Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-04-02

fuI Once Every Century.
The Holy Coat Of Mohamet, which ID
exhibited for the alteration OF the faith
full once every hundred years, accord
ing to the tradition was presented by
the Prophet to Yemen dervlsh, Was
ol-Karani, as token Of gratitude for
his services In discovering the use and
preparation Of coffee, Is kind of
'chukva," or robe, with flowing
sleeves somewhat similar to Western
dressing gowns, which Is worn In the
I4evant by those whom foreigners are
accustomed to designate as Turks of
the old school. 1t Is needless to add
that Its color Is green--the hue above
oil others sacred to the Prophet. The
extent to which the garment Is vene-
rated by all true believers may be esti-
mated by the fact that the principal
and most cherished title of the Sultan
Ii that Of "Hadum-ul- Haremeen." or
Guardian of the Holy Relic" The lat
ter was brought to Constatinople by
Sultan Sellm i, along with the keys OF
the holy cities Of Mecca and Medina,
from Cairo, where they had been pre-
served until that time in the keeping Of
the Caliphs. The shrine in which it
was placed by the Sultan Selim, and
where 1t has remained ever since un-
til this day, Is within the precincts OF
the Imperial Treasury ut Gulchane.
1t was thither that the present Sultan
of Turkey betook himself in state re-
Gently. He was seated alone on the
back seat of his carriage, and facing
him was old Osman Ghazi Paca, the
hero Of Plevna. Alighting at the Bah
ul-Saida, or Sublime Porte, he, with his
own hands. unlocked, by means OF
massive golden key, the silver grating
or cage which protects the Holy Of Ho-
lies from intrusion by the profane.
With another key of the same precious
metal, he proceeded to open a huge cup
board or box composed of the purest
and most massive gold, and to extract
therefrom q bundle, which he placed on
q silver table Of great beauty. One by
one the Sultan removed the forty outer
cloths in which the Holy Coat was
wrapped up, until the last but one was
reached. That latter consisted Of some
thin, transparent kind Of gauze, and is
left intact; for no mortal eye may be-
hold or human lips touch the sacred rel
ic unshrouded. Reverently, and with
every token Of the utmost veneratiOn,
the Sultan bent and kissed the dingy
looking bundle, his example being fol-
lowed by the Shiek-ul-Islam, the Grand
Vizier and the various chief dignitaries
Of the realm, according to their rank,
during which time the verses Of the
Koran were chanted by the plema.
Subsequently all the men withdrew,
and under the guidance of his High
ness, Yaver Aga, the grand eunuch of
the imperial seraglio, the Valide Sui
tana, or mother Empress, along with
the various wives of the monarch and
princesses of the family, appeared up
on the scene and likewise paid their re-
spects to the Holy Coat. AS soon as
they had closed their devotions and de-
parted, the Sultan carefully wrapped
up the bundle again in the nine-and-
thirty wrappers which he had removed,
after which he replaced it in its golden
cupboard, locked it, as well as it's silver
cage or grating, and returned to his pal
ace at Yildiz Kiosk between a double
line Of troops, who kept a path open
through the vast multitude of people
for the imperial procession. In the eve
ming the Sultan sent to all those who
had been present at this ceremony
small white cambria handkerchiefs
with the verses of the Koran embroid-
cred on them, which had been specially
consecated at Mecca for the purpose.
Besides this, splendid presents were
made by the Padishah to the Shief-ul-
Islam, the primate of the Turkish
Church, and also to Yaver Aga, coal
black and gigantic negro, who is adj
dressed as 'Your Highness" and ranks
with the Grand Vizier and bears the IT,
tie Of Oar ul Sadr Aghassi," which.
rendered in English, means, ''he whose
post is behind the door Of the sanctuary
Of bliss" The Grand Vizier and the
Ministers also received tokens Of impe-
rial good will in the shape of jewelry
and decorations.-New York Tribune.