Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-04-03
Sacred Scenes of Crucihxion
and Resurrection Attract
Pilgrims in Thousands
at Easter Time
MTg N
Mk8


spontaneous express
sion of mans delight in the ever joy
full and beautiful annual miracle of the
springtime. "A thousand hills in YER
dure clad. rare valleys spangled with
wee wildlings, nurtured in natures
endless chain of gardens; vast for
ests putting on robes of spring and
those trees which in their fruition of
fer feasts to humanity, first holding
out their iowery offerings to their de-
tiles; flawless skies with cloudlets by
way of making the blue dome more
radiant-that was the worlds pagan
springtime up to that springtime of
tspringtimes, that Sunday of Sundays,
which we now celebrate as the chief
festival of the resurrection of Christ
and of the Christian era.
Easter! glorious Easter! Herald
of natures year, symbol of life eter-
nal! Upon Easter all the Christian
churches the wide world over hold
commemorative services. Millions of
voices are raised in praise; millions
of heads are bowed in worship.
In the primitive church it was one
of the special days for baptism. The
Latin name of the Octave, or the
following Sunday, Dominicus in albis,
preserves the memory of the custom
of the newly-baptized, wearing their
white robes throughout the entire
Week. Russian Christians, who now
make pilgrimages to the Holy Land,
hnurnuor Foar fhaxx vnau he aud how
ever much they may need the room
for food and extra clothing, carry with
them one precious parcel which con-
itains the white robe for the baptism
in the Jordan, to which they go after
celebrating Easter in Jerusalem. After
this baptism the robe is never put
on again until it serves as a shroud.
Going down to Jericho from Jerusa-
lem and returning two or three com
lpanies of pilgrims will be met, thou
sands of them in each group. walking
single file as a rule, though some of
them ride on donkeys.
However, compelling in interest
iother parts of Palestine may be at
Easter, the thoughts of the Christian
world, as well as the steps of pill
Igrims, turn Jerusalemward. And Of all
Jerusalem those connected with the
icruciixion and the resurrection are
of the most vital and compelling in
Iterest. The various sects have shed
blood following their arguments over
sacred matters hereabouts, but, ac-
lcording to the guide-book. the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher covers the ira
Iditional spot of both. Reached through
marrow, crooked, none too clean
streets, this church fills the visitor
with mingled emotions. Squatting on
the stone-paved space before the south
entrance are sellers of beads, evil
eyes and souvenirs of olive wood.
Once inside, one finds armed Mos
lem custodians, who are necessary to
keep the peace between the jealous
christian pilgrims from various parts
of the world. some of them half
starved fanatics, who have sacrificed
everything except life itself to get
there. And here one finds hanging
any number of beautiful metal lamps.
The Greeks are allowed a certain
number, the Armenians SO many. and
SO On.
Almost as soon as the guard is
passed the large Stone of Anoint.
ment" is reached. On this the body
OF Jesus is said to have lain when it
was anointed by Nicodemus. The prin-
lcipal part Of this building is the ro-
tunda Of the sepulcher. The chapel
of the sepulcher is about six feet each
way, and very low, 43 precious lamps
hanging from the ceiling. 1t is here
Ion the split marble slab, which serves
as an altar, that the members Of the
Catholic church (Latin, Greek, Arme-
MAN chiefly, or their. friends, have