The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-23
HOLYCOAT OF TREVES
Woven by Mary Magdalen on
the Mount of Olives.
THE SAVIOR USED TO WEAR 1T.
To Be Placed on Exhibition for the First
Time Since 1874, When q Million
Pilgrims Visited the shrine.

TREvEs, Prussia, Aug. 10-rSpecial Cor
respondence. During ramble along the
| Moselle river could not resist the tempta-
| ton of visiting the quaint, ancient town
of Treves, that lies so beautifully Graded
between two ridges ofvineyards.
Leaving my knapsack and staff at an
humble inn, I went out in search of the
remains of old Roman monuments, for
which the town is famous. Returning in
the evening, sired and dusty, the inn
keeper, a stout, joviaI German with a
round, pock-marked face, enticed me into
q conversation about how / had liked the
town, of which he seemed to be not little
proud. He asked me if | had seen the
Holy Coat" / shook my head $50
there by all means" he said. shaking his
huge pipe. Don't, for Gods sake, leave
Treves without seeing the Holy Coat.
II was exhibited in lSl4-before you saw
the highland drew 100000 pilgrims
from all parts of Europe 10 Treves." He
became quite excited during the proceed
ing conversation, and asked his wife 10
bring Us some genuine Moselle wine from
his cellar. We drank 1t out of ordinary
water glasses, according 10 the custom
there, and excellent il was, indeedl
AT the time Of the exhibition Of 1874, /
was only small boyi' Then ne denounced
in bitter words the enemies Of the church
who also wished 10 do away with the
"Holy Coat" 1t seems that in 1S44 q
chaplain named Rouge. who had been ex-
communicated from the church for his
liberalism, published an open letter 70 the
pope, denouncing the worship of the
''Holy Coat" as ldolatry. Through his en-
deavors he originated the German Catholic
church, which split into different sects and
eventually died out.
Ny host was a staunch Catholic, like
almost all the population, and crossed
himself fervently every time he men
toned anything sufficiently plous to
deserve IT.
''And." continued the jovial innkeeper,
''why should l not, above all others, be-
lieve in the miraculous power of the Holy
Coat as it brings me so many visitors
during the summer season. If you have
no objection, my daughter Lisbeth will
accompany you TO the cathedral, where it
is preserved; We are acquainted with the
chaplainl"
Early the next day set out, under the
guidance of Lisbeth, who, although no
great beauty. boosted two heavy pIaits of
blonde hair, neatly combed back, and fair
skin and red cheeks; she was neatly
dressed in white chintz, dotted with lit
tie rosebuds, that made quite pretty
effect.
asked her if she thought the "Holy
Coat" was genuine.
sob, there is no doubt about it. Some
society in Frankfort, who can be depended
upon, examined the coat and agreed that
al Il
back with her from Jerusalem, where she
had made pilgrimage, and presented it
to Agrotius, who was bishop of Treves at
that time" Then she gave me a suspicious
look, considering me quite a pagan, no
douot, as was ignorant of things which
were as familiar 10 her as the alphabet
We called at the chaplain's house. He
was little, old man rather shabbily
dressed, with a wrinkled, clean-shaven
face, shutting gait, continually cough
ing and murmuring to himself. He was
not over polite TO US, only honoring me
with a scrutiniZing glance as to whether
the remuneration would be worth his Ia
Dor.
The cathedral, looming up with its old
weather-heaten walls, that have resisted
centuries OF religious wars, recalled to me
the struggle that the Christian church had
to go through until its name became
identical with civilization.
Then we entered. Only a few peasant
girls and some old men and women were
kneeling in the aisies.
We went straight up to the high altar.
"There II is, y said Lisbeth. pointing to a
beautiful shrine OF wrought gold half hid
den from the curious gaze.
The chaplain opened il and disclosed a
avery old, threadbare, hand-woven piece
of cloth. supported by lining and appa-
rentiy repeatedly patched up. 1t hung
from golden rod, which ran through II
from arm 10 arm. The odd little chapIain
began to tell Us in q monotonous voice
often inter- upted by his hectic cough.
what Is known TO all travellers. The coat
had been spun from lambs wool bv the
Blessed Virgin and woven into a garment
by Mary Magdalen on the Mount OF Olives
Ii Is seamIess-as the Scriptures describe
1t, with the words: The coat was yithout
seam, woven from the top throughout. +"
L scrutInized the coat IN the meantime.
The color was hardly discernloIe. hrt
seemed 10 have been originally grav. IL
had short sleeves, round opening for the
head, and resembled somewhat the tunic
OF priest, being without any ornament.
The chaplain talked for half an hour. for
the coat boasts of long history. inter
mingled with all sorts of pious Ie0ends
should look up in some religious encvcIo-
padia.
1t occurred 10 me that in anv other but
Its gorgeous surroundings the coat would
not be thought worthy of a glance. and
would soon lind its way 10 Junk shOp.
also thought 1t strange that garments
could be preserved for so long a time and
then the shorrness of the coat made me
suspicious as 70 whether il could ever have
been Jewish garment
NJ OF coughing, more ardent than the
preceding. finished the chaplain's dis
course, He closed the shrine carefr1IIv
and then showed US some other relies
among then some hand-written documents
IN which the Holy Coat'' was mentioned
Tor the hrst time, small piece of ivory
Win curious carving representing the
ceremony attending the arrival of the
coat IN the cathedral of Treves. AZ
yet TINS Is the most important evidence
winch proves the genuineness OF the "HoIv
Coat" beyond ali doubt.
But how Is 1t there are twenty differ
ent holy coats existing?' | queried.
why shouldn't there De? Do Won
THINK our Savior only wore one coat in
ms lifetime ?" was the blunt reply.
Then L handed him a fee. which he
accepted with q faint smile. and vrumh-
iingly shutfied away through the half dark
aIsles.
viii the coat ever be exhibited again 3r
L SEnd TfSharb 60