The Raymer enterprise., 1918-03-21

nominations who could accomplish
the journey to visit spots In the Holy
Land made sacred by connection
with the life of Christ. They went
at oil seasons. but such as could
choose their time for this pilgrimage made 1t at
EASTER that they might participate In or witness
the wonderful series Of services which take place
at the actual scenes Of the death and resurrection
OF the Savior. No one who has attended the
services OF holy week and Easter at the Church
OF the Holy Sepulcher In Jerusalem has ever
tailed to be deeply impressed by the services
And yet but comparatively few people know
that the unique services preparatory to and cu
minatlng In Easter which take place In Jerusalem
are reproduced as faithfully as circumstances
Will permit In one spot In our own land-at the
franciscan monastery on the outskirts Of Wash.
ington.
The franciscan order Of friars has had charge
OF the holy places Of Palestine since early In the
thirteenth century. St. Francis. OF Assist the
FOUNDER OF the order, was granted their custody
by the Mohammedans. In Washington body of
devout monks has created an establishment which
Is memorial of all the holy shrines Of Palestine
and reproduces the services taking place there
The Church of the Holy Sepucher. named after
the famous basiica In Jerusalem. and Its attached
monastery Of Franciscan friars are situated to
the northeast Of Washington. three miles from the
United States treasury, regarded as the center Of
the CITY, The holy brothers were wise in their
selection Of their site. when some Is years ago
they chose the glorious wooded emlnence now
known a. Mount St. Sepulcher. overlooking miles
upon miles of verdant Maryland on one side and
on the other the capital Of the United States. It
Is gracious spot and fitting place for the re-
production of the most sacred places of EARTH
IN htltlf nm pvxun untfuo unac
restrained by the rule Of simplicity Of the order,
In the form Of the fve-fold cross. which was the
coat-of.arms Of the Latin kingdom Of jerusalem
are assembled faithful reproductions Of the holy
shrines Of Palestine, each separate and distinct,
but all combined In a beautiful and harmonious
whole.
The chief feature Of the church. as Of the whole
establishment, Is the holy sepulcher which Is an
exact reproduction Of the original tomb preserved
In Jerusalem as the holy Of holes and sheltered
by the magnificent Church of Holy Sepulcher,
the mecca Of all Christians. II was to preserve
the tomb Of Christ that many Of the crusaders
Of old from various parts of the world laid down
their lives.
The holy sepulcher In the monastery church
here, as In Jerusalem consists OF two apartments.
The outer apartment Is called the Chapel Of the
Angel, because the angel was found seated here
on the morning Of the first Easter. And the inner
chamber. which Is the tomb. The chapel Of the
angel Is entered by low arched doorway, sur
mounted by a large relief panel representing
Christ rising from the tomb. A casket Of stone
In the center Of the chamber contains fragment
Of stone from Jerusalem.
Through an archway so low that one must stoop
far to enter 1t is the sepucher of Christ. It Is a
replica Of the bare, rock-hewn cell. the tomb of
Joseph Of Arimathea, In which Christ was laid
after his crucfxlon. In the original sepulcher
slab Of marble has been laid over the tomb to
cover 1t from desecratlng hands. Here that slab
Is reproduced. and on its lies figure Of the
Christ, who after the amounting Of his body. lay
here In death from Good Friday until his resur-
recton Easter morn.
Above the tomb Il n facsimile of the silver re-
lief panel Of Raphaels Resurrection" which
Cardinal AntonellI donated to the holy sepulcher.
In jerusalem the soft lamps which dImly light the
sacred chamber are of gold, silver and precious
stones. Here the reproductions are Of simpler
materials, but produce the same effect upon the
hallowed spot
It Is at the holy sepulcher that the holy eu.
charist Is administered to the throngs who come
to this most sacred shrine Easter Sunday morn
Ing.
Above the holy sepulcher and reached by two
flights Of marble steps is the altar of Thabor, rep
resenting the commonly known Mount Tabor,
where the TRANSPORTATION Of Christ took place In
the presence of Moses and Elias.
To the left OF the holy sepulcher and the altar
Of Thabor Is the chapel Of st. Francis. The
Sweet Saint Of Assist" Is here represented In
the figure above the altar as receiving the en-
brace Of our Lord, according to the conception
Of Murillo. A relief panel on either side Of the
figure represents. on the right. st. Francis bless
Ing st. Louis. king Of France. and ST. Elizabeth.
queen OF Hungary, and on the left bis stigmati-
zation
The altar OF Calvary set high above The main
entrance to the church, Is replica Of the Greek
altar at Jerusalem. With covers the place of the
SKULL" where the Sayiar Of the world gave up
his life for mankind. Behind the altar Is an I'm
pressIve group Of the crucl6xion, consisting Of
The figure CT the Cruciied with the Virgin Mary
and 81. john on either side. Beyond these figures