The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-12
AT THE HOLY SEPULCHER.
JERusALews OBJECTS OF INTEREST.
The Hon. William Z. English's Third Let
ter From PalestIne-Site of Solomon's
TempIe-Caivary and the Tomb
Mosque of Omar, Etc.

JERUSALEM Special. The first place
to which the Christian naturally turns his
reverent steps after reaching Jerusalem IS
the Church of the Holy Sepulcher," for
II the commonly accepted belief be true,
1t covers the exact spot where the Savior
of man was cruciied, where His body was
entombed and where on the third day He
arose before the eyes of his adoring fol-
lowers. There has been much disputation
as to whether this is the true site or Cal
vary, but Christianity has unhesitatingly
! accepted it as the place since the time OF
the fourth century, and the best authorl-
ties and the best obtainable testimony
favor that assumption, and 1t is to this
shrine that thousands of worshiping
Christians come yearly from every land to
PROSTATE themselves in homage and ado
ration. The most notable thing that
strikes the visitor on entering the outer
court is the armed and uniformed Turk
ish sentinel stationed at the entrance, the
presence OF these officials being absolutely
necessary to prevent the meek and lowly
followers of Christ from killing each other.
Terrible combats have taken place here In
the past between the Greek, Latin and
Armenian priests and their belligerent
disciples, and it is asserted that they have
even gone so lar as TO bride the soldiers TO
perpetrate acts of oppression on each
other. Such evidences of brotherly love
are hardly calculated to convert the Mos
lem soldieTy or impress them with the
beauties OF Christian charity.
IL is a sad commentary on latter Chris
tianity that Mohammedan guards should
be necessary to prevent Christians engag-
ing in disgraceful fights in sight of the
tomb OF Him who commanded chat We
love one another" The building is owned
in common by these differing sects, the
Greeks, Latins Armenians, Syrians and
Copts. each controlling their separate
chapels, except the sepulcher itself, which
is open TO all alike. The Greeks have the
largest and best division, while the Copts
have but one poorly furnished little chapel.
Going from the court into the interior of
the structure-the part belonging to the
Armenians is entered where a long, fiat
stone. surrounded by swinging lamps, is
pointed out This is called the "Stone OF
Unction," being the slab covering the
stone upon which tho Savior is
believed to have been laid out
and anointed by Nicodemus and
Joseph of Arimathea, when took they
the body OF Jesus and wound it in linen
cloths, with the spices as the manner of
the Jews is TO bury" John xix, 40)
Near by, stone in the floor, inclosed
within railing, according to the priests,
marks the spot where the virgin stood
weeping, during the anointment. A few
steps further on the central rotunda is
reached, in the middle of which stands
small chapel which covers the holy sep
ulcher. This chapel is divided into two
compartments. one OF which-the "angels'
chamber - contains the stone rolled
from the entrance TO the tomb and upon
which the "angel of the Lord" sat; and
the other is the small chamber of the
sepulcher itself. which, being only six
feet squire, is nearly all occupied by
the marble sarcophagus of the Savior.
This is covered by a marble slab,
cracked through the center, that
has been worn smooth by the kisses
of the numberless pilgrims who,
for hundreds of years have humbly
Frustrated themselves in alteration before
it. Forty-three gold and silver lamps are
suspended above it-divided in ownership
among the various sects, and never al
lowed to be eXtinguished at any time.
Each OF these sects take turns at reciting
mass here every day. Near to the holy
sepulcher are shown the tombs of Nico-
demus and the good Joseph, who fur
nished the new tomb 'hewn in stone
wherein never man before was laid"
Luke xiii, So To the North little way
a marble ring in the floor marks the al
legged place where Mary Magdalene stood
when Jesus, addressing her after she
l, 4
thou? Whom seekest thou ?" John Xxx,
15.) Above it few steps is the part be-
longing to the Latins (Roman catholics)
and here in the chapel of the Flagella-
ton" is kept the stone pillar called the
Column of the scourging," to which they
say Christ was bound and scourged by
Pilates orders "before he delivered Him
to be crucifed." Matthew xvii, 26.) 1t is
inclosed, in connection with the altar, and
pilgrims are permitted to touch it through
a hole in the wall with peculiar stick
called the ''rod OF Noses" which they
afterward reverently kiss. In the sacristy
of this chapel are kept the sword, spurs
and other martial relics of the famous cru
sader Godfrey of Bouillon, who con-
quered the sepulcher from the Moslem
infidels. Further on to the left is a small
room said to have been the ''prison of
Christ previous to cruCifxion, and near
it two holes in the rock are called the
'bonds of Christ.
Then next comes the "chapel Of st.
Loginus, ''the good centurion who, when at
the foot OF the cross, he saw that Jesus
$50 cried out and gave up the ghost. said:
truly this man the Son God"
Mark XIV, 39), and the chapel of the di-
vision of the vestments," where, "when
they had crucifed Him, they parted His
garments, casting lots upon them what
every man should take" Mark XIV, "a
Below these flight of steps leads to the
chapel ofSt Helena" the founder Of the
original church here, and beneath this is
the chapel of the invention of the cross"
butt over the place where this sainted en-
press, and mother of Constantine, aided
by divine interposition, is alleged to have
found the true cross, after long and ardu-
Gus search. On the floor above is the
chapel of the hooking" inclosing a
column, upon which Jesus is believed
to have sat when the crown of thorns was
placed upon him, and on the opposite
side is the chapel OF st. Mary" where
the virgin, the two Marys and the beloved
John stood when the Savior, from the
cross, said, 'fWoman, behold thy son."
and transmitted His mother to the
faithful disciples care and keeping, land
from that hour that disciple took her to
his own home" John xix, 27.) North
OF this stands the richest and most gorge
Gus part of the whole building, that por-