The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-08
"oLD GLORY" IN PALESTINE.
american Catholic Pilgrims t. thu
Holy Sepulcher.

american Catholic Pilgrims t. the
Holy Sepulcher.
The American Catholic national pill.
grimage to the holy land left New York
by the steamer Vera on January 16.
The pilgrims, so in number, arrived
at Jaffa on Wednesday, February II,
and had a rough experience in landing,
as the sea was very wild. It took the
boat about two hours to pull out half q
mile to theship. The pilgrims were lit
orally thrown into it from the landing
stairs half way down the ships side.
It was a thrilling experience. More than
four hours were spent in getting the
party ashore. They all went at once to
the Church of the Franciscan Fathers
and sang a fervent Te Deum. At fve-
o'clock that evening they retired in
Jerusalem.
Their first care then was to visit the
Church of the holy Sepulcher. The
next morning the party started ON
three days trip to Jericho, the Jordan
and the Dead Sea- It rained nearly all
the time, and the long ride over the
mountain was taken under the most
depressing circumstances.
The serious business Of the pilgrim
age began February 20. At haf-past
eight o'clock in the morning a process
sion was formed at Towards hotel,
Jaffa. It was headed by three Fran
ciscan monks, one as crucifer. Next
came Father knight, the franciscan
chaplain; then F. r Troop, with the
beautiful United States flag. that the
pilgrims left in the Church OF the
Sepulcher; the other laymen followed,
and last Of all came the priests. Attic
Jaffa gate the Custos met them and
formally received them into the Holy
City. He led the way to the franciscan
church, where o solemn mass wassung,
Father Knight preaching the sermon.
During the procession from tho hotel
to the church the Miserere was sung,
and the rosary recited After the mass
the pilgrims went to the Church OF the
Holy Sepulcher and venexated each of
the sacred shripes therein, returning 10
the hotel for dinner.
The actual Way Of the Cross was gone
over in the afternoon during o pouring
rain; still nothing was sighted or hur.
ried. The full devotional prayers and
hymns were recited before each station.
This lasted until the evening; then the
pilgrims joined a procession OF the
franciscan monks around tho Church
Of the Holy Sepulcher. all carrying
lighted candles. The chanting Of the
monks, in which the priests of the pill.
grimage joined, was most impressive.
A crowd of Greeks, Copts. Armenians.
Turks and Arabs followed them from
place to place. These devotions were
over at six o'clock.
Ten priests then left for Bethlehem.
where they said mass at two o'clock
the next morning In the shrine Of the
Nativity. The Latins have this from
two to five O'Clock, the Greeks from Eve
toseven o'clock and the Armenzans from
seven to nine o'clock. After nine o'clock
the rest Of the priests said theiTmasaes.
On the return journey visits were made
to the Grotto of the Agony and Bloody
Sweat, the Garden Of Gethsemane and
Mount Of Olives. All agreed that they
had spent the most impressive day of
their lives, in spite Of the bad weather,
deep mud and the fiithiness of the city.
The following day was Washington
birthday. In honor Of it q dinner was
given, to which as guests were invited
the Patriarch Of Jerusalem, The Custoa
of the Holy Land and United States Con,
sui Wallace and his wife The table
and dining-room were appropriately
decorated with American flags, and
patriotic toasts and speeches were made |