LECTURE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6496, 22 December 1881, Page 5

LECTURE.

A crowded oonaregwtioa assembled in the Durham street Wesleyan Church last even* ing to welcome the Sot A. Be id, who has just relumed from fata tour through Palestine. At the rev gentleman entered the church with the other minuter, be was greeted by a hymn from the Sunday cobool children com* menoing “ And are we yet alive/' and, after prayer by the Bev J. Sutler, Mr W. Harris took the ohatr at the invitation of the Bev W. Baum her. Mr J. Bing, addressing the Bev A. Beid on behalf of the congregation, wished him a hearty welcome on hi* return from bis travels. The Bev A. Bold, who, on rising, was very warmly received, said be first wished to express his gratitude to God for hi* cafe return amongst them after am absence of eight months, and, referring to the eloquent address of welcome with which he had been greeted, considered that this only kid him under deeper obligations to serve them in the work of the Church. He touched briefly on the Tararua disaster, which bad occurred in his absence, and was especially grateful for the large-hearted sympathy with the bereaved members of their church which bad been manifested, not only among themselves, but by other branches of the Church of Christ. As a means of securing a re*introduction to them, he had thought it beet to give them an addrsee on «me portion of bis recent tour in Palestine. Iho rev gentleman then described, in graphic language, the towns of Jaffa and Jerusalem, and other places of interest in the Holy Laud. Jaffa, or Japp, the most ancient known port in the Levant, was a town with do harbour oed^ommodntk3D # built of low flat* roofed houses, and having street* dirty and uninviting, and so narrow that m vehicle could pass down them. In this town w«w a bouse reputed to be the one on which Peter prayed, and two convent# of the Lmn and Greek Churches. Close to the town were groves of oranges, for which only was the (dace famous. Unfortunately at the time the lecturer was there —in October—the fruit was not in season. The road from Jaffa to Jerusalem was one of the best in Palestine, MMfcg through the plain of Bbaron, which, in spring and summer, was covered with most beautiful vegetation, and the plain of Aijalon, near which were the tombs of the Maccabees. Several of the hilU were artificially terraced and planted with olive trees, which were a large source of profit to the owner#, la describing Jerusalem, the lecturer noted that the town is a prew«t garrisoned with Turkish soldiery, and that the reputed Holy Sepulchre, for which the crusaders bad to long, contended, bv Mahommedane—a circumstance which he regarded ae a reproach to the arm* of Ohm ■ tondom. The etreets of the city were squalid dark laxue, and nothing ho bad over seen presented euch a roono of wretohedn**» wij Poverty. The Greek and Latini Christians in So city were » WfJMcJ *• they lived in open hostility, and required a

guard of Moslem soldier* to keep them in cheek. Building* of interest wore the Knight* Templars' Convent, occupied by Lutherans, and the Mosque of Umar, a splendid edifice on Mount Moriah; but a more pleasing feature was to bo soon in the ahni-houtes erected by Hir Moses Montellore in the valley of Topbet. Ho mentioned that the celebrated pool of Beihesda was no# being filled up with lumber and rubbish t and after describing the village of Bethlehem, the rev gentleman resumed his seat amid loud applause. A number of anthem* and sacred selections were sung during the evening by the oboir. A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Rev A. Keid for his lecture, on the motion of the Rev F. M. leitt, seconded by the Rev W. Qlllam. The Chairman announced that Mr Reid would continue the subject of his lecture on Wednesday next, and tlio proceedings closed.