Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-01-18
Centuries of Warfare Over Christ's
Tomb.

| OlOOQy Ddlle recently.
Crucifixes and censors were the Weap-
| ons. Franciscan and Armenian monks
were the combatants, and the scene of
the struggle was the tomb OF Christ.
For time the battlefield OF the crusades
echoed again TO the sound of claShlne
arms, the groans OF the wounded, the
cheers of the victors. But this was not
battle OF believe against unbelieve, heather
versus Christian. The contestants were
monks sworn to teach the doctrines oi
the Prince of Peace.
This happened only short time before
the anniversary OF the first Easter day,
when the Saviour of the race rose from
the dead.
In the centuries that have elapsed the
las. resting place OF the founder OF the
faith has never known a cessation oi
strife. Those monks who battle To-Day
are only carrying on the strife that the
crusaders caused to rage around the holy
edifice.
The bone of contention is desire to
control the sainted sepulchre.
1t was this ambition that brought the
crusaders swarming from all Europe, and
now form of the same desire has the
monks OF the Franciscan order and the
Armenian branch forever at each others
| tEroatS.
They quarrel over the right to sweep
off the steps, and the Greeks, though
they had little part in bringing the tomb
of Christ under Christian control, have
profited so skllfully by the quarrels OF
France with Turkey that they have in
gratiated themselves with the pasha till
he is regarded as their silent aid.
In this last battle one sacriStan had his
skull smashed in with heavy censor,
and number OF combatants went to hos
pitals for treatment. So frequent have
the quarrels been in the last decade that
often Turkish soldiers have been forced
10 intervene.
French, Greek and Italian eonsuls have
at times been dragged into the controver-
sizes that resulted from these outbreaks.
Apparently no permanent peace is ever
TO come to the tomb of Him, who, as His
cardinal doctrine, taught the law OF peace.
For the events that made the tomb Of
Christ permanent battle ground, the
devout Helena and the Emperor Con-
stantine are indirectly responsible, though
the motives that led them to Jerusalem
were the holiest.
First Helena embraced Christianity, and
then converted her son, the Emperor
Constantine.
Once in the faith he made it his resolve
that Jerusalem, city Of the holiest deed in
the worlds history, should not be ne
elected.
With reverent care, Constantine and
Helena sought out all the spots that were
identified with the Holy Passion, and
erected on them churches and suitable
memorials.
Over the spot where the cross was
discovered a chapel was erected, and the
sacred wood itself was retained in Jeru-
salem by Helena and placed under the
great basilica or church erected by Con-
stantine over the place OF Christ's burial
The erection of these buildings, par
ticuarly the church, made Jerusalem a
place of pilgrimage, such as ii has re-
NAMED to this day.
For 300 peaceful years the cross re-
manned at the basilica, and nothing but
the worshiping songs and prayers OF the
faithful resounded over the sacred stones.
In Ola warfare and slaughter came upon
the holy spot. Jerusalem was stormed
by the Persian king, Chosroes II. The
Christians made their braveSt defense at
the door of the church, but were defeated,
and the tomb of the Saviour was the prey
OF heathen.
fourteen years later the Emperor Her
acIius regained possession OF the tomb
for the Christian faith.
Only for nine years was peace to reign
over the place of contention, the favorite
battlefield for heathen and Christian, and
in 637 the Caliph of Omar conquered it.
Then came another 300 years OF COM
parative silence. The tomb was under
heather domination, but at least no bat
ties ragged around it. From this period
the sacred buildings emerged to become
the centre of Titanic upheavals that con-
vulsed the entire world.
These battles arrayed the West against
the East, and caused the spilling of oceans
of blood. They represent the longest
continued and most costly conflicts in
wars bloody pages-the crusades.
In 1077 the tomb had passed under the
domination of the Turks. The crueltieS
practiced by the heather on pilgrims
who went to pay homage to the place oi
sepulchre, finally aroused Christian Eu-
rope to the wrong of letting the Turk
maintain his sway.
After Urban II became pope a mighty
movement began to take form. Much o.
the agitation resulted from the fiery yea
of Peter the Hermit. who traversed Eu-
rode and produced the most extraordi-
nary enthusiasm.
AS soon as the feelings of Europe hat
been sufficiently heated two council: