Evening star., 1915-04-04
An Easter Pilgrimage.

E ASTER has always been the most
~ popular season for pilgrims and
tourists to the Holy Land Both the
Roman and Greek Catholic churches have
from remote ages encouraged and pro-
NOTED the pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Scattered throughout the land vast hos
pices have been erected for the proper
care Of the religious pilgrims under the
supervision OF the various Catholic and
Protestant faiths that, are drawn to the
promised land. For, as some one has
said, "This, the least of all lands, is the
one country toward which Christian and
Jew. Romanist, Greek and Moslem turn
with adoring devotion and longing
desire"
About fifteen thousand have been in
the habit Of visiting the sacred scenes OF
biblical history every year. entering the
country through the ancient seaport OF
Jaffa- The European conflict has inter
fered with the plans Of many devoted
follower of the Christian faith who pro-
posed this season to carry out the dreams
of a lifetime.
125 German Catholics whom he IRE
quently met last summer in Jerusalem.
under the guidance of Brother Sebastian.
formerly stationed at the American Cath
Ollie University, Brookland. Washington.
d. c. The pilgrims were taken prisoners
as they sailed from Jana q few hours
after they had left Jerusalem with songs
Of devotion and praise to Christ and His
church upon their lips.
One OF the principal sights of Easter
In Jerusalem is to witness upon Holy
Saturday the so-called miracle OF Holy
Fire. It has been denounced by Roman
Catholics and devout Christians of many
faiths as gross imposture yet year after
year for hours the section Of the Church
Of the Holy Sepulchre upon Holy Satur-
day Is crowded with the motley multi
tude. mostly from Russia, who are wait
ing for the Holy Ghost to appear unto
them in the sacred fire. The people be-
lieve that 1t descends from heaven that
gay or is brought by an angel to the
Holy Sepulchre.
Early in the last century two oval holes
were pierced in the walls of the Chapel
OF the Angel. which is portion of the
Armenian and Ccptic Catholics worship
at the burial place. as they belitNt 4
their Lord. After being shut up Ia he
sanctuary for several hours the Gte.>
through the little openings.
Immediately the multitude thai NIs
waited for over twenty-four haurs -I.h-
out snd food 3Sa or s.1s INK, INK becomes hain
Copts and AbysSinians contend s-
maniacs to get their tarers ''si ~ Fl,
that In spir of penance they nu,7 -=-r
their bodies with the burn;nz t,t,.- fHlt
has been lighted by "'he holy tire
The task of the Turkish gtiastI@ ets-
toned there in the great Christ az W.
pie erected in the cradle of .hei- r.. +,
symbolizing in its worship the unty IN
diversity Of the church. is virtually
powerless to keep order, much less TO
check the rfOting and fighting OF pro-
fessed Christians. Frequently the en-
acting Of this ceremony results In leaving
upon the floor of the basilica the man.
gled and dead forms of many who came
there to worship.
Above all the strife and superstitions Of
the various sects that worship in the
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre is the fact
that they all stand for a common truth
that is symbolized in the sacred spot
which for fully fifteen centuries has been
considered the most sacred place on the
earth.