The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-10
THE HOLY LAND.
Father Steigerwald at st. Josephs-The
Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Rev George Steigerwald, of Greensburg, 1ect-
ured at St Joseph Catholic Church, last even
ing, on THE Holy Land" giving his personal
experience as a pilgrim to the birthplace of the
Savior. The lecture was one of absorbing in
terest, the scenes depicted by the father rising
before the audience with panoramic clearness
Landing at Jaffa (ancient Joppa and, as legend
has, it founded by Japhet son of Noah, which, if
true, makes it the oldest city in the world) he
took the road to Jerusalem. diverging at times
to visit spots Of interest near by He said to
his audience that such pilgrimage was not a
new one to Catholics. Each year they follow the
Savior in pilgrimage leading from his birth at
Nazareth to his crucifxion on Calvary
and his glorious resurrection As the vessel
upon which the father and his companions were
cast anchor in the roadstead at Jaffa, the waves
were soon covered with boats, and long-legged
Arabs, like pirates, climbed over the side of the
ship, demanding 'backsheesh, a word that is
the cradle-song of these Asiatics. Among the
most active of these pirates was who could
in no way be distinguished from his fellows
who was equally vocal in demanding back
sheesh" and thrusting his attentions on the pas
sengers but who actually proved to be an
American; one of the few remaining members of
that miserable colony of 100 families brought to
Jaffa by j. G. Adams from the State of Maine,
and who called themselves the Church of the
Messiah These colonists came in September,
1866, and twelve months later most of them re-
turned to their own land.
The fathers description of the numerous
places of interest about Jerusalem was given in
glowing language. The Church of the Holy
Sepulcher is situated in the central part Of the
new city, where the Empress Helena is said to
have discovered the true cross. To this point
come pilgrims from ali parts of the globe. Con-
stantine is asserted to have first built upon the
spot The present structure really contains
three chapels, yet, notwithstanding its compo-
site character is mighty and impressive struct-
ure. Here is the Stone of Unction, upon which
tradition says the body of Christ was laid to be
anointed previous to burial On the east of the
stone is chamber the roof of which forms
the floor of the Chapel of Golgotha.
The rotunda of the church is about seventy feet
in diameter. Here are the Chapels of the Holy
Angels, the Chapel of Helena, the Shrine Of Mt.
Calvary, and the tombs of Godfrey and Baldwin.
There are, besides other shrines in this vast
church, that of Mary Magdalen and the Flagel-
lants, besides numerous tombs, including those
of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. The
sacred places in the Holy Land were. before
1904, in the care of the Benedictines,
but since that time they have been
order On the e tSs CHURCH the t Rran'j Hap
Sepulcher the Greek, Armenian, Catholic,
Abyssinian and Coptic faiths each worship, and
these differing creeds frequently bring about
bad blood. A Catholic priest going to the mass
in one of the chapels preceded by huge
Franciscan brother with club, ready to protect
the celebrant, if necessary.
The father described the Via Dolorosa, the
wailing place of the Jews; the Garden of Geth-
ser1ane. as it now appears, with it's old knotted
and gnarled olive trees, which, if not those un-
der which the Savior walked, their immedi-
ate scons; the Dead sea, Jordan. Bethlehem,
Nazareth and other points