Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-23

rsz-1N THE center of the marble
lN EI pavement of the Greek portion
IM E of the Church of the Holy Sep
ia Wl ulchre in Jerusalem is short
ISS a, marble column which is de-
Rsgzs1 clared to be, by the orthodox,
the exact center of the world. The
Jews and the Mohammedans assert
that the exact center of the earth is
the tip of rock at the top of Mount
Moriah, where Abraham offered up
Isaac, where Solomon's temple stood,
from whence Mohammed ascended 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 take into ac-
count the belief of the scientists that
the world is a spheroid. The really i'm
portant thing is the belief that the CEN
ter of the world is in Jerusalem and
the duly authenticated center of the
Christian world is the marble column
in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
A visit to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre, that ediflce which shelters
the tomb of the Lord and which has
been for centuries the most Venerated
spot in Chrstendom, is an experience
productive of curiously conflicting emo
tions. In the first instance there Is
sepulchre is really that I'm which the
body of the Savior was laid. In fact,
every logical and reasonable argument
goes to prove that the holy spot is
somewhere else. But even If one ac-
cepts the site as authentic it is impos-
sible for any reasonable creature who
has grown to manhood under modern
influences to believe one-tenth of the
legends and the sacred nonsense with
Nrir is
great church. He refuses to believe
that a block of stone cut with modern
stone saws is the very block upon
WHICH the body of the cructied Lord
was laid. Even the Armenian priests
will admit that the true stone of unc-
tion lies underneath and that the block
which thousands of Christian pilgrims
kiss every day has been in place for
only n few years. one is given stick
which he shoves through a brassbound
hole in the wall to touch, in the dark
ness, the socket in the rock I'm which
the cross was set. He is expected to
kiss the end of the stick and thereby
acquire holy merit. No one is appar-
emily concerned with the fact that the
socket in the solid rock wherein
the cross was set is at least 100 yards
away from the place which one Is
gravely assured is the exact spot where
Jesus was crucitied. In fact, the
church makes no appeal whatever TO
ones intellect or reason. 1t Is
great house sheltering an enormous
collection of absurdities which in
themselves are so contradictory as 10
make faith in their authenticity impos-
sible.
But If one forgets the hordes of beg
gars, If one can forget the Mohalnme-
dan soldiers stationed there TO pre-
vent the various seCts of Christians
from numbering each other. If one can
forget the foul air, the filthy floors,
the noisome odors, and the all but Visl-
BILE presence of countless millions OF
germs; then he will find the Church or
the Holy Sepulchre an appeal to his
higher emotional faculties which viii
compel his reverence.
How long ago men came to beleVe
that this spot marked the place OF
sepuIture of Jesus Christ Is not known.
In the third century 1t is recorded that
a Temple of Venus stood at this spot
and the Christians then complained or
the descration When the great Con-
stantine, emperor of Rome, embraced
the. Christian religion, he built
group of edifices at this place, and sur
rounded the tomb with row OF col
umns This was the beginning OF the
church. A. D. 335. These buildings
were destroyed by the Persians in the
seventh century, but were Immediately
rebuilt. In the tenth century the
church was burned and in the eleventh
century it was ruined by the Moslems.
The present church was built by the
Crusaders early In the twelfth CEN
tury, although, of course, many addi-
tions and repairs have been made from
time to time. The church is the joint
nroDerty of the Greek orthodox church,
which has the largest share, the Abys-
sinian church, and the Coptic or Egypt
ian church. The Church of England Is
the only Protestant church having any
peculiar privileges, it being permitted
twice a month to celebrate the Holy
Communion in one of the chapels OF
the church. There is almost an endless