CLASH OP RELIGIONS IN HOLY CITY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6873, 1 April 1929, Page 7

CLASH OP RELIGIONS IN HOLY CITY

GOVERNOR INTERVENES. CONFLICT AVERTED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. JERUSALEM, March 29.. It became known to-day that two clashes marked the Maundy Thursday religious observances. One was in tthe Church of the Holy Sepulchre between Latins and Greeks. The other was at David's tomb between Ohiisitians and Moslems. Major. Keith Reach, Governor of Jerusalem, who was lunching ■with Mr Rudy-ard Kipling, was called on to settle tho squabble at tho sepulchre. The trouble arose over the Latins’ claim that the Greeks trespassed on the altar, to which Latins had come for Pontifical Mass, preceding a foot-wash-ing ceremony. The Governor ordered the Latins to wait until the Greeks had finished -their incensation services, and a serious conflict was averted. The Moslem-Christian quarrel occurred when Franciscau monks arrived on their customary pilgrimage to David’s Tomb, known as “Coenaculum.” It is owned by a prominent Moslem family, the sheik of which refused to permit the monks entrance, and beat a Moslem relative who seemed to favour the monks. The police ordered tho monks to depart, and closed the premises.