our steps to the entrance
of this chapel of Tombs, we come next
to the altar of the Innocents. Tradi-
tion relates that here many of the
mothers of Bethlehem hid themselves
from the soldiers of Herod, but were
discovered and their children slain.
Continuing along, we are shown a
small altar known ai the chapel of St.
Joseph, which commemorates the
place where St. Joseph was warned
In a dream to flee Into Egypt. Over
the altar is an oil painting represent-
ing the flight into Egypt
Chapel in the Manger.
Pausing through a narrow doorway
we observe a round hole In the ground
where, tradition states, a miraculous
fountain hurst forth for the use of the
Holy Family. From here we now enter
the crypt of the nativity, where golden
lamps shed a soft and brilliant light
upon the various shrines. With feel-
ings of reverence and devout faith we
approach and look with wonder upon
the little chapel of the Magi n,ro
with gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh, these wise men from the east
knelt and adored the a*w born King
tmtnrtra Ago
Alfred Domett
It ta$ ftLcahi aid stint
Washington.—In the senate Moa
day bills introduced included the fol-
lowing:
By Mr. Platt, of New York, for na-
tional supervision of corporations in-
cluding a national bureau of incor-
poration.
By Mr. McLauriu, to relieve the
present money stringency and prevent
Its recurrence. It permits persona
owning any l*onds of the United
States to deposit them In the treas-
ury and receive notes to an amount
equaling tbeir par value, it Is pro-
| vided that until February, 1909, per-
sons owning one or more bales of
cotton may deposit it lu a depository
designated by the secretary of the
treasury and receive treasury notes
to the extent of 70 per cent of the
value of the cotton. If not redeemed
the cotton shall be sold by the gov-
ernment. The bill also Imposes a
penalty on dealing In "cotton fu-
tures,’’ of $100,000 fine or five years
imprisonment.
Senator Davis Attacked Trusts.
Washington.—Passionate oratory
marked the proceedings of the senate
Wednesday. Senator Jeff Davis of Ar-
kansas. who, when elected, declared
that he would attack the trusts Im-
mediately after taking his seat, ful-
filled his promise, although he was
a few days late In doing so. The
speech was filled with sensational
declarations and was given with that
vigor for which the Arkansas senator
is famous In his own state. Quaint
phrasing, pointed denunciations, and
evidences of intense emotion charac-
terized his remarks. He was given a
careful hearing by senators and the
galleries were well filled throughout
the time he held the floor. Beginning
shortly before 1 o’clock he spoke for
a little more than an hour. At the
close of the speech the senate went
Into exerntlve session and at 2:10
o'clock adjourned. The house was not
In session.
Restricting Bank Officers.
Washington.—A bill making it a
felony for a national bank or any of
Its officers to speculate with funds of
the bank and making it a high mis-
demeanor to borrow from a national
bank with which to speculate, was in-
troduced Thursday by Representative
DoArmond of Missouri. The extreme
penalty provided under the felony
clause 1* ten years Imprisonment, sad
under the misdemeanor clause, $1,000
fine.
8ent to Finance Committee.
Washington.—Senator Culberson'*
I resolution for an Inquiry by the sen-
ate committee on finance Into the re-
cent Issue of bonds by the govern-
ment was Tuesday' sent to the finance
committee upon a stalement by Mr.
Aldrich that that committee would
meet In a few days and report a
resolution covering the entire subject
More Pay for Rural Carrier*.
Washington.—senator Hansbrough,
of North Dakota, proposes an Increase
In tke maximum salary allowed ruml
free delivery carriers from $900. to
$1,200. He gave notice Tuesday of
an amendment to the postofflee ap-
propriation bill to that effect.
Proposed Discovery Day.
Washington—Representative Goul-
den of New York Introduced a bill
making October 12 a national holiday
to celebrate the dlsrorery of America
by Christopher Columbus October 12. .
1492. The day would be known as
Discovery day
Nominations Confirmed.
Washington.—The senate Wednes-
day confirmed the nomination of the
Isthmian canal commissioners of
I* rank Pierce of Utah to be assistant
secretary of the interior and of more
than 200 other officlalsr mostly post-
masters.
To Prevent Injunction.
Washington.—A bill designed to re-
strain the United States circuit and
district courts and judges, from issu-
ing temporary Injunctions against the
operation of the state laws was intro-
duced In the house Thursday by Mr.
Clayton of Alabama.
Would Exempt Coal and Lumbar.
Washington.—Bills exempting all
lumber and coal from Import duty
were Introduced In the house Thurs-
day by Mr. Boeher of Missouri.
*
Ths "Southern Sultan" Retreats.
Paris.—In a dispatch from Casa
Blanca, General Drude, the French
military commander In Morocco re-
ports that Mulal Hafld, the "Southern
Hultan,” had withdrawn In the direc-
tion of Morocco City and at the same
Ume ordered his forces near Sldlassa
and Mogador also to retire.
i$o,
Iowa Delegation for Cummins.
Des Moines, Iowa—An effort will
ho made to get the delegation from
Iowa for Cummins for president. This
waa learned Friday from close frleade
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Woodward County Democrat and Palace Weekly Pioneer. (Woodward, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 19, 1907, newspaper, December 19, 1907; Woodward, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc951623/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.