BETHANY, THE HOME OF MARY AND MARTHA "And he led them out as far as to Bethany." -Luke 24: 50. Situated on the east side of the Mount of Olives, and about two miles from Jerusalem. This view is taken from the east side of the village. It was "Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. "CHAPEL OF THE ASCENSION " "And when he had spoken these things, . . . he was taken up.". Acts 1:9. On the summit of Olivet this historic spot was recognized as early as 315 A.D., and is preserved until this day, although it is controlled by the Moslems. THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM -The Distance from Jerusalem, Five Miles Descending from the Jaffa Gate into the Valley of Hinnom, we pass Rachel's tomb, David's well, with the fields of Boaz in view. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them." When they had Matt. 2: 8-9. Our Afternoon Visit to Bethlehem THE shepherds said, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem." Luke 2:15. How strange it seemed to say to the porter, on Wednesday afternoon, April 6, 1904, "Please order a carriage and we will drive to Bethlehem." From the Hotel du Parc we pass the Jaffa Gate and descend into the valley of Hinnom. On our left is the citadel of David and the spur of Mount Zion. On our right the lower pool of Gihon, and in the bed of the valley are drawers of water" at the fountain recently connected with Solomon's pools. Climbing the hill we pass the Ophthalmic Hospital of the Knights of St. John. A little farther on we lock across the valley of Hinnom and the wilderness of Judea to the mountains of Moab in the distance. This picture presents a scene of fertility, barrenness and grandeur combined. We are shown an isolated tree, an oak with branches all turned eastward by the prevailing winds; it is the traditional tree where "Judas went and hanged himself."-Matt. 27: 5. We cross the "Plain of Rephaim," now a grain field dotted over with olive groves. Near here David gained a victory over the Philistines, the "sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees 2 Sam. 5:23being the signal for attack. At the foot of a slight ascent is an old rockhewn cistern covered by a large stone; in its water, tradition says, the wise men saw the reflection of the star. From the top of the slope we see Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christianity, situated on a long range of hills. We are in the way of Mary and Joseph and millions of others whose desire has been to visit this Judean town. The valley sides are terraced, and green with vines and trees. Soon we reach, on the right, a large domed building, Rachel's tomb, for "Rachel died, |