The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-01-12
THE HOLY sEPULCHRE.
BY AN AMERICAN TRAVELLER.

The resident population Of jerusalem is
seventeen thousand, consisting chiefly OF
Turks. Armenians, Arabs, Greeks, ltal.
ians, and Jews of all nations. 1t is esti.
mated that the average number Of Pilgrims
who visit the Holy City every year is
about fifteen thousand. On particular
occasions, the influx Of strangers is Of
course much greater. Sometimes, when
the accommodations Of the city are insult
ficient for so many pilgrims, encampments
are formed outside the walls; and many
find shelter in the converts Of Bethlehem
and St. Saba. The uncertain tenure upon
which each sect holds its right Of worship
in Jerusalem the mingled severity and
laxity of the Turkish law; the fanatical
zeal with which all the sects are inspired.
and the bigoted hatred that exists between
them, gives rise to perpetual hostility OF
feeling, and often to sanguinary feuds. 1t
is deplorable to see how prolaned are the
precepts of Him who preached peace and
good will toward all men in this very spot;
whose voice still fingers upon Zion and
the Mount of Olive; to witness in their
worst form. envy, hatred and malice, prac-
tised in his name, and the outward wor.
ship of God where sin and wickedness
reign triumphant. Perhaps upon the
whole face of the globe there could not be
found spot less holy than modern Jeru-
salem. All the fierce bad passions that
drive to crime are let loose here in the
struggle for Immortality; all the better
traits Of human nature are buried in fan
atcism; and all the teachings Of wisdom
and humanity are vitiated in british bat
tie for spiritual precedence.
In the Holy Sepulchre the hatred be-
tween the sects is fierce and undying. The
Greek and Roman Catholics, the Copts,
Armenians and Maronites, have each a
share in it. which they hold by sufferance
Of the Turkish Government; but this union
Of proprietorship, instead of producing a
corresponding unity of feeling. accasions
bitter and constant hostility. The Greeks
and Romans, who are the two largest
sects, and in some sort rivals. hate each
other with ferocity unparalleled in the
annals of religious intolerance. The less
influential sects hate the other because of
their power and repeated aggressions; the
so.called Frank Catholics hate the Copts
and Armenians, whom they regard as
mere interlopers, without any right to en-
Joy the Christian mode of worship; all hate
each other for some real or imaginary
cause and each INDUCES in the selfglori-
ication Of believing itself 70 be the only
sect that can find favor in the eyes of the
Creator. Such is the bitterness Of this
sectional hostility that for many years past
it has been impossible to keep the build.
ing in state ofrepair. The roofis dilapi-
dated, and the rain pours in through the
windows; yet so it remains. The Latins
will not permit the Greeks to undertake the
necessary repairs, lest the mere act should
give an implied ascendancy Of power; the
Greeks refuse 10 give the Latins permission
for the same reason; the Copts and Arme'
mans are too feeble to contend with the
more powerful sects; and the more power
full sects refuse to grant them any liberty
which they do not already hold in despite
of them through the Turkish Government.
During the ceremony Of the Holy Fire,
which takes place once a year, the scenes
of erocity and violence that occur are
indescribable. Religious insanity and all
the horrors of bio odthirsty fanaticism, des'
troy many of the devotees. Crimes OF the
darkest character are committed with i'm
punity. Half naked men and frantic
women struggle madly through the crowd
with live Goals of fire pressed to their
breasts; bodies Of the stabbed and manned
are dragged out dead; the chanting Of
priests, the bowling ofthe burnt, the groan.
ing Of the crushed, fill the thick and suf-
locating air, and from the swaying mass
arise dying shrieks OF Emmanuel! Imman.
uel! Glory be to God! sickened with
the disgusting and humilitatng spectacle,
the behoder turns away with the starting
words Of Ferdinand upon his lips
He'll is empty, and all the devils are here.