Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-07
In PALESTINE.
THE CITY 0F JERUSALEM, BOTH
ANCIENT AND MODERN.
The Mount of Olives. Bethany, Geth-
semane, and Other Places of In
terest About the Holy City.
IREooRD-UsIOx Special Correspondence

JERUSALEM, April 80, 1888.
Our return from the valley of the Jor-
dan to-day was through the heaviest rain
fall | ever experienced. 1t was accom-
panied with severe western storm, and in
spite of all we could do to prevent it our
Arabian horses would turn about and
stand immovable.
The second sight of Jerusalem was more
grand than the first. As we passed Beth
any, nestled at the eastern base of Olivet
the city came into view, exhibiting a
picture like those of its ancient glory
Imagine our joy and our sadness as the
native guide gave name after name Of
places Of which we had read from child
hood. There is Bethphage" "That is the
tomb of Lazarus" I'VE are now passing
over the triumphal road to Jerusalem. y
He continued,as We came near each sacred
| spot, TO tell us of them. During our stay
we visited Mount Olivet, the hill of Evil
Counsel, Aceldama, the field of blood, u
Pool of Sloan, tombs of Jehoshaphat and
Absalom, and Gethsemane The garden is
now incloSed and guarded so that not SO
much as leaf can be had without the
consent of the monks in charge of it.
The visitor takes greater interest in the
environs of Jerusalem than within the
walls, from the fact that the superstition
and tradition that meets you everywhere
within, destroys your conception of what
is sacred; while without the walls, one
! feels more certain of the location of sights
We omitted nothing of interest, either in
or about the city, and were fortunate in
being there during the gathering of the
| pilgrims of the Greek Church. The
Church of the Holy Sepulcher is crowded
with them, and their habits are quaint
enough to attract marked attention. ]
witnessed Sunday service that exceeded
| by far any assemblage and ceremony !
| ever saw. There were above eighty
| priests, led by five patriarchs, one the
Grand Patriarch of Jerusalem. These
were followed by a hundred or more men
and women connected with the ritual.
Banners, representing scenes in the life of
our Savior, were borne in the procession.
Several boys, with splendid voices, sang
chants, and the multitude made responses.
This was continued until they passed
seven times around the Holy Sepulcher
| The robe of the Grand Patriarch was like
that of the great High Priest in Jewish
| times, known as the robe of beauty and
glory"
The Armonians, Latins and Coptics are
eager to claim the holy places, and feuds
of the bitterest kinds exists. While the
above service was going on more than $50
armed soldiers were on duty. When any
one ventured too far into the sacred circle,
soldier would clinch him and GUST him
like depot police. Your correspondent
occupied place in one of the galleries of
the dome, where the performance was seen
in all its reality. Were it not for the
guards, the sects would kill each other.
Instances are recorded where feasts were
turned to riot and bloodshed
| They have great convenience of sights
in this church. Within the space of $50
feet from the sepulcher we were shown
| the place where Mary, the mother of Jesus,
stood during the crucifxion; and another
where John stood. They showed the stone
on which the body was purified for burial.
The family tomb of Joseph of Aramathea
Is here also, and the stone placed in the
center of the world How the pilgrims
throng to it and kiss il, then cross them
selves and bow, feeling that they have ac-
complished great duty towards God and
their fellow mortals.
! entered the sepulcher and found it COW
cred with polished marble, so that every
vestige of the "hewn rock" is hidden. 4
monk stood inside and saturated handker-
chiefs Of visitors with consecrated water,
and so narrow and sufocating was the
! tomb that | FASTENED from it completely
( exhausted. The scene representing the
/ crucifixion is unique. \ large cross stands
/ before me with an image of Christ in the
/ last throes of death. The chamber is
| darkened to represent the darkness which
! took place on the day of the crucifxion
with just light enough to bring the dismal
/ sight to view. At the base of the cross
/ the rock into which it is fastened shows q
/ cleft III which is seen the skull of Adam
and from the wounded side of Christ sew
eral drops of blood have fallen on it
This" says the guide, represents that
! the blood of the Redeemer reaches back tc
/ Adam and has made provision for the sal
walton Of the whole human race"
The place where st. Helena, the
mother Of Constantine, discovered the
/ three crosses is held sacred, and burning
tapers preserve the memory of the central
cross. asked the guide how they de
termined the true one, and was told that &
woman lay sick in the city and the test
was announced that the holy cross pos
seSsed virtue 10 heal the sick, and that the
three crosses would be taken where she
could touch them. 1t was done, and the
two first proved Intellectual, but the touch
of the other brought instant health.
In few days the Grand Patriarch vii
enter the Chapel of the Sepulcher, anC
while hundreds of deluded pilgrims, Will
tapers in hand are crowded about it, holy
| fire will stream in two ports, one on either
side, and they will rush to light them
having been taught to believe that it is
miraculous flame. DR.. Murray gives al
account Of how the frantic worshipers
few years ago really trod each other un
der foot in their wild chase after the fame
the soldiers fastened to clear the build
ing, a fight ensued, and when the crowC
was dispersed, twenty dead bodies were re
moved that had actually been trodden Il
DEATH
The Jews wailing place is the only
part of the ancient walls remaining. II
it they resort in their annual pilgrimage
kiss the stones and lift the voice of prayer
for the speedy restoration of Israel t.
their appointed lots. The sight is affect
ing. While there woman came and wep
bitterly; in explanation of her conduc
We were told that her sister had been per
suaded to join the Mohammedans, anC
that she came daily to implore God t.
bring her back to her former belief.
Our ramble led us to the tomb of David
the Armenian, Greek and American GENE
terry, and near these the house of Caiaphas
The city is divided into four quarters, viz
the Christian, Jewish, Armenian and Mo
hammedan. The population is about %,
600, as follows: Christians, $500; Jews
5000; Mohammedans, $500, and the re
mainder Armenians
The Latin Convent boasts that they
have the real Via DoIorosa in their build
ing; but Mr.. Floyd of Jafa, assured M,
that he had stood upon more probabl,
site of the way, thirty feet below tina
shown us. When it is remembered tina
the present city is built from thirty t.
sixty and in places 100 feet above the ole
plane, it will be difficult to give credenc,
to all that is shown of ancient places.
am not certain that any of the places W,
visited, except the temple area, and wall