The Washington herald., 1922-06-19
EASTER in HOLY
LAND DESCRIBED
BY DIR. MILLER
Tells of Elaborate Serv-
ices of Greek
Church.
GLAD TO RETURN
Pastor Rejoices That in His
Absence Membership Roll :.
Has Increased.
GLAD TO RETURN
BY DIR. GEORGE A. MILLER,
Ninth street Christinn Church.

BY Dr. GEOHGE \. MILLER,
Ninth Street Christian Church.
1t is a great gratis.ition to my
wife and myself to - back again
in our home land among our friends
and to be with the church / have
been permitted to serve SO many
years. After an absence OF over
three months. during which time we
Travelled more than 10000 miles on
three continents and visited twelve
different countries. we return to
welcome seldom given by a loyal
people to their minister. We re-
turned strengthened in body and
mind. with renewed Inspiration and
larger vision to go forward in the
Masters service. We rejoice that
the church has been SO active and
faithful in our absence. II 10 no
small matter that a church. during
the absence of its minister. can
during three months time add more
than 100 members to its roll and
sustain an average attendance in
Its Bible school OF over 1000. In
courage.
The objective of our whole jour-
ney was the Holy City Of Jerusalem.
The time was to he Easter week
What a week II was this year; Jew.
Mohammedan and Christian This
year II happened. which Is seldom,
that the Jewish Passover. the Greek
and the Latin Easter came at the
same time. We were warned not
to go as there was danger. We.
however had every confidence that
the British government, which. for
tunately, now has control over
Palestine, would preserve peace and
good order. In this we were not
disappointd. All was as quiet as
an Easter time in our own city.
Elaborate Greek Easter.
Since the war and the sad condi-
ton of the Near East there are but
few Russian pilgrims now at Jeru-
salem, while eighteen years ago
when | was there there were 10000.
other than this there is but Ittle
change except that the English have
cleaned up the city so that what
was one Of the dirtiest cities in the
world is now one OF the cleanest.
The Greek Easter is the one OF
special interest. for the Greek
church has the most elaborate serv-
ices. On Thursday preceding Easter
Sunday. the Greek patriarch pub
llicly washes the feet of twelve
bishops in the open court in front
Of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The whole court and the buildings
adjoining are thronged with a
struggling noisy mass of humanity
of all nationalities, languages and
manner of dress. The noise ana
10
nothing solemn or impressive about
the service. We went away with
no true feeling of worship. How
different the Passion Play at Ober-
ammergau. but that is another story
for another time.
On Saturday inside the Church OF
the Holy Sepulchre. is the ceremony
of the sacred fire. 1t used to be
taught that this fire descended from
heaven and many of the common
people still believe IL. 1t is more
disgraceful than religious. After
marching around the Holy Sepul-
chre several times the patriarch
goes Inside and in a few moments
hands out light from a candle.
The thousands of candles held by
the surging. struggling crowd are
soon lighted from this and the
whole building is soon lighted.
smoking mass. The Ignorant peo-
pie hold their hands in the blaze
and wash their faces and those of
their children with the melted tai
low OF the candles.
True Religious Feeling.
II this were all our Easter In
Jerusalem. 1t would he a failure.
dawned clear and bright and just
as the sun was coming over the
Mount of Olives. small company
of us met at a garden tomb near
what we believe to be the true CAL
vary and there remembered the res
direction OF our Lord. II may not be
the same tomb but II is one like 1t
and there in the quiet of the early
morning ION the first day of the
week" how sacred was the reading
of the Holy Word that described
the resurrection OF our Savior
After a few words and prayer in
which We could all join we went
away with the feeling of true re-
ligion and worship. At 10 o'clock
We attended a service at the Amer
lean Church. That evening when 1t
was dark. in An upper room OF o..
hotel. a little company of us met
and there remembered our Lord in
partaking of the Lords supper.
We were impressed with the thought
OF keeping that Holy Ordinance in
an upper room in the Holy city
where Christ first instituted it. AS
oft as you do this, do 1t In re-
membrance Of Me" What a fitting
close to theNEaster day that had
been so full Of sacred thoughts and
memories. All of these things will
mean more to us through life. May
We this morning each one partake
of the Lords Supper. though far
away from the place where 1t was
Instituted. in remembrance OF Him
who shed HIS sacred blood for our
redemption