New-York tribune., 1906-04-15
HOLY LAND PILGRIMS.
Continued from fifth page.

it from the seaport up to the Holy City. 1t was
finally dragged the entire distance by the women
in company of Russian pilgrims
Their trustfulness and desire to express their
devotion at every opportunity are sometimes
taken advantage of in amusing fashion. In
the centre of the courtyard Of St Georges Col
Iegiate Church, Ang lean church at Jerusa-
lem, is founders cross of wrought iron.
Russian pilgrim. visiting it day. inquired
the object of the cross. A SINFUL solemn faced
little Arab. according to the story. who was in
the neighborhood piped up that it marked the
burial place of a great saint. The Russian car
ried off the news that new holy spot had been
found and the remainder Of the day was spent
by them in many proStrationS and genuhexlon9
Later the authorities discovering the cause OF
the invasion of the courtyard. the pilgrims were
set right and the Arabic Tom Sawyer was sum
marily dealth with
Not all of the pilgrims return home The pc
riod of the sirocco catches them unawares and
they die by the dozen The peaceful expressions
on the faces Of the uncofined dead as they are
hurried through the streets with song to the
Russian burial ground Mount Zion suggest
TO the onlooker that their pilgrimage has truly
led them to the desired haven" They sleep the
eternal sleep in the most sacred soil In the world
and their souls have marched on
Every pilgrim takes back home with him one
shroud or more made of coarse cotton cloth and
measured accurately against the stone on which
tradition asserts the body of Jesus was washed
These shrouds are to be given TO friends who
were unable TO so the pilgrimage and eagerly
look for this gift They also carry with them
candles which have been lighted at the holy
fire which is reputed 10 descend on the Satur-
day before Easter TO the Holy Sepulchre. These
are reverenJly Laid away for use when they too
shall rest from the weary pilgrimage Of earth
The Russian pilgrim is protected from the time
he leaves Russia until he returns by a society
organized in 1917 and which includes among it's
fifteen hundred members the car. the royal
family and many others Of the leading people
Of the empire. 1t is called the Imperial Ortho-
dox Society of Palestine The pilgrim. before he
goes on board the ship az odessa. deposits with
the society about 50 rubIes. or So - In re-
turn he receives 4 book Of tickets. half Of which
VIII take him to Jerusalem and the remainder
return him home. The pilgrimage has a value
20 the government which makes it worth while
to make up any deficiency in the cost OF NOV
ing the pilgrims not met by this small sum-
The pilgrims take with them stores OF provisions.
Including as chief item a quantity OF tea on
reaching Jaffa they are met by the cawasses
Of the society who while they are in Palestine
take entire charge OF their affairs and accom-
pany them in any journeys they may make into
the interior Of the country. The cawaSses are
Dalmations and Montenegrins Of splendid ply
sique. on their arrival at Jerusalem they are
conducted 10 hospices provided for their enter
tainnent on the northwest side OF the city
Here are hospices for single men and women
and for families. shops for buying provisions. a
cathedral. large and well kept gardens. which
are a boon in treeless Jerusalem. the offices OF
the society and the Russian consulate. From
this point the pilgrims start for the shrines
which they wish to visit. accompanied by the
trusty guides. the Cawasses- II they are gong
on long Journeys. as 10 Nazareth. they are ex-
amined by a medical officer before they start
and are accompanied by a priest, doctor. q
Sister OF Charity. an ambulance. hospital
tent and reserve animals for the succor Of the
exhausted besides mounted and armed cawasses-
Thus does the government, through the Imperial
Society care for the pilgrims who in following
their religious tendencies are irreSlSubly carry
ing Russia toward Palestine.