The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-04-17
Land of Pilgrimage.

Palestine had been assigned TO the
Emperor OF the East In 305 A. D.. and
was nominally Christian at that time.
when pilgrimage to the Holy Land be-
came almost cult and the finding OF
relics became regular pursuit In all
the places Identified with the life OF
Jesus.
This was the period that might al
most be termed the Outstanding OF
Palestine, for Christianity had devef-
Oped far more vigorously at Rome and
In other parts of the Roman empire
than in the Holy Land itself up to this
time. Constantine had made It the
state religion and Helena had found
the "True Cross" so that there was q
great stirring of interest throughout
the land. Many fine churches were
built, and Justinian erected the Golden
Gate and part of great church. now
the lei Aksa mosque (527-565).
Christians Prosecuted.
1t was In GA that Chosroes II. king
of Persia, made his great inroad, per-
scouting the Christians wherever he
found them, especially In what is now
Armenia, and capturing Jerusalem.
The Emperor Heraclius managed to
regain control (629). but he had to-
yield before the might of the Caliph
Omar (637), who erected many gfeat
structures, especially the mosque
called after him, upon the great rock
which had been the site Of the temple
of Solomon.
For more than 400 years the Mo-
hammedans held sway, until as 4 re-
suit Of the Crusades Godfrey of BOu-
illon took possession in 1909. The
Christian powers could NOT however.
hold possession, for they were always.
fighting among themselves, and 50
Saladin, the mighty leader Of the Mos
lens, gained permanent hold over
the land of Palestine and Jerusalem
in 1887.
1t was during the next century that
the Christians under the leadership OF
Frederick II gained possession Of PAL
EDtlAC lOA LAG last lilliCy uutii O&A WWA&
day. But with dissension among the
Christians of that time 1t was not diff
acult for the Turks to regain cOntros
n 1914 and retain 1t ever since, In one
form or another.
Surrender of Jerusalem.
The surrender of Jerusalem to the
British forces last December, and the
subsequent conquest of much of the
rest of the land now establishes Chris
tian control, at least for the presents,
and the doubt has been raised WHETHER
any Christian power, even Germany !.
will dare to suggest that the holy
places again be turned over to the
power of the Moslem, no matter what.
the terms of peace may be.
Precisely what local changes In priv.
ileges of worship will come out Of the
change may not be foretold. For a
long time strange situation has pre-.
vailed In Jerusalem. The holy sepul-
cher, for example, with its relics of
Christian treasure, has been used by.
Greeks, Armenans and Western Chris
tians in alienation, the control re-.
naming with the Turkish authorities,
Naturally many disputes have arisen.
out Of so strange situation,
This Easter Significant
When the city was captured by the
British there was great local anxiety
as to what might result With the en-
try of General Allenby, with his stnfr
and certain French and italian officers.
these anxieties were quickly set at
rest. The Jewish population soosa
learned that all was to be well with
them ard other sccts represented In
the citizenship of the historic place
were equally treasured. A sense or
peace, liberty and security had its Inn
mediate effect and influenced pro-
foundly the preparations for the new.
unexampled Easter as well as for fu-
ture worship of every sort In the trou-.
bled Holy Land. In Jerusalem as
elsewhere began to appear conviction
that, no matter how long world peace
might be delayed a new spirit was
abroad throughout the earth.
This Easter, then, has special sig
nificance, in view of all the Centuries
Of struggle for holding the places con-
secrated to Christianity by the activity
& its Savior.
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