The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-12-22


Sunday racket. Excuse these details as to
this extraordinary illustration of the vicissi-
tudes of time. Here is this fair haired
face, whom we met at Castle Garden to Hol-
land, and from Hamburg to Hammerfast,
under Providence. resuming peacefully tho
old cloisters of the crusader. Preparation
is already made for their religious devotion,
and Prussian hospital is provided for
all who used its care. Even a descendent
Of the Sultan clears the way by notable
gift for the Teutonic immigration into the
heart of Jerusalem!
We had already made one hurried visit
to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As
this is tho Sabbath day, we keep it holy by
renewing our visit. Here are seen Col
gotha, Calvary, the tomb, and other I'M
mistakable memorials of the Savior. Each
spot, however, apocryphal, is of moment.
Hundreds upon hundreds Of years, good
men, kings and scholars, soldiers and
priests, have regarded them as authentic.
From the street we descend by flight of
steps into paved court. Here are columns
in rows, and chapels abound-dreek, Lat
in and Armenian. This is the entrance.
A Romanosque facade is upon the north
side of the court, with sculptured illustra
tons of our Savior's life: We enter the
south transept, which looks like vestibule.
Here is tho Stone of Unction: It is q
large, red and yellowish slabe of marble en-
closed in railing. directly fronting the
entrance. It is adorned with suspended
lamps. This is the spot where the body of
Jesus was anointed. We pass into the d.
visions of the church, and enter under the
dome of the sepulchre itself. The dome is
blue and spangled with golden stars. Over
the tomb is canopy of reddish marble.
It seems old and worn. The pavement is
glossy and slippery. On either side of the
canopy IRE two large round holes, fused
for the holy fire miracle by the Greeks who
have it's monopoly. The Catholics dis
countenance it and very properly.
Every volume on Jerusalem has It's chap
tiers descriptive of this edifce. 1t has
played great part in history from the time
of Constantine, whose mother, Helana, ia
aueurated the investigations for its verif-
cation and that of its sacred rocks. Wheth-
er Golgotha, Calvary and the tombs should
be here located or not, has been theme
for quarto on folio of controversy. What
ever may be the merits of the question,
this spot has had, since the early centuries,
| the favorable verdict. All now seem to &C.
quiesce IN the decision. Our cousul, Col
" 1lSOu, ud3 Il huo Au cAOduSt1to 6suOy VI
| the question, and has confirmed the gener-
Robinson and Prince. Let us not quarrel
as to the precise spots for the crucifxion,
the rent rock, and the amounting of the
| body; the apparition to Mary after the res
direction: the seat of st. Helena, and the
place of finding the cross under the super
intendence; the spot where He was drowned
with thorns: tue rock of Golgotha. OF
the to,nbs Of the crusading kings of Jerusa-
lem. Whatever may be their
topography or history, it is known
that He was cruciied near by, and
here he was entombed. Let others, who
are critical and cynical, dispute to their
hearts, or heads content. It is enough
that the powers and learning of the earth
have fixed upon this as the hottest spot OF
places. Here, too, they have fought, and
are ready to fight again, for its vindication
as the holy of holes!
To avert these contests, of which the
Crusades are q sample thousand years
ago, and the Crimean war the more recent
one, and that Christ's dcciples of every rite
should dwell and worship in some unity
under this dome, there has been much
diplomacy; and to continue it much. tact
and selae show of Moslem force. -: ST..
| We are allowed to 60 up and down the
various stairways in the rotunda, notwith-
standing the diverse quarters of various
creeds. Above are the Armenians, looking
down upon the canopy; in q secluded spot
the Corts have their chapel, The Syrians
are allowed q place by Armenian grace. The
places are numbered. as pilgrims sleep here
frequently, and this order is indispensable
for peace and rest. The Greeks and Latins
seem to have the largest space and liberty,
the former making most demonstration in
shrines, pictures and jewels, but scarcely
as much devotion in ceremonies and SER
vices as the Latins. 49,.
]. After looking at tho outer form in the
rotunda, the lamps, pictures, tapestries,
and shrines of jewels, silver and gold, we
take our tape1s and 60 to the left, down
into the dark. Here Is solid rock. It is no
counterfeit. We are shown the tombs of
Nicodemus and Joseph Of Arimathea, and
others not yet opened. Then we enter the
sacred place. Descriptions given in the
early centuries correspond with what we
see. It is cave hewn IN the rock. It is
above the level ground. II is some six
feet square; and one-h half is occupied by
the sarcophagus. The mark Of the work
men still shows upon the hewn rock.
.As We enter we hear the chant Of the
Franciscans sounding in the Latin church
and perceive priest renewing the lamps
over the tomb: We reverently draw the