Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-24

In the center OF the marble pavement OF
the Greek portion OF the Church Of the
Holy sepulcher In Jerusalem is a short
marble column which is declared to be. by
the Orthodox. the exact center OF the
world. The Jews and the Mohammedans
assert that the exact center Of the earth
fs the tip Of rock at the ton Of Mount
Moriah. where Abraham offered up Isaac,
where solomon's Temple stood. from which
Mohammed assembled into heaven. and
which is now sheltered by the magnificent
Dome Of the Rock. usually known as the
Mosque Of Omar. None Of these theories
takes into account the belief Of the scien-
lists that the world is a spheroid. The
really important thing is belief that the
center Of the world is I'm Jerusalem and
the duly authenticated center Of the Chris
tian world is the marble column in the
Church OF the Holy Sepulcher.
A visit to the Church Of the Holy Sepul-
cher, that edifice which shelters the tomb
Of the Lord and which has been for cen
turtles the most venersted spot in Chris
tendon. is an experience productive OF
curiously conflicting emotions. In the first
instance, there is no good reason to be-
lieve that the ~Sepulcher is really that in
which the body OF the Savior was laid. In
fact, every logical and reasonable argu-
ment goes to prove that the holy spot Is
somewhere else. But even II one accepts
the site as authentic, IL Is impossible fol
any reasonable creature who has grown tc
manhood under modern influences to be.
heve one-tenth of the legends and the sa-
cred nonsense with which he is deluged
upon entering this great church. He re.
fuses to believe that a block Of stone cut
with modern stone saws is the very block
upon which the body Of the crucified Lord
was laid. Even the Armenian priests will
admit that the true stone Of JUNCTION lie.
underneath, and that the block whict
thousands Of Christian pilgrims kiss every
day has been in place only for a few
years. One is given a stick which hi
shoves through a brass bound hole in the
wall to touch. in the darkness, the socke.
in the rock in which the Cross was set
He is expected to kiss the end Of the sticl
and thereby acquire holy merit. Nc on;
is apparently concerned with the fact tina
the socket In the solid rock wherein tn,
cross is set is at least 100 yards away
from the place which one is gravely as.
sured is the exact spot where Jesus was
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appeal whatever TO ones intellect or rea.
son. 1t is a great house sheltering an en-.
ormous collection OF absurdities which ir
themselves are so contradictory as tS
make faith in their authenticity impossible
But If one can forget the hordes Of beg.
gars; If one can forget the Mohammedar
soldiers stationed there to prevent the vari.
Gus sects Of Christians from numbering
each other; If one can forget the foul air
the filthy floors, the noisome -odors and
the all but visible presence Of ~couEtles!
millions Of germs, then he will find the
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre an appeal tc
his higher emotional faculties which viii
compel his reverence.
How long ago men came to believe that
this spot marked the place of sepulure OF
Jesus Christ is not known. In the thirS
century 1t is recorded that a Temple Of
Venus stood at this spot and the Christians
then complained Of the dissertation. wher
the great Constantine. emperor Of Rome
embraced the Christian religion he built &
group of edlflces at this place and sur
rounded the tomb with a row Of columns
This was the beginning OF the church, A
D. 1886. These buildings were destroyed BY
the Persians in the seventh century. but
were Immediately rebuilt. In the tent
century the church was burned and Ia Iht
eleventh century it was ruined by the Mos
lens. The present church was built by tn,
Crusaders early in the twelfth century, al
though, Of course, many additions and he.
pairs have been made from time to time
The church is the joint property Of the
Greek orthodox church, which has thC
largest share; the Roman Catholic church
the Armenian church, the Syrian church
the Abyssinia church and the Coptic o.
Egyptian church. The Church OF England
is the only Protestant church having an!
peculiar privileges. it being permitted
twice a month to celebrate the holy com
munion in one Of the chapels of the church