Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/614

 594 BETHANY limestone rock, probably a natural cave re- modelled by human labor, in which the Fran- ciscans say mass twice a year. A church, called the castle of Lazarus, was built over this grave by St. Helena in the 4th century. In the 12th century it became the site of a very important monastic establishment. It was still in exist- ence in 1484, but scarcely any vestige now re- mains. BETHANY, a post village of Brooke co., W. Va., 10 m. N. E. of Wheeling. It is the seat of Bethany college, established in 1841 by the Eev. Alexander Campbell, the founder of the sect of Baptists called Disciples. This college in 1871 had 9 instructors and 107 students. BETHEL, a city of ancient Palestine, about 11 m. N. of Jerusalem. It was originally called Luz, and was named Beth-El (house or place of God) by Jacob, who here beheld in a vision the angels ascending and descending. The ruins called Beitin occupy its ancient site, cov- ering an area of three or four acres. On the highest point are the remains of a square tower, and toward the south those of a Greek church Bethel. standing on foundations of more ancient date. Bethel was a royal city of the Canaanites, and on the conquest of Palestine by Israel was as- signed to Benjamin, but ultimately occupied by the Ephraimites. On the division of the coun- try into the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel, Jeroboam for political purposes built there an altar and set up a golden calf, to prevent the Israelites from resorting to the sanctuary at Jerusalem. BETHEL, a town of Oxford co., Maine, on the Androscoggin river and the Grand Trunk railroad, 70 m. N. N. W. of Portland ; pop. in 1870, 2,286. It is rendered attractive to tour- ists by the beauty of the surrounding scenery. The principal points of interest in the vicinity are Screw Auger falls, Rumford falls. Partridge falls, White Cap mountain, and Glass Face mountain ; the White mountains are 25 m. dis- tant. The town contains 3 hotels, 5 churches, manufactories of woollens, starch, lumber, car- riages, spools, furniture, blinds, fee., and an academy with 150 pupils. BETHLEHEM BETHENCOURT, Jean, seigneur de, a French navigator, born in Normandy, died in 1425. He was chamberlain of Charles VI. of France, and having been ruined in the Anglo-French wars, he organized in 1402, with Gadifer de la Salle and others, an expedition from La Ro- chelle in quest of adventures. After touching at the Spanish ports, and taking on board a Guanche prince, Augeron. whom he found at Cadiz, he sailed for the Canaries. He visited the islands separately, and constructed a fort on Lanzarote. Finding his forces insufficient to subdue the natives, he returned to Spain for reenforcements, leaving Gadifer in command, who succeeded in subjugating a considerable number of the natives before Bethencourt's return and resumption of the supreme power under the title of seigneur or lord of the isl- ands. He converted the king to Christianity in 1404, and the conversion of the greater number of the Guanches followed. Bethen- court wished to extend his conquests to Africa, but dissensions arose between himself and Gadifer, which were decided by Henry III. of Castile in favor of B<thencourt. The latter in- troduced French laborers into the islands, had a bishop named by the pope in 1405, and, after deputing his nephew as governor, returned to France in 1406, spending the rest of his life on his estates. His achievements are related in L'Histoire de la premiere descouverte et con- queste dei Canaries (Paris, 1630). His nephew was the founder of a Spanish family (Betan- curt or Betancur) which is still prominent. BETHESDA (Heb., place of mercy or place of effusion), the name of a pool or fountain which, according to Scripture, was situated near the sheep gate of Jerusalem, and had porches or resting places around it for the sick. (See JERUSALEM.) BETH-HOROK (Heb., place of caverns), Upper and Lower, two villages of ancient Palestine, situated 9 m. N. W. of Jerusalem. The former is identical with the modern village of Beit Ur el-Foka, and the other corresponds to Beit Ur el-Tahta. There is a pass between the two vil- lages, down which Joshua pursued the Amorite kings. Beth-horon was included within the district of Ephraim. Solomon fortified it, probably on account of its commanding posi- tion and because it was the key of the princi- pal pass to Jerusalem. Traces of ancient walls are still visible. BETHLEHEM (Heb., place of bread; Arab. Beit Lahm, house of flesh), an ancient town of Palestine, belonging to the tribe of Judah, 6 m. S. of Jerusalem. It was called Bethle- hem Ephratah to distinguish it from a Bethle- hem in Zebulun, and is famous for many re- markable events, as the birth of David and his inauguration and anointing by Samuel. But that which renders Bethlehem eminent in Christian history is the birth of Jesus. A large convent divided among the Greeks, Catholics, and Armenians, and which contains a church, ! is built over the spot where that event is sup-