Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-04-14

81 Sk12McH2E
that only q very limited number of people have
ever witnessed the significant program here car
ried out and chat, indeed. the great majority of
the public Is unaware of the unique char
acter of the services at this mecca for worship
ers serves. perhaps, to add interest to the place
and the
Mount St 6epulchre 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-
rhasized just here that the casual Easter visitor
to this retreat at Eastertde need not be Cath
Ole yer even adherent OF any church to
appreciate the solemnity and marvellous beauty
of the services which take up the greater portion
of this. the most momentous day on the church
calendar.
The most important architectural feature of
the church at Mount st. Sepulchre and from
which the church and monastery takes its name,
is the location in the sanctuary Of exact dupli
cate of the Holy Sepulchre which has been re-
produces exactly as it exists in Jerusalem. This
in itself would lend interest to the Easter serv-
ices held in such setting, but intensfyng the
nearing of the religious program for all the spec
tators III the circumstance that the services
an exact duplicate to the smallest detail Of the
services which are being held under similar
pices and at the corresponding hour at the last
resting place Of the Savior in Jerusalem. 1t is
as though the congregation at Brookland
suddenIy transported to the Holy Land for
hour ur a day.
TIC appreciate the novelty of all that transpres
at Eaxter at Mount st. Sepulchre 1t is
sary 20 know something Of the history of this
institution The Franciscan brothers have
q lumber Of moDasteries or houses
o. tho order located in various parts of the
United States but the community In the Dis
trict OF Columbia is in class by itself in that
h is Ia effect the American branch office" of
frso Tho Iohn in
Paleatioe. For, of course, the Franciscans are.
q motherhood whose work is of worldwide
scope and of the most important branches
o. this work is found in their function of
"kceperu of the holy places" For more than
sevea hundred years the Franciscans have
been in possession of almost all of those
places In the Holy Land, which are most dear
to AL aiherents of the Christian faith-such
places MS the spot where Jesus was born in
Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulchre in Jeru-
saler,--and this order of monks has made of
It labor Of love to restore and preserve
these sacredly historic localities
large share of all the funds with which
this york is carried on comes from America
and most of the Franciscans who are now
serving actively keepers OF the molly
places" have been educated for their task IN
the U1ited States-at this self-same fnstttu-
ton a. 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 to go guides
and missionaries to the Holy Land, but 1t is
also the headquarters and business off1ce OF
the Commissariat Of the Holy Land. This
latter is legally organized corporation which
is authorized by law to receive requests and
donations of all kinds made for the purpose
OF commemorative and restorative work at
I-Ixr ,oIn H. NIL 4 Id
organization of laymen known the Cru
SADIE for the Holy Land" is active in the
cause and the funds raised by the Crusaders"
or by means of the collection taken once
year in all Catholic churches are sent to
Mount St Sepulchre for transmission to
Palestine.
With such an inspiration it is, of course