The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-15
Churches In Jerusulen,.

| "A notable structure In Jerusalem is The
Church Of the Holy Sepulcre, the most cos
moptan church in the world. This re
markable building covers a curious nggre
gate of traditionury and legendary sacret
! sites, including several connected with Jew
ish histocy. But it is the Christian assoc,a
tions whichar most worthy Of our attention
rs will soon appear. Its real history begin.
| with Helena, tho mother Of Constantine tn,
Great, because it was her zeal which led tt
the supposed identification of tho plac,
| where Christ was cruc;tied and buried Ovel
the spot thus identified Il splendid churcl
was built and dedicated in A. D:83B. 1t,
subsequent fortunes correspond Yo,y mucf
with those Of the city; but it was special,
attractive ns resort of pilgrims, who, fol
fifteen centuries, with little intcrmission
have continued to visit It. The days of its
chief splcndor were those of the Crusaders
two of whose kings, Godfrey and Baldwin
| were buried there, and their tombs rcmai,
to this day. The original Church of Con,
stantinc and Helena was destroyed by the
Pcrsians, restored by the Christians, dc.
stroycd again by the Khalif Haken, rebuilt
again by the Christians, enlarged and beau.
titled by tho Crusaders This last wa.
nearly consumed by fire, in 1908. but was
Mt once restored on the old model and has
! since then undergone extensive alteration
and repair. II is about three hundred feet
in length, but Of very unequal width, and
internally it shows very different levels.
Thus the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross
is fifty feet lower than the 80. called Rock OF
Calvary. 7 he way to IL Is through narrow
streets, but there is an open court in from,
of 1t. whore the dealers in rosaries, trlnkets
aud all sorts of menentoos carry on their
trade A Turkish ofliicaf at the doors in
dicate Turkish supremacy, but small fee
secures admission. The interior Is divided
into many compartments, somo of which
contain what is to DO vcncrated or arc them
selves accounted holy. A marble slab in
the vcstibule Is pointed out as that on which
the body Of our Saviour was laid. Passing
this, which the pilgrims eagerly kiss, we
come under the chief dome to n fine rotunda,
in the centre of which stands miniature
church, containing what is said TO be the
very scpulchre of Christ. Round about are
several chapols belonging to various sects.
An arch TO the cast forms the entrance to
the Greek Church, the interior Of which Is
profusely adorned. Hero they show tho
spot from which the earth was taken out
Of which Adam was made. The Chapel of
Calvary, where tho crucifixion Is said to
have taken place, is 286 feet from the sep
ulchre. Tho sepulchro itself is "a quad
rangular vault, about six ieet feet by seven,
with dome roof supported on short marble
pillars. The sepulchral couch occupies the
whole of the right sido as wo enter, 1t Is
raised nearly three feet above the floor and
Is covered with slab of white marble
cracked through the centre, and much worn
at the edge by the lips Of numerous pilgrims "
This slab serves as an altar, Is much decor
atcd and has oyer it forty-two lamps of.gold
and silver. OF tho multitudcs who visit this
spot, tho majority may bo presumed to be-
lieve IN its authenticity, doubt being con
fined to tho critical and inquisitlve. The
same observation applies to the other men,
bers of this wonderful group Of candidates
yor our faith and vencration for they show
here not only the sites af the cruoiaxion and
the resurrection and other already mention
cd, but the tombs of Adam and Melchlzedek,
of Joseph Of Arimathea and Nicodenns,
the places where Christ was scoyragcd and
crowned with thorns, where lie appeared
to Mary Magdalene and His mother, the
centre OF tho globe and others too numerous
to mention. A minute description Of all
that invites respect under the roof of this
one edifce would fill volume and bare
catalogue would be tedious and useless.