The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-12-11

n xxHb the restoration of peace in PaleS-
III tine the land which is a holy land
10 to men of three faiths In Jeru-
salem, especially, the adherents of
the three great religions meet as
at a common shrine. That ancient
city has furnished a setting for much of the sa-
GRID history and legend of each.
Going up TO the Holy City for devotional or
other purposes was once fraught with grave diff
hculties- In the middle ages the expression "a
pilgrimage TO Gods sepucher" became proverbal
To indicate the desperate character of any peril
Gus Journey. Since then things have changed for
the better, writes J. +. Schetema in Asia The
modern pilgrim TO. Jerusalem takes a steamer
To Jaffa and, on landing there, has himself and
baggage conveyed to the railway station in time
for the daily passenger train. When under way,
II requires some Imagination especially if one is
a member OF a specially conducted tourist party,
pilOted TO the Holy Land on a return ticket. in
setuding accommodation and often inaptly over
s'as99e Rttendance-to realize that traverses
the EhfSin of Sharon and the Valley of Rephaim;
EsNr tbe sstEping places, Akir and Sart are Ekron
Judges Z, IS a. and Zorah, where Samson
WAS born Judges 13, 24), with Samson's cav
erD further down the line; that one is pilgrim
s TN the land where David slew the Philistnes
with n great slaughter. where Joshua and Judas
: NAecaEess and Saladin and Richard of the Lion
lHeEEt fought their famous battles.
Not a nook or corner In old Jerusalem but has
whole of Palestine is rich in legendary lore
Saints OF three religions and no particular re-
ITgIOn af all invoked throughout its length
and breadth. There Is for instance. al-Khudr,
the evergreen one the prolonger of life and por-
tai TO the fountain of youth near the confluence
or two seas. believed TO be the Euxine and Aegean,
whose waters minge in the PrOpontis-a ira
t1ifIOn which implies that Ponce de Leon sought
the neJuvenating spring in the wrong place. On
the eastern bank of the Jordan the exact spot
Is shown where the Antichrist will make his last
stand and, excluded from the Holy City, will
alright the faithful assembled on the western
bank But then the Angel Gabriel will hasten
fD their rescue and hurl three stones at the
arShenemy, the first in the name of the God of
Abraham. the second in the name of the God Of
Isaac the third in the name of the God of Jacob.
And, fleeing, the impostor will be slain at the
Blr az-Zaybaq. the quicksilver well.
OF the Christian sanctuaries the Church of the
Nativity at Bethlehem and the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher are the most important. The So
chilled Cave of the Sepulcher was revealed to
the Empress Helena when she dug for and found
the Holy Cross. Some five centuries later, the
KEYS Of the basilica- built over the sacred spot
TO replace a Roman temple dedicated to Venus
vasre sent by Harunal- Raschid to Charlemagne
1s a token of friendship and esteem. Again. two
CENTURIES later, less tolerant Fatimid Caliph
EEakrna bi amr'AIlah, ordered its destruction $50
that MS earth should become its heaven" for
reports William of Tyre, the devil had spread
s.alaunles concerning the servants of the true
religion.
In 1149, when additions to the Church of
enc Holy Sepulcher were consecrated, the cere-
xnuuy was attended by King Louis VII of France
aenA his queen. Eleanor, who. two years earlier.
Faaa Feft their royal domain to take part in the
ssecsDa crusade AS their majesties walked in
sS the head OF their gorgeousy arrayed cortege.
composed of the flower of French chivary and
were met by the Patriarch and the officiating
clergy, a spectral figure stepped forth from a
dark. vauIted passage. Its sunken cheeks and
syuaciated limbs were like those of resurrected
corpse; with glaring eyes and wild gestures, 1t
bexan 70 reproach the queen with her criminal
amcurs and generally scandalOus conduct. Swords
were drawn to stop those insulting remarks but
fell hack into their scabbards when the Outspoken
stranger was. recognized as the illustrious ady's
father william, count of Potion and duke of
SyuVepue or. rather as his ghost, for he had
Sled in 1877 as a hermit near the shrine of st.
names OF Compostella. where he was doing pen
snce fur his own sins Vanishing as unaccOunt-
s,blV ms he had appeared. he is supposed to have
returned 10 his grave in Spain after fulfilling his
,,,IsSion which interrupted the brilliant function
yn such n painful way. Some time afterward
IN inc pretext Of kinshlp. King Louis obtained a
divorce from his erratic spouse And the Rose
~ AauitaIne" resumng the bonds of matrlmony
An second nuptials with Henry Plantagenet, be-