Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-12
A Southern Pilgrim
In Eastern Lands

InlS IN All pTOOdullAg 10 NhC NOis hoA ~
which Jesus was tried before plate, as
related in Matthew 27:11-26. and cores
ponding passages I'm other gospels. The
place is now a Catholic convent in which
so orphan girls are being educated. I'm
der the convent there is shown what Is
claimed TO be a part Of the original Ro-
man pavement of the judgment hall, and
which might well he such. In court
there Is also a pedestal, which is claimed
TO be the very pedestal or oema, OF
Judgment seat on which PLATE sat. or
more probably stood. while Christ was be-
ing examined by him on his sixth trial
This too. gives evidence OF genuineness.
Also there Is an arch called the 'Ecca
Homo arch, on which Il IL said PLATE
stood when he brought Jesus out to the
multitude and said "Ecce, home. Be
hold. the man." What is called the Ecce
homo church has been erected at the
place. where the arch runs. II was begun
50 wears ago and finished sayears ago.
A part Of the original arch as is claim
ed Is shown over the altar. On the altar
Is the inscription: Corona tribulationes
affloruit in coronam glorial'-''A crown OF
trfbulation flowers out into a crown OF
glory" Another inscription is the words
of the Savior on the cross, "Pater di-
mette Ills non enim sciunt quia faciunt
-"Father forgive them for they know not
crown of thorns are very interesting.
may take OCCASION 10 say here that DO
not by any means accept all the so=called
sacred sites shown at Jerusalem as gem
uine. as YOU will see before you get
through this article. confess. thoush'
that see no reason TO doubt the authen-
ticitv OF the pavement and pedestal and
probably the arch also. These are only
few OF the many places and sites wnlch
he accounted genuine.
VIA DOLOROsA.
leaving the Judgment hall of PLATE we
follow the so-caIled via dolorosa, or SAD
way which Jesus is supposed TO nave
taken on his wav to the place OF crucinx-
ion. The way is marked with tablets
showing the different stages OF stations
on the way to the cross. AS shal IN
dicate later. I believe that Jesus went
only a mart Of this way, But let us nrst
follow the traditional way.
The FIRST stage Is the hall OF 1udg-
rnent of which I have spoken. From TINS
hall was taken the scala sancta, or hoiy
stairway. which Jesus walked on MS way
70 the cross This stairway Is now IN
the church OF st. John Lateran at Rome
Indulgence or freedom from purgatory Is
o,fared for those who win climb the
statrwav on their knees. so many years
Cor each step climbed. / saw people
cI,r,h,np the stairs on their knees when
was IN Rome II was while climbing
tht. stairway that Luther heard a voice
savinZ. TO him, THE Just shall I'VE oy
faith" and rose from his knees TO go OUT
and proclaim that truth until there re-
suited the greet reformation whlch sioOh
Rome to it's very center.
The second station is at the en-
trance TO the hall under the arch'l wnere
n Is said the cross was laid upon Jesus
The third station is where he sank
under the weight of the cross nos
nice for pilgrims under the charge OF
American monks is there. Near by Is Sale
TO be the house of Lazarus.
The house OF Dives little fartner
on e. the fourth station. This house was
built not earlier than the 18th century
as evidenced by its architecture.
Opposite the fourth station Is the
efth where Simon Of Cyrene relieved
Jesus OF the cross, depression In the
wall Is pointed out as the place wnere
the hand of Christ rested when he stead
led himself.
A chapel of the United Greeks
marks the site of tn residence and tomb
~ st. Veronica. who is said to have
wiped the perspiration from the brow
" Jesus and on whose handkerchief
his image left a permanent impression.
The handkerchief is now in ST. Peters
cathedral at Rome.
Z. The seventh station marks where
Christ fell a second time. A modern
chapel adjoins the hospice OF ST. John
at this station.
The Greek monastery OF St. Caro-
lombos marks the eighth station. where
Christ is said to have addressed the
woman who accompanied him.
g. A coptic monastery marks the
ninth stage. The last five are In the
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre' marking
the places.
10 Where Jesus undressed to prepare
for the crucihxion.
IL. Where he was nailed to the cross.
u Where the cross was erected.
IL Where he was taken down from
the cross.
IA. The tomb where he was laid. 1
have given, you understand, the tradi-
tional places II is all very pretty. But
let me say that for my part, ] do not
believe that a single one Of these sta
lions is authentic. except the starting
point at the Judgment hall. It is impos-
sible to identify any OF these places,
and any effort to do so is worse than p,
useless. Nor do i believe that Jesus
even went along this way at all, except
the first 100 yards or so. After that,
as he came out into what is now Damas-
Gus street. instead Of turning 10 the left
TO 90 to the present Church OF the Holy
-presuming the streets were then about
as they are now-to go outside the Da-
mascus gate to what 1 believe is the
true Calvary. We will see about that
directly, though. Let us first enter the
Church OF the Holy Sepulchre, which
many millions OF mankind believe is
the true site OF the crucifxion and of
the tomb.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
This Is located on AGRA hill, in the
northwestern portion OF the city. About
rs AID. a temple to Venus was erected
here In 325 AID, Helena, the mother OF
Constantine. the first Christian emperor,
came to Jerusalem, so tradition says,
in search OF the true cross. She had the
workmen dig down al this place for
them. She sat n a chair which is shown
the visitor and watched them. After a
while they came to three crosses. In
order to determine which was the true
cross they carried one into the presence
OF a sick woman. II was the cross of
one Of the thieves. The woman immedi-
ately became a raving maniac. They
, brought another cross. 1t proved to be
the cross OF the other thief. The wo-