The New York herald., 1873-05-12
The EASTERN RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
Fire I'm the Church or the Holy SePul-
chre at Bcthlehem-Dispute About
Tapestry and Pictures-An Interna-
tiOnal Imbregli0-The Key OF the
NJ he Natf frs<

tiOnal ImbrogliO-The Key OF the
Church Of the Nativity.
The sensitiveness of Russia as to the guardian
ship Of the holy places In Palestine may be easily
accounted for by the strong religious ferv0r OF the
subjects OF the Czar, whorests of the strongest
claims to the affection OF his subjects on his
fidelity to and zeal in the OF Greek Christians
in the neghborng dominions Of the Sultan. This
policy Is not at all strange, considering that it ac-
cords entirely with the promotion Of the most
cherished objects OF the MuscOvite Empire. The
present difficulties are the mere revival or old
quarrels which commenced when Russia
first began to fasten her eyes on Con-
stantinople. They are actually tri1ing in
themselves and bring the cause OF Christianity
into contempt, directly under the observation OF
Mnssulmen. France, as the protector OF Latin
monks and possessions, has unquestionably the
Oldest claim to recognition. BY virtue OF treaty
between Francis /. and the Sultan, in the seven
teenth century, the holy places and the monks who
took care Of them were placed under the protec-
ton OF France. But the Greeks subsequently OBJ
tanned frmans from the Porte, and disputed the
rights OF the Catholic monks to the guardianship OF
the shrines. The latter were described In the
HERALD of last Sunday.
FIRE AT THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY sEPuLCHRE.
Quarres, almost similar to those that took place
during the present month in PALESTINE occurred
between Cne LaCln anu GTeek prleSUS unIll
when q serious collision arose between the men,
bers of the rival Churches The matter was patched
up by the Porte but the seeds OF future trouble
manned. In 1908 the Church OF the Holy Sepuchre
was partially destroyed by fire, and the Greeks
obtained a firman authorizing them to rebuild it
On the strength OF this they claimed additional
rights, which were opposed by the Latins, an led
to so much scandal that the French and Russia n
governments interfered, and again some sort OF o
settlement was reached. Under the treaty of 1740
with the Porte France claimed for the Latin monks
control OF the places Of pilgrimage, which were
then in their possession, and that controversies
that could not be decided upon the spot to be
referred TO the Sublime Porte. In 1850 the ques
tion as to possession Of the shrines once more
arose, and the Turkish government, being called
tivity at Bethlehem should be held by the Latin,
Greek and Armenian communities. The Russians
demanded that they should have exclusively key,
which was refused, and the veteran Nesselrode
declared that this gave to the Catholics of France
an emblem OF religious supremacy in the East.
The Crimean war followed.
THE PRESENT CAUSE OP QUARREL.
Four wears @ nave passed since tne last variance
lehem. fire, as In 1sOs, was the cause. In 1869
the tapestries decorating the interior OF the church
were burned, and eight OF the thirty large pictures
disappeared at the same time. AS 1t was impOs-
sibe TO reconcile tho claims OF the rival communi-
ties 10 was determined that the Turkish govern
ment should replace the objects destroyed The
examination OF witnesses conducted by the
tians states that the symbols and inscriptions still
to be traced in the tapestry were IN Latin, and that
the pictures were also Latin, as well as the frag-
ments OF the stun still hanging to the walls. AS to
the tapestries which adorned the ceiling they were
so much burned and damaged by smoke that IL was
impossible to discover what character to give the
work upon them.
The French Ambassador, acting for the Latins,
agreed with the Turkish government that the arras
OF the walls should be replaced by tapestry as
soon as possible, Ornamented with the same kind
OF workmanship as the old; that the tapestry OF
r.
menian, three Greek ana one Latin pictures should
be placed IN the church-the same proportions as
there were before the IRE letter from the Grand
Vizier confirmed this arrangement, and ordered
the replacing OF the objects at once but this COM
mand remained uneXecuted up TO the 1st OF March
last. At this period the Greeks removed a frag-
ment OF the burned tapestry and the LatinS I'M
mediately placed in the grotto new one. A dis
pute arose in the grotto between the Latin and
creek monks, and the Turkish soldiers had to in
terfere to restore order by occupying the Holy
Places. A teegraphic despatch was sent from
Constantinope, and IL was agreed upon by the
French Minister and the high Turkish authorities
that the tapestry hung up by the Latins should be
government should take its place at once. The
Greeks, however, were still dissatisfied and COM
planned that the new tapestry ~as shorter than the
Old one.
A DELAY IN THE SETTLEMENT.
The fall OF Khalll Pacha brought about delay in
the execution Of the last order, but another was
sent to the Governor OF Jerusalem directing him to
carry out the decision consented to by the French
Ambassador. 1t was expected that peace would
be restored In Bethlehem but the collision recently
reported, in which many Of the monks we're in
jured, gives new face TO the difficulty. The Rus
sian government demands the punishment OF the
Lains, which IL is not likely the Porte Will consent
to, particularly the treaty OF 1855 has left to
France the task OF representing the Latin rite In
the Holy Land, and to Turkey the protection OF all
other Christians. Such questions as the rival
claims OF France and Russia as to possession OF the
shrines may remain long period the subject OF
diplomatic correspondence and when least ex-
pected come to q crisis.
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