The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-04-14

mat only very limited number of naor,o hove
e'er Witnessed the significant program here car
..ou ouI ana tnat, indeed, the great maioritv nj
ue puDhc Is unaware even of the uniuue char
"e'ef Oh the services at this mecca for worshin
efS serves, perhaps, to add interest to the Mace
and the event
mount ST. Sepulchre is located at Brookland
In the District of Columbia and is the seat of the
most important church and the most famous
monastery reared In the New World by the
franciscan brothers. However. It should be EN-.
pnaslzed just here that the casual Easter visitor
20 tnls retreat at Easter-tide need not be Cath.
ono nor yet even an adherent OF any church to
appreciate the solemnity and marvellous beauty
g the services which take up the greater norton
9 Is Inns the most momentous day on the church
calendar 80 - -
The most important architectural feature If
the church at Mount st. Sepulchre, and one from
which the church and monastery takes it's name
y the location In the sanctuary of an exact dupli
cate OF the Holy Sepulchre which has been re-
produced exactly as 1t exists In Jerusalem. This
IN Itself would lend interest to the Easter serv
ices held In such setting but intensifyine the
meaning OF the religious program for all the spec
tators Is the circumstance that the services are
an exact duplicate to the smallest detail of the
services which are being held under similar aus
pices and at the corresponding hour at the last
resting place Of the Savior in Jerusalem n 10
as though the congregation at Brookland were
suddenly transported to the Holy Land for an
hour or day
To appreciate the novelty of all that transpres
at Easter at Mount st. Sepulchre It is neces-
sary to know something Of the history of this
institution The franciscan brothers have
number Of monasteries or houses
NJ &hN ~ - L.
United States, but the community in the Dis
trict of Columbia is in class by itself In that
It Is In effect the American branch office" of
tho franciscan friars who are laboring in
Palestine. For, Of course, the Franciscans are
brotherhood whose work is Of worldwide
scope and one Of the most important branches
Of this work is found in their function Of
keepers Of the holy places" For more than
seven hundred years the Franciscens have
been In possession Of almost all Of those
places in the Holy Land, which are most dear
to all adherents Of the Christian faith--such
places as the spot where Jesus was born in
Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulchre in Jeru.
salem-and this order Of monks has made of
II q labor Of love to restore and preserve
these sacredly historic localities.
A large share of all the funds with which
this work Is carried on comes from America
and most of the Franciscans who are now
serving actively as keepers Of the holy
places" have been educated for their task In
the United States-at this selfsalne institu-
ton at Mount st. sepulchre. Officially this
community is designated the Chapel and Col
lege Of the Holy Land and the thirty monks
who make up the community are known as
the Fathers OF the Holy Land. Not only is
this college for the education Of the young
members of the order who are to 80 as guides
and missionaries to the Holy Land, but 1t Is
also the headquarters and business Office OF
the Commissariat Of the Holy Land This
latter is legally organized corporation which
IL authorized by law to receive bequests and
donations Of all kinds made for the purpose
Of commemorative and restorative work at
The holy places In Palestine. A countrywide (
organization Of laymen known as the Cru
sade for the Holy Land" is ever active in the
rause and the funds raised by the Crusaders"
Dr. BY means Of the collection taken once
rear in all Catholic churches are sent to
Mount st. sepulchre for transmission to
Palestine
with such an inspiration It Is. OF course