On the spot where the crosses were found, St. Helena erected a stately church, one hundred paces long and sixty wide; the east end takes in the place where the crosses stood, and the west of the sepulchre.  By leveling the hills, the sepulchre is above the floor of the church, like a grotto, which is twenty feet from the floor to the top of the rock.  There is a superb cupola over the sepulchre, and in the aisles are the tombs of Godfrey and Baldwin, kings of Jerusalem.  In 302, St. Helena instituted the Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  This Order was confirmed in 304 by his Holiness, Pope Marcellinus; they were bound by a sacred vow to guard the Holy Sepulchre, protect pilgrims, and fight infidels and enemies of the cross of Christ.  The city of Jerusalem was rebuilt and ornamented by AElius Adrian, Emperor of Rome, and given to the Christians in 120.  The Persians took it from them in 637, and in 1008 it fell into the hands of the Turks, under whose oppressions it long groaned, until Peter the Holy steered the western princes to release the distressed church, and in 1096 Godfrey and Baldwin unfurled the banner of the cross and expelled the Turks.  He was invested with a crown of laurel, and suffered himself to be called the King of Palestine.

Description, etc.—­The Council must represent a Cathedral Church, the altar covered with black, upon which must be placed three large candles, a cross, and in the centre a skull and cross-bones.  The Principal stands on the right side of the altar, with a Bible in one hand, and a staff in the other; soft music plays, and the veil is drawn up, and discovers the altar; the choir say: 

    Hush, hush, the heavenly choir,
    They cleave the air in bright attire;
    See, see, the lute each angel brings,
    And hark divinely thus they sing.

    To the power divine,
    All glory be given,
    By man upon earth,
    And angels in heaven.

The priest steps before the altar and says, “Kyrie Elieson; Christe Elieson; Kyrie Elieson; [that is, O Lord, have mercy; O Christ, have mercy; O Lord, have mercy.] Amen.  Gloria Sibi Domino! [i.e., Glory to the Lord himself.] I declare this Grand Council opened and ready to proceed to business.”  The Priests and Ministers take their several stations and observe order.  The candidates being prepared, he alarms at the door by seven raps, and the Prelate says to Verger, “See the cause of that alarm and report.”  Verger goes to the door and reports, “Right Reverend Prelate, there are seven brethren who solicit admission to this Grand Council.”  Prelate says, “On what is their desire founded?” Verger—­“On a true Christian principle, to serve the church and its members by performing the seven corporeal works of mercy, and to protect and guard the Holy Sepulchre from the destroying hands of our enemies.”  Prelate—­“Admit them, that we may know them, if you please.”  They are then admitted.