The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-05-10


only the blessed instrumentaltics Of peace.
Her il.ustrious husband and the virtuous
ou.en OF Great Britain found but few
years since, oddly enough, motives fol ~ar
In the tomb Of Christ. Russia could not
see what earthly or heavenly interest Eng
land or France could properly have in that
celebrated key which so absorbed the de-
alterations Of the Gear and the Sublime
Porte: but the allies saw enough to induce
them to take hold Of the gage nsoteriet."
But al the waste Of life which the war in
Crimea occasioned, even ifit determined
who should hold the key, did not 50 har'
monte the Greeks aud Latins ttat they
could repair the sacred dome over the holy
place, so that pilgrims could pray there
with safety. by reason Of the dilapidated
condition Of the structure. Neither party
could or can yield to the other claims Of
possession or vested rights that the edfice
can be reconstructed. The Latins insist
upon their peculiar inscriptions and EN-.
blems; and the Greeks are as tenacious OF
theirs Right here comes in the fair Euge'
ME, with proposition so good and catho.
lie, SO beyond the region Of politics.. that
resistance must be impossible. She asks
the queen sovereigns OF Europe to inscribe
their names to "universal subscription"
for the raising Of funds, not merely to re.
po;r the Doom but to entirely rebuild the
church Of 1.-THE holy sepulchre on new
plan. and on larger scale, 50 that it might
s,cfford accommodation for all c0mnauniOns."
As Helena, the mother of Constantine,
made her famous journey at eighty years Of
age to the holy land, and instIgated the
erection Of the frst christian churches over
the caves of Bethlehem, Olivet, and Jeru-
salem, SO now the wife Of Napoleon Ill,
sets on foot the noble work Of building
new church, by the voluntary contribution
Of all christcndom, over that sacred spot.
The circular Of the Empress concludes in
these words. #<..s
Why should not the processes Of all
christian countries, animating themselves
with this glorious memory, come to an
agreement to carry out at last, under con-
ditions worthy Of themselves and of chris.
tianity. the work in which the efforts Of
diplomacy have not hitherto been able to
succeed? Who would refuse to listen to
their voice, when, placing themselves be-
yond the region of politics, strangers to all
contentious ideas, they would speak in the
name of piety and Of christian charity,
and would address an appeal to the faith.
full throughout the whole world, on SUBJ
ject which ought to be equally dear to all !!
But in order that the work should com.
pletely respond to the spirit of christian
Cancellation which has inspired it, the sim.
pie reconstruction of the dome should not
be the object aimed at. 1t would be advis-
able, after having obtained consent of the
Sublime Porte, to entirely rebuild the
church of the holy sepulchrc on new plan
and on larger scale, SO thatit might afford
accommodation for all commudions. Thus,
for example, there would be no one side q
chapel, and even . nave, consecra!ed to
the use of the Lalins, and on the other a
nave aud chapel reserved for the use Of
the Greeks. The principal nave should be
open to all, and the access Of the faithful to
the holy sepulchre, at present so difficult,
giving rise to frequent disturbances, would
be freed from hindrances. The majesty of
the new sanctuary should as much as pos.
sible equal that of the sacred associations
which are recalled by these sacred places.
For these reasons competition might be
opened in which the architects and artists
ofall countries should be invited to take
part, and an international jury might Sc.
lect from among the designs sent by them
that which, in . purely artistic point Of
view, might be deemed the most worthy
of so great an idea. AS to the funds neces
ssry for commencing and completing with.
out delay the new churches Of the holy
sepulcher they could DO furnished by q
universal subscription, at the head oil
which al the christian princes would no
doubt vie with each other in inscribine
their names.
This appeal, although nolninally ad-
dressed to the queen sovereigns of the
world. speaks ''in the name Of pietv and
christian charity" to all, in whatever nation
or cline, for whom the Messiah laid down
his life on the cross, urged by his ineffable
love for his ungrateful children. Who will
mediation for all communions," which,
starting from opposing points, meet and
become one around the tomb cut in the
solid rock, wherein Joseph of Arimathea
placed tie body of his Lord. This To-
Guides all those christians in America, not
less than Europe and Asia, who look up.
on the :ncarnate. the crucified, the arisen,
the atoning, the I'M, r cling, as the foun.
der Of their reli sious faith. The empress
proposes that the new sanctuary have, on
one side, nave and chapel reserved for
the Latins; on the other side nave and
chapel for the exclusive use Of the Greeks
and the principal nave open to all Of every
kindred, and nation, and tongua. Not
only that, but architects aud artists Of al
nations, including America, are to be in
vited to compte for designs for the struc-
sure, and the necessary funds to be raised
BY universal, world. wide subscription
What an all.embracing work of christian
charity and duty All honor to the EN-.
press who has placed herself at the head Of
this truly christian movement! We wait
with IT. terest to see if churches in our own
land will nakea fitting response.
The MARRIAGE OF PsIEsrs.-A Turin
correspondent says: "A great victory has
been achieved in the Senate. The law on
civil marriages has Leen voted by large
majority in spite Of the efforts Of minority
which spared no means to obtain its rejec.
ton, or 1t least to delay its coming into
operations The most remarkable feature
OF this long discussion was the attitude oi
Mgr. di Glaconio, Bishop Of ALTA, who op
posed al the amendments moved by the
<h,,a ;vrvl;c;t1, cIonx;r~ ~ -,,l,