The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-04-01
The Grotto Of the Nativity In the crypt
Of the church Of the Nativity at
Bethlehem. The star beneath the
altar marks the supposed place Of
the Nativity.

grims visit the tomb itself Only three
can enter 1t at a time, for 1t Is six feet
square, and half its space is taken up
by the sarcophaguS-a white marble
shelf, cracked across, supported on mar
BILE slab about three feet high Lamps of
silver and gold hang above 1t and shed
dim light upon the figure Of Greek
priest on silent guard. This is the Holy
Of Holies-the holiest spot in the world.
Princes and paupers, kneeling in the
place where they believe Jesus lay for
three days, stretch quivering fingers to
| touch the marble shelf and sob as II
| their hearts would break. 1t is here
that Easter makes the whole world kin.
churches of southern India-all these
races mingle with Latins from west
ern Europe, with Slavs from the East
and North, with Germans, English,
Americans, Scandinavians
And this, mind you, against pecu-
liar background of Jewish life-at one
time largely Sephardic-that is, Of
Jews driven centuries ago from Spain
and Portugal, but in late years to a
fast growing extent from Ashkenazi;
| Jews who have returned, thanks to
the efforts of a powerful propaganda,
from Poland, Russia, the Balkans,
Austria-Hungary, Germany, Holland
and England.
In the midst Of all, and presenting
an individuality perhaps more distinct
than all the others, you see the Mo-
hammedan master of the land-the
Arab in his solemn garb and majestic
bearing, and the Turkish official and
soldier naughty in the exercise of his
duty to keep the Christian pilgrims in
check and to preserve order.
Elaborate professions and ceremo-
malls make holy week in Jerusalem a
gorgeous event, where the intimate
note of the resurrection is not Conspic-
uous. Especially does it bring out the
division of Christendom, so strikingly
shown in the way in which LatinS,
Greeks, Armenians and Copts share
the Church Of the Holy Sepulcher.
Though the census Of 1896 gives the
UNNECESSARILY" of Jerusalem $4,000
Latins and only $4,000 Greeks, the
visitor is apt to be impressed with the
religious predominance of the latter.
Particularly at Easter the marvellous
services Of the Greek orthodox church
convey the priority Of these ceremo-
nies; none, perhaps, is more impress
sive than that of the washing Of feet,
on the Thursday before Easter
On that day platform is erected in
the court of the church, which Is occu'
pied by the Greek patriarch Of Jerusa-
lem and twelve high church digni-
taries. Court stairs, inches and every
corner is crowded by the faithful to
witness the enactment of the scene
when Jesus washed the feet of his
disciples. The parts of Jesus, John,
Peter and Judas are each given to an
ecclesiastic, and are read with fine
simplicity, though the story is told
with a certain freedom from Gospel
text.
At the end the patriarch washes the
feet Of the twelve clerics and, repeat.
ing Jesus words, Let us go, for he
that will betray me is Nigh" gives the
signal to arise, and they all withdraw
to the church Then an olive branch,
hanging over the chancel of the plat
form, is pulled up to the roof Of the
church amid shouts q Joy