ONE writer tells us that the monasteries of the Russian Church in Constantinople are really huge fortresses, in commanding positions, and that the “monks” are well armed. The Prophetic News of September, 1898 (article of Mr. W. Greene), has this to say of Russian work in Palestine:— “Those who have visited Jerusalem in these latter years know of the Russian Convent and Greek Church there erected at great expense only recently, but few are aware of the gigantic tower built under Russian auspices by the Archimandrite of the Greek Church. “The tower is blasphemously erected on the summit of the Mount of Olives, and at the supposed spot of the ascension of our Lord to heaven. It is 220 feet high, built of cut stone, 24 feet at the base, and 21 feet at the top, and from it a most extensive view is obtained in all directions. It has within it a monster bell or tocsin, weighing 20 tons, cast in Russia, and dragged up on a strong carriage, brought for the purpose, by 3,000 or 4,000 Russians, principally women, all the way to the base of the tower. It now hangs within the tower, together with a peal of seven bells above it. Higher still is an electric chamber, with wires to some of the monasteries of the Holy Land. On its summit is an electric light, and it is supposed that when this great bell is tolled—with some new electric or telephonic agency probably—it will be heard at Jaffa, Jericho, and Mount Lebanon. It is also said that the convents and monasteries are well supplied with arms, and that quantities of land have recently been purchased around them. Such activities, especially the tower and its arrangements, must be for some special purpose. The question is, What is the purpose intended?”