The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-11

THE heart OF Christendom may soon
be thrilled by the welcome news OF
= the finding of the Holy Grail-that
precious relic of Christ's last hours Of
earthly life which for centuries his faithful
followers have been vainIy seeking.
For some time past students of the sub
ject have been growing more and more
convinced that the vicinity OF England's
historic Glastonbury Abbey may very prob
ably he the place where the Holy Grail has
SO long been hidden away. And now. 10
test the truth Of their theories, they are to
make careful excavations Just to the north
Of the Abbey's famous Lady Chapel. The
ruins there, which cover the ground to a
depth of many feet and date back to the
earliest years Of England's history. will be
Searched. with the greatest thoroughness
III the hope Of finding either the Grail IT.
self or some clue to its whereabouts.
Next to the Cross on which the Saviour
was crucifed and the holy sepluchre in
which his body was laid nothing is held In
greater reverence than this cup, or chalice,
or Whatever kind Of vessel It Is that is
known as the Holy Grail. It is believed
that It was used at the Last Supper and
that not only the Apostles but Christ HIM
self hallowed It with his hands and lips
when It was filed with the sacramento
wine and passed around the table.
But there Is still another reason why the
Holy Grail calls forth such reverence from
Christians and fires them with zeal to gain
possession OF this hottest Of RELICS. Ac-
cording to numerous traditions that have
persisted from ~Christianity's earliest days
this same cup was carried from the House
Of the Last Supper to the foot OF the Cross
on Mount Calvary and was used to catch
the Saviours life blood as II dripped from
the cruel wounds in his side.
Very probably the Holy Grail when final
" found will prove to be only crude
thing of earthenware or carved stone; but
the belief that It held the wine which tho
Saviour blessed when he babe his devoted
Apostles farewell, and that II was actually
warmed by the blood which he shed in the
ngony of his crucifixion, makes II more
precious in the eyes of Christians than
anything of solid gold and richly studded
with precious stones could.possibly be.
One can hardly exaggerate the influence
which this mysterious thing unseen has
cxerted on the hearts and minds of man
kind through the ages. Kings and queens
have lavished their treasure on the search
for t.: countless brave knights have beep
clad Of the opportunity to face suffering
ana death for its sake; pious monks and
pfiests have devoted their.lives to roaming
The earth In search Of this priceless me-
mento of the Saviour's Last Supper AMI
lis death on the Cross,
Although the Holy Grail has yet to be
found, Il has been Of incalculable, benefit
TO the world through the inspiration fur
nished by all the curious facts and legends
(which cluster about Il to poets and paint
ers, sculptors and musicians and other ar
tistic geniuses. Tennyson's "ldyils OF the
King" and wagner's Incompatible music
drama "ParsifaI'--these are only two of
the immortal masterpieces OF art whose
beauty was inspired to remarkable de-
gree by the Holy Grail.
The discovery of the long sought Holy
Grail III the ruins around Glastonbury
Abbey would be little more remarkable
,han many other discoveries which have
heen made there in the last few years. No
other one place has revealed to archaeolo-
~