Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14
TOMB OF DAVID.
Kaiser the First Christian in Cen
turtles TO Look Upon Ii.

From the New York Herald
One of the special favors granted to EN-
peror William on his recent visit to Jeru-
salem was the permission from the sultan
to visit the so-called tomb of David For
nearly four centuries this shrine has been
under the watch and ward of the Moslems
No Christian during all that time has beep
allowed to approach it. This fact was
brought TO the attention of the emperor
by the man who guards the spot Hence
the privilege granted to his imperial maj
esty OF Germany is a notable one.
But now comes one Johannes Winkler
who publishes in the Nolksbladt of Lirz
austria, a challenge to the emperor He
states that on April % of this year. being
then on visit to the holy places Of Jern-
Salem' he and companion named Raphaele
Lorenzo were admitted to the famous tomb
de claims that a backsheesh or brihe. of
one franc secured the good offices OF the
Mahammedan attendant who not only
granted him admittance TO the sacred spot
nut removed the oriental rug which covers
the sepulcher. He admits that when he
visited the same place thirteen years ago
ne was not even allowed to peep through
the grated door that opens upon the cham
Der where the sarcophagus is preserved
In view of all these facts he claims thar he
ana not Emperor William, is the first Chris
uan since the middle ages who has been
granted view of the famous shrine.
W
the facts, is wrong. He thought he was
gazing upon the reputed tomb of David
He was really gazing upon a mere simula-
crum To understand the true facts Of the
case 1t is necessary to go back into ancient
history.
In the early centuries of Christianity it
was moot point whether the tomb of
David was in Bethlehem or in Jerusalem.
The reference in / Kings chapter il. verse
10 and David slept with his fathers. and
was buried in the city of David" was at
one time interpreted meaning that David
was buried in Bethlehem, his native city.
But against this passage was placed the
text in Acts ii, -, when Peter, addressing
the other eleven in the city of Jerusalem
on the day of Pentecost, said: Brethren. |
may say unto you truly of the patriarch
David that he both died and was buried,
and his tomb is with US unto this day"
On the whole the general consensus of
tradition points to Jerusalem the place
of Davd's burial. 1t also argues that the
scenes of the Last Supper and of the mirac-
ulous gift of tongues in the Pentecost We're
enacted in the identical chamber which
contains David's tomb st. Helena in the
fourth century identified the spot which was
thus triply honored. A church and convent
of Franciscan monks was later built upon
1t But the Moslcms always cast a jealous
eye upon the holy place because they look
ed upon David as one of the witnesses to
their faith. In 1419 they succeeded so far
to forbid all Christian pilgrims to enter
the spot. In 1547 they Wrested the church
and convent from the Franciscans and
turned the buildings into a mosque. Since
that time the genuine tomb of David. which
is said to be in one of the subterranean
chambers, has been closed to Christians
But in a small room in an upper story of
the mosque there is a counterfeit sarcopha
gus exactly like the real one This is COW
cred with a veil of red and green satin.
embroidered with verses from the Koran.
Christians have occasionally been allowed
to peep through the grated door which
81 in afrraia trsal Jpr,t+ Iii
has never been lifted, save under great
financial pressure. And even then the Wis
itOr was cheated by a view of the imitation
not the original.
1t seems that the emperor saw the origi-
nal. Herr Winkler saw only the counter
felt.