PALESTINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3624, 28 August 1923, Page 7

PALESTINE.

SCENES IN MISSION LANDS. An illustrated lantern lecture on ; the subject of “Palestine'’ drew a large attendance to the Moray Place Congregational Church on the 21st. The lecture was delivered by Miss Lucie Owen. F.iv.G.S., wno is travelling through New Zealand at the present time as a voluntary worker in the interests of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Rev. H. H. Barton, representing the Otago Bible Society, occupied the chair and apologised .or the absence of Mr Peter Ban, president ~t the society. He opened the proceedings with praise, Scripture reading, and prayer. Mr Barton referred to the unique work of the Otago Bible Society which wag soon to celebrate its diamond jtib.iee. Tie heartily welcomed Miss Owen and handed the meeting over to her.

Miss Owen briefly referred to her journeying.-! in Egypt and India, and proceeded to describe a series or very clear views oi Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Several photographs ot models showing the development of tire temple were of much interest. The photographs of notable scenes about the Holy b uy nad been taken by Aliss Owen herself during her lour visits mere. Everywhere the influence and religion of the Mohammedan was conspicuous, 'lhe lectttress described and illustrated the terrible plague of locusts that visiud Jerusalem in 1910. Baffled at various points, they marched round the city till tuey came to the Jaffa Gate, they smothered and partially ale a buoy whose mot.ier was busy at the time a little distance oft' waving Hags in order to divert their course. The locusts could not be kept out of the houses or buildings, and in one hospital three men were employed all day sweeping them out. One ot the most successful methods of dealing with them proved to be to get them to go up sloping boards aid drop into a sack placed at the end. lhe sacks were taken away as they filled and constantly replaced. Photographs of trees and gardens before and after the locust visitation gave a vivid idea of the desolating power of these little insects. Gordon’s calvary, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the upper room, and many other places immortalised in the Gospel story were illustrated on the screen. Another series of pictures were devoted to illustrating from present day life and customs in Palestine familiar phrases from the Scriptures. Speaking of "burdens grievous to be borne’ she said she had seen a. mail carry a piano down six flights of steps and go off up the street with it. Scenes in India followed, accompanied by explanations and descriptions of the heathen customs and observances of that land. Miss Owen next illustrated scenes on a trip she took three thousand miles up the Nile to the territory of the Dinkas, Shilluks, and other remote untouched tribes. Some wonderful stories were related of the eagerness of African natives for portions of the Scriptures and of the transformation wrought in their lives by the Bible. Every missionary came back with the same story that God’s IVord reached the hearts of the people. The British and Foreign Bible Society had now published the Bible or portions of it in 550 different languages, but there were still 700 tribes that had not a single part of its translated for them. At the close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Miss Owen on the motion of Mr A. Wilkinson. During the evening the lantern was effectively manipulated by Mr W. L. Simpson