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than we can spare to give even a short account of them. So we will drop the discussion of the question, and tell what we saw. If you want more information you will find plenty of books on the subject.

"We paid a backsheesh to the Moslem custodians who were stationed at the entrance, and one of them accompanied us to see that we did not disturb anything, and also in the expectation of a fee when we were through with his services.

"Close to the entrance of the church we came to the Stone of Unction, where the body of Christ was laid to be anointed (John xix. 38-40). It is a slab of marble surrounded with an iron railing. The guide said it was above the real stone, in order that the latter might not be injured

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GROUND-PLAN OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.

1. Principal door; 4. Tomb of Godfrey; 5. Tomb of Baldwin; 6. Tomb of Melchizedek; 7. Chapel of Adam and John the Baptist; 8. Tomb of Adam; 11. Place where the Virgin Mary stood while the body was anointed; 13. Chapel of the Angel; 17. Tombs of Joseph and Nicodemus; 19. Greek "Centre of the World" 27. Where Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene; 28. Where Mary Magdalene stood; 30. Part of the Pillar of Flagellation; 32. Where Christ appeared to his Mother after the resurrection; 33. Place of the recognition of the Cross; 35. Place of Christ's bonds; 36. Chapel of the Virgin; 38. Chapel of Longinus the Centurion; 39. Chapel of the Mocking; 41. Chapel of St. Helena; 42. Chapel of the Penitent Thief; 44. Chapel of the Finding of the Cross.

by the thousands of pilgrims that come here, and are frequently desirous of carrying away some relic of the place.

"A short distance beyond this place we came to the spot where the Virgin Mary stood while the Saviour's body lay on the Stone of Unction. We paused there only a moment, and then went to the next and greatest object of interest, the Holy Sepulchre.

"The sepulchre is in the rotunda of the church, which has been recon structed several times, and has changed a good deal in shape since the

original building was erected. The sepulchre is a small building, twentysix feet by eighteen, entirely of marble, and with holes in the roof, to allow the escape of the smoke from the lamps which burn here continually. We first entered what is called the Angel's Chamber. It has in the centre a stone set in marble, and the priests in charge of the place say it is the stone that was rolled from the mouth of the sepulchre by the angel. It is probable that the stone has been changed many times since

the crucifixion. The Armenians claim that they have the real stone in their monastery on Mount Zion, and the Latin monks accuse them of having stolen it.

"The sepulchre is entered from the Angel's Chapel. It is about seven feet square, and has the sepulchral couch at one side covered with a marble slab. The space is so small that we could not all go inside at once, and the rule is that not more than three or four shall be admitted

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together. The inside of the room is divided among four religious bodies -the Copts, Greeks, Armenians, and Latins. The Copts have four lamps burning there, and the other three sects have each thirteen. They take turns in the performance of religious services in the altar, and when they are thus engaged the Moslem guard stands near to see that there is no interference.

"We found it was not easy to believe that the sepulchre was hewn in the solid rock, as the monks declare it to have been. Every foot of space is so completely covered with marble that no part of the original rock is visible. The marble was placed here hundreds of years ago, when the traditions were more authentic than at present, and perhaps it is not worth while to dispute them.

"From the Holy Sepulchre we went to many places of interest to all students of Christianity; they were so numerous that it was impossible to remember all of them, and we went about so rapidly that we did not even have time to make a complete list. We therefore refer to our guidebook, and will try to give their names, but without pretending to follow the order in which we saw them.

"It seemed very odd to us that so many places mentioned in Scripture should all be found under the roof of a single church. But, whatever may be our opinions concerning their authenticity, they were all very interesting, and we shall long retain the memory of what we saw and heard while within the walls of this famous building. We thought we were there not more than half an hour, but found we had passed over two hours in the visit: you can see how much we were absorbed in the subject when the time flew away so fast.

"Here are the places and objects that were pointed out:

"THE CHAPEL OF THE APPARITION, where Christ appeared to his mother after the resurrection. "THE COLUMN OF THE SCOURGING.

"THE LATIN SACRISTY, containing the sword, spurs, and cross of Godfrey de Bouillon.

"FRAGMENT OF A COLUMN, said to occupy the centre of the world.

"THE PRISON OF CHRIST, where he was kept while his cross was being made ready for the crucifixion.

"CHAPEL OF ST. LONGINUS, the soldier who pierced the side of Christ after his death.

"CHAPEL OF THE PARTING OF THE RAIMENT.

"COLUMN OF THE DERISION, where Christ stood when he was crowned with thorns.

"CHAPEL OF ST. HELENA, containing the seat where the Empress Helena sat while the cross was being sought for. Near it is the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross, and the spot is indicated where the cross was discovered. The Chapel of St. Helena is reached by descending twentynine steps from the floor of the church, and the Chapel of the Cross is a cavern in the rock, thirteen steps farther down.

"From this spot we ascended to the floor of the church and were

taken to Golgotha, or Mount Calvary, by an ascent of about fifteen feet. Remember that everything we have mentioned is under the roof of the church, or, rather, of the different buildings that have been erected to make up the church. An architect who goes through it can readily perceive that the construction was not all of the same period, and that several men must have planned the various portions. The first chapel on Mount Calvary was erected by the Emperor Constantine, but it has been rebuilt. two or three times, so that little if anything remains of it.

"The first chapel we entered in this part of the church was that of the Raising of the Cross. They showed us the hole in the rock where the cross stood, and about five feet on either side were the crosses of the two thieves. The cleft in the rock, mentioned in Matt. xxvi. 51, was pointed out in this chapel, and then we went to the next where Christ was nailed to the cross, the positions being indicated by pieces of marble in the floor. Beyond this is the Chapel of the Agony, which is reached by a short stairway; it is a small chapel, and belongs to the Latin monks, while the Chapel of the Raising of the Cross is the property of the Greeks.

"Every day when the church is open to the public a good many pilgrims come there to worship at the sepulchre of the founder of Christianity. At Easter and other festivals the number is very large, and sometimes the building is densely crowded. For a long time the Moslems used to make all visitors pay heavily for the privilege of entering the church, but of late years they have not been permitted to extort backsheesh. We went there at an hour when the church was closed, and were, consequently, obliged to pay the custodian before the key was produced.

"We did not go to the cistern of the Empress Helena, as it would have prolonged our stay somewhat, and our time was limited. While we were in the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross the guide told us the tradition of how the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, directed the excavation, and was present when the three crosses were unearthed. A woman suffering from an incurable disease was brought and placed upon two of them without any benefit; as soon as she touched the third she rose and walked away in perfect health. By this it was determined which was the true cross, and from that time its fragments have been distributed among the cathedrals and churches of Europe and other countries."