The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-06
Dydmitin9 The Holy Sepulcher
BY FRANK c. CARPENTER.

Copyright, 1910. by Frank c. Carpenter
 Jerusalem. N ALESTINE is bsdling and seethins A with the qp rrels of religious \ fanatics. Every sacred place in the country is claimed by the Greeks, Iatins, Armenians and Copts. The holiest spots are divided up into sections and lines are drawn here and there indi- eating the church 10 which each part pe- longs. The various sects are divided among themselves as to who shall control the monasteries, convents and other ln- stitutions belonging to them, and the quarreling goes on over the very spot where Christ was born and upon that where it is supposed the crucifxion took place.
 Dynamiting the Holy Sepulcher
 These nuarrels are serious. Knives are frequently drawn and many are killed' short dime ago a monk was shot by an Austrian pilgrim in the Church or the Nativity at Bethlehem, and just before last Easter a gigantic candle was sent 10 Jerusalem addressed to the care or cer- tain priests This candle was nine feet high and two feet thick, and as far as fts outward appearance was concerned seemed to be entirely of wax. It was shipped in from abroad and was intended to be lit inside the Church of the holy sepulcher and to burn there while the celebrations were at their highest. AL that time the church would have been filled with Creeks, Armenians. Latins and Abvssinians When the candle came to Iafra the customs officers held it for dut,es. and sent word to the priests to come and get 1t. They failed to appear, whereupon it was cut open and 5000 it- He dynamite balls were found inside 1t. Had it exploded at the time of festivities 10000 or more people would probably have lost their lives.
 The War of the Greeks
 Thai candle was probably sent by fzyeelx who is disgruntied at the church, and in his desire for revenge cared not how many he killed. There is great war r>,,nr m, among the Greeks, and am told that sorne of the factions have refused to ro to the Church of the Holy Sepulcner until their wrongs are lighted. turkey has now a new constitution, py wllcn !, fs provided that every sect shall own and control its own churches and church rronerty. The Greek church here IS ruled by outsiders, and the Greehs Who arc natives of Palestine claim that they have the right to the church ana church rroperty. There have already been nu- 5,erous riots between these Greeks ana shs +oTesgn monks. and not long ago the ,,eonle demanded that the patriarch, or head of the Greek church, resign The native monks threatened to put him ou.' and the Mohammedan authorities here wired Constantinople as to what tneS should do. The sultan has faVoreo the outsiders. He telegraphed the pau -.. lieii to hold on, but nevertheless there were more riots the people rose and the pa- triarch is here now only on sunerance'
 Monk~ Who Control Millions
 The fight among the Greeks Is to some extent sentimental, but It IS also larsei9 one for the loaves and fishes. Ine Greens a aye tbe most powerful religious body Tn Palestine, and their property runs higll irto the millions They have nlonasteries' convents and hospces scattered over the IIof1 Land from Dan to Beersheoa' ana at all of these the pilgrims who tIaVei over the country make contrlpueioiis. Some of the places are so Valuapie una. the priests in charge are said lo pay a ,,rnn sum of a thousand dollars or more wear for the privilege of presiding at ssch or them. expecting to recoup them- selves from the gifts or the phsI Iiihe' Here in Jerusalem there are 50 GreeN monasteries and other big buildings man aged by 500 monks, .,.,.. 4,o
 The Church of the Holy Sepulcher' tne ~-eatar mart of which belongs to the Greeks. brings in tens of thousands of hounds every year to the church. There are thousands of Russians who make pill rrimages to this city. and each IS expect ed to leave an offering according TO ms wealth and spiritual desires
 me Greek church also owns the sbons of a new bazar which has been