THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.
"To begin with, there has been a great deal of controversy concerning the spot where the church stands, some authorities contending that it is where Christ was buried, while others insist that the Golgotha mentioned in the Scriptures was a considerable distance outside the walls. There are many traditions concerning it, and it would take more time 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.
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.
"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 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.