Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-13

another priest restore them, and we can
be thankful that the body of the church
is left standing" AS an Illustration of
the bitter jealousy prevailing now among
the priests of the different sects a story
is told of a Catholic who had driven a
nail into the wall upon which to hang
a picture or a lamp or something that
had been presented. The Greek priests
AFFECTED and appealed to the Turkish
authorities. The latter interviewed and
placed sentinel at the spot to see that
the Catholic priest did not attempt to
carry out his designs, and that the Greek
priests did not use violence to prevent
him. Nor was the Catholic priest allowed
to pull the useless nail from the wall.
When the Turkish authorities were ques-
toned about this incident they remarked
contemptuously that 1.-The Christian dogs
are always snarling at each other"
1t is said that during the few days be-
fore Christmas each year the several
orders of monks which have chapels in
the Church of the Nativity clean up and
decorate the surroundings over which
they are allowed jurisdiction. Each sect
sweeps, cleans, scrubs and decorates fits
allotted portion of the great church, but
so jealous are they of their rights that
one side of a row OF pillars that divide
Greek territory from the Roman Cath
Ollie chapel is cleaned by the monks of
one denomination and the other side by
monks of the other.
In Christmas, 1902, there was great
bitterness of feeling between the mem
bers OF the different sects in Bethlehem.
so much so that the governor and the
police authorities of Palestine took I'D
their headquarters at Bethlehem. and
the wires between that place and Con-
al q with faIa
porting the situation and giving instruc-
lions for its treatment. At that time an
American gentleman, who desired to make
photograph of some ancient mosaics
high on the walls of the church, mad
an interesting experience. He aksed per-
mission to erect a scaffolding upon which
he could place his camera and to scrub
the mosaics in order that the designs
might appear more clearly. The mosaics
were on Roman Catholic territory. but
in order to get the proper focus the
scaffolding would have to be placed up
on Greek territory. hence permission
was refused, and when the American ap-
pealed to the governor he was informed
that nothing could be done without spe-
cial permission from Constantinople. In
describing the situation the governor
pointed out a window which had BEEN
broken, but the jealousy between the
Chrlstlan sects was so great that neltherI
would allow a member of the other tol
mend il, so he employed a Jew glazier
to put is a new pane Of glass.
remarkable story is told with ref
erence to a rough iron chain which hangs
over the entrance to the gTotto i'm which
the Savior was born. II is explained that
many years ago, through the influenced
of an Armenian who at that time was
grand visier of Turkey, the Armenian
monks obtained permission from the sui
tan to hang a chain to which lamps
could be attached. similar to chains al
ready hung for the same purpose byi
the Greeks and Roman Catholics. When!
the governor received the order he no:
titled the Greek bishop. who. after read
ing the firmin, expressed his desire to.
cooperate in anything that the sultan.
had ordered. Permission was then grant
ed to the Armenians, who appeared With