THE WORK was established! I bad builded om the sure foundation of the Word of God! Now I was to bave a vacation! A respite from my many aird faithful labors! A change of scenery and surroundings!
bE cg HERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO Go?” I was asked. “OF all the places I know of,” I replied, "I would like to see the Holy Land where Jesus was born, where He lived and walked with the sons of men, preached the gospel and healed the sick.”
‘Yet it was with a rather tremulous heart that I approached the time of departure. Could I leave the work? It was going on so well with one accord. The people were so loyal and whole hearted. There was a man in the Bible who sowed seed and while he slept the enemy came and sowed tares in his field. I had always been afraid to go away for fear the old devil would come and sow tares. But the Lord had laid it on my heart that now was the time for a little rest, after fifteen years without a vacation of any kind, and following three years of constant seryice, day and night in Angelus Temple,
The tickets were purchased and I was to make my way to England and thence to the Holy Land.
Then came the last Sunday night when all the friends tried to get into Angelus Temple, and I had to speak to three audiences in one evening. Everyone so kindly came to say “goodby” and wish me Godspeed.
The farewell at the train depot overwhelmed me! I had not
realized the Lord had brought us so many friends, until the train was pulling out and there were the thousands who had gathered to say "God bless you, Si age.” There were led up and the baskets of flowers. There were the cameras, with their owners running here and there, crying, "Sister, hold your head this way,” or “Look up and smile, Sister.
As the train pulled away, the people sang, “God be with you till we meet again.” Just as I was settling down to rest I heard people shouting and hands tapping on the windows, and looked out to see that we were in Pasadena, and hundreds w gathered outside with flowers and to offer a last farewell. A mittee from the Rose Tournament Association presented me with a silver cup and their best wishes. So it was that at every depot through which we passed during the night and all the next day people were out to wave to us, even where the train did not stop and the country was seemingly deserted.
Chicago, then New York—and finally, with a deep-throated ar liner eased from the pier and America receded from view. As the impressive New York skyl tance, we gazed lov at the great Statue of Liberty liftir up her hand as though bidding us “adieu.” And then our shif began to cut its way through the surging billows toward the distant land of France.
At last we were in Paris. Up and dov far ve you safe pass at armfuls and ters Pp com groan ne faded in the dis.
n the streets the mobiles were hurrying, theit horns sounding much like a New Year's Day celebration in America, I went out to the Eiffel ‘Tower and climbed up to the top. Looking down upon the city below men appeared as tiny specks. There was the river Seine flowing quietly out toward the sea; and as I g: over that city I thought of Jesus looking over Jerusalem and weepin, longed Holy Ghost revival in Paris; but I could not find one though I looked carefully. The churches seemed to be very cold and formal.
Arriving in England I saw the narrow, busy streets and
0 see a re heard the din and bustle of thousands of people. Again I began to feel my heart burning over the multitude. Hearing “Big Ben” striking up in the tower of the Parliament Building, I thought of the great “Parliament” up above and what the Lord is able to do with men and nations.
Going down through the cloistered aisles of Westminster Abbey, I saw the graves of the martyrs and many wonderful people marked on the floor of that beautiful building. I saw the doors where they had entered with the processions and I could almost hear the words: “Open the doors and bear him in.” Great monuments might crumble into dust, but this was living stone.
Speaking in Surrey Tabernacle, at the insistence of Rev. George Jeffries, pastor, we had the privilege of witnessing overflow meetings as we preached the Foursquare Gospel in England.
Returning to France, I passed through it on a fast train and came to the beautiful blue Mediterranean. Monte Carlo being in the line of travel, I stopped to view it. Talk about fashion and jewels and flowing liquor—I certainly saw it there. Those people seemed to possess everything except the Lord Jesus Christ and true and lasting happiness and satisfaction. Fortunes are made and lost in an hour in Monte Carlo, they told me, and showed me a bridge where many people had jumped off, to be dashed to pieces on the rocks, after they had played and lost. The devil is a hard taskmaster!
Boarding the boat for the Holy Land, we stopped at Port Said and the Suez Canal along the way. At last, we were on the sleeper and making our way along the edges of the Promised Land! I sat up in my berth, wrapped a robe about my shoulders, cupped my hands to shield my eyes from the light inside, and pressed my face to the window in an effort to see the country through which we were passing.
Here at last was the land of which the Bible spoke. Would it be anything like that which I had pictured? Would I be disappointed? I could see farmlands as we were passing, for people there farm even though they live on the steep slope of a mountain. They terrace the slopes and make numerous little garden spots all up and down, utilizing every foot of ground.
As we passed on I saw sheep grazing, for dawn was beginning to come now. I thought of little David. the shepherd boy who sat and watched his father's flocks, and of Jesus Who said, “T am the good shepherd.”
‘This was different than anything I had seen in any of the other countries. There were the men on the threshing floor early in the morning before the sun was up. There were the farmers making their way to the field with the tiniest donkeys you ever saw. Over on the desert I saw the camel trains and the merchantmen coming up, carrying their wares to Jerusalem.
It was all very beautiful, but I could not get the fear out of my heart that perhaps Jerusalem might be changed from the way it had been in Jesus’ day. And it seemed my worst fears would be realized for I began to look out upon modern scenes. TI ere beautiful homes of stucco, brick and wood that would do credit to California, There were stores and plate
18s windows, telephones and nice looking restaurants. There were newshoys crying, “Extra! New York paper!”
