Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/349

GEBASA 295 GERMAN CATHOLICS Germany, at a time when the situation between the two governments grew grad- ually more and more strained. On the break between Germany and the United States, in February, 1917, he was recalled and returned to the United States. He is the author of two books based on his experiences in Berlin, both of which were widely read; "My Four Years in Ger- many" (1917), and "Face to Face with Kaiserism" (1918). GERASA (jer'a-sa), in the time of the Romans a flourishing city of Pales- tine, situated among the mountains of Gilead, about 20 miles E. of the Jordan. Parts of the city wall are still in good preservation ; two theaters and several temples can be identified, and 230 col- umns are still standing. GEREI (jer'be), or JERBA (jer'ba), an island in the Gulf of Cabes, off the coast of Tunis. It is about 20 miles long and 14 broad. The sui'face is level and fertile, and occupied by a population of about 45,000, mostly Berbers. GERFALCON, or JER-FALCON (-fa- kon), in zoology, the Falco Gyrfalco, a species of falcon considered as the bold- est and most beautiful of the tribe. In size it approaches closely to that of the osprey. Its general color is brownish- gray, of varied tints above and white beneath, and brown longitudinal spots. The tail is crossed with a number of deeper and lighter bands, and the bill and legs are usually of a pale-blue or yel- lowish color. The gerfalcon is a native of Russia, Norway, Iceland, and Baffin's Bay. It is considered one of the most formidable of all rapacious birds. GERHARDT, DAGOBERT VON, pseudonym Gerhard von Amyntor, a German novelist. GERIZIM (ger'i-zim) and EBAL, the two highest mountains in the central Palestine chain (3,000 feet), separated from each other by a deep narrow valley, in which stands the town of Nablus. The valley between them is very fertile. Jacob's well stands where the vale joins the plain of Moreh. On the slope of Ebal to the N. of the well is Sychar (now 'Askar). Mount Gerizim, along with Mount Ebal, was the scene of a grand and impressive ceremony, in which the whole people of Israel took part after crossing the Jordan, in obedience to a command which Moses had given them (Deut. xxvii.). The half of the tribes standing on Gerizim responded to and affirmed the blessings, those on Ebal the curses as pronounced by the Levites. The Samaritans built a temple on Mount Gerizim as a rival to that of Jerusalem, and organized a rival priesthood; and the Samaritan Pentateuch closed the Decalogue with the injunction, "Thou shalt build a temple on Mount Gerizim, and there only shalt thou worship." And, though the Samaritan temple was de- stroyed by Hyrtanus about 200 years after, the mountain on which it stood continued to be held sacred by the Samaritans. Subsequently, a Christian church in honor of the Virgin was built on it. GERM, that from which anything springs; the origin, source, or first prin- ciple of anything. In physiology and botany, the earliest stage in the existence of an organized being, the embryo or bud from which such a being develops; used either of plants or of animals. GERMAIN-EN-LA YE, ST. (san-zher- man-on-la'), a town in the department of Seine-et-Oise, France, on a hill ad- joining the Seine, 6 miles N. of Ver- sailles, and 9 W. by N. of Paris. Manu- factures, horse-hair goods and leather. It is chiefly noted for its noble palace, originally built by Charles V. in 1370; reconstructed by Francis I. ; and em- bellished by many succeeding sovereigns, especially Louis XIV., who added to it five extensive pavilions, and constructed the fine terrace which extends from it for a distance of 1% miles. Charles IX. and Henry II., as well as Louis XIV., were born in this palace. It was the residence of Mile, de la Valliere; and James II. of England, with most of his family, passed their exile, and died in it. It is now used as barracks and a military prison. The Forest of St. Germain, one of the finest of its kind in France, extends N. of the town, inclosed W., N., and E. by the Seine. It is 9 miles in length by 3 in breadth. GERMAN, pertaining or relating to Germany; or a native or inhabitant of Germany. Also the language of the higher and S. parts of Germany; the literary language of the whole country. Old High German was spoken from the 8th to the 12th century; Middle High German from the 12th to the 15th cen- tury; Modern High German is the exist- ing form. Low German is the name for a group of dialects spoken in northern Germany, Netherlands, and Holland. GERMAN CATHOLICS, the name given to a body in Germany that sepa- rated from the Roman Catholic Church in 1844. Whatever might be the deeper causes of the schism, the immediate occa- sion of it was the exhibition of the Holy Coat at Treves. The Old Catholics may be regarded as having superseded the German Catholic movement.