A man passed the door. He had helped me with my suit cases the day before, and was well acquainted with that part of the country
Sister,” he comforted, “you are still outside the walls. You are looking at the modern city of Jerusalem. The Jews are coming back and these are their settlements. However, you will find that Jerusalem itself will be unchanged.”
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At last we came to the station, and took an automobile into the city. “There is not a break in the walls anywhere,” the explained. “They are solid, for they have been restored.”
My heart beat fast. Those were the walls David saw and of which Jeremiah wrote. Those were the walls Nehemiah rebuilded!
When we approached the Damascus Gate, the automobile was abandoned, for it is impossible to drive a car through Jerusalem because of the narrow streets and the many steps up and down all al ong the way.
The hotel at which I stopped was located directly across the street from the Tower of David, which he had builded for an army whereon to hang the shields of mighty men.
I could not wait for the guide, so anxious was I to see the city. In the streets were thousands of people in their native costumes just as in the Bible days, carrying their burdens and selling their and many of them speaking the same language they spoke in Jesus’ day. There was the Japha Gate and the merchants offering their wares beside it. Many kinds of candies and sweets were being sold all through the streets.
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I wondered if these were the things Jesus saw and heard when He walked these same streets so many years ago.
In my journey I came to the wailing wall and the place where the Jews weep and mourn over their lost temple and their lost nation. I stood by the temple of Solomon—the place where the glory of God had fallen on the people. Of course the Moslems had it now and there worshipped Mohammed. I could hear them calling out the message every hour for the people to come for prayer. And down below, by the wailing wall, were the Jews. They were not allowed inside the temple wall. All they have left are these few precious stones that were there in Solomon's day. So they meet every day to cry and kiss the stones until they have worn them as smooth as glass. Their pitiful cry ascended and seemed to envelop the air around about us:
“Almighty God, give us back our temple; give us back our land. Drive out the Moslem, Send the Messiah and save Thy people!”
How I longed to put my arms around them and tell them that the Messiah had already come, that the Jesus Whom their fathers rejected is indeed the Messiah, the Saviour of all the world!
The guide took us along the Via Dolorosa, beginning at the place of judgment where Pilate cried: “Behold the man!” and along the various stations on the way to Calvary.
A church has been builded over the place where the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be located. I arose early Sunday morning and went to attend the service there. The bells were ringing deafeningly, and there were seven church services being held all at once. This holy ground is divided up and part is given over to the Roman Catholics, part to the Greek Catholics, Egyptians, Arabs, and so on, Each one was shouting above the other all in the same building. I saw them lighting their candles and kissing the stones. There were some Protestants, but for the most part the crowd was made up of Jews, Mohammedans and Catholics.
Outside the city wall is the place where the Protestants and the majority of people believe is the real Calvary, and the shape of a skull is evident in the formation of rock. Being outside the city wall it seems it might indeed be the place. Just beneath it there is a real tomb and a garden. As I sat there the fading light of an afternoon, I thought of how Jesus had hung upon the cross and cried, “It is finished!” Seemed once more I could hear the cries of the people and see Him there ‘neath the darkening heavens, bleedin dying that ht live!”
Every stick and stone, every foot of the land spoke of Jesus! It was a wonderful thing to hear the people talking of Him.
I came to the Golden Gate and thou; had prayed for His people. At Stephen's Gate, outside of which Stephen was stoned—the first martyr for the cause of Christ— I remembered his ringing testimony and his forgiving spirit g and it of how the Lord
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge Here I saw the potter's field which was purchased with las’ money—blood-money, We went from wall to wall, from
¢ to gate, viewir te, the sheep gate, the camel gate, and so on.
the people's ga
As we jour neyed, we came to the Garden of Gethsemane and saw an old tree which was standing when Jesus was there. A fence has been built around it, to protect it from souvenir hunters.
You can imagine how I loved the Mount of Olives. Slipping away from the others for a moment, I spent a quiet time of communion with the Lord on the Mount, remembering that from that very spot Jesus ascended into heaven. I know I stood on the exact spot, because I walked over that whole mountain inch by inch and couldn’t have missed it!
In Zion I made my way to the upper room where the 120 received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and where Jesus partook of the Last Supper. I rejoiced at seeing the little town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Nazareth is as it was in days gone by. The people were very timid and covered their faces, T found that when we left Jerusalem we got out where people really lived their home lives. In Jerusalem they are more accus tomed to the tourists and have become more bold, but in the outlying cities and towns they are just as they were when Jesus was on earth
Among the homes we saw ovens such as they used to bake bread in Jesus’ day, and they still use them today, We drew water from one of the wells, And what a thrilling sight it was to see Jacob's well, whereon Jesus had sat and met the woman of Samaria.
I stood on the banks of the Jordan where John baptized the ple, and seemed to hear again his ringing challenge: “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world!” Then I went to Jericho and learned what Jesus meant when He said that “a certain man went down.” It was down hill all the way.
There is delightful scenery in the Holy Land. The Bible speaks of the cedars of Lebanon and they grow on the hillsides in their green glory.
Today the Promised Land is again beginning to “blossom as the rose,” according to prophecy. The Jews are returning, and God's plan of the ages is rapidly being completed. The time of the Gentiles appears to be nearly over, and I believe Jesus is indeed coming soon! As we watch Palestine and God's time-piece, the Jew, let us make ever sure we will be ready when Christ returns to receive His own!
At last my vacation and visit to the Promised Land was at an end, but I returned to the Temple refreshed in body and mind to continue the great task which God had given me. Had I realized the time of testing that lay in store for me upon my return, I might have flinched before it; but God mercifully withholds the future, and gives us strength sufficient for each day.