Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-09-19

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asleep, all unconscious of the glorious pres
ence that was about to enter its great gates
Here and there the form of man seem
ed fitting across an alley, or sober watch
man turned corner of his accustomed beat
or a maiden in her half laced sandals, with
covered head come out with her pitcher to
the we'll; or hungry dog. s;ulked slyly
beneath the shadow of building.
Slowly. gracefully. the Palm branches
were waving. as if gently stirred by the
morning air, and the great brown wall Of
the city cast its shade more and more deep
ly, till it seemed to fall upon them all.
shrouding them in its duskey folds as they
knelt at the Savior's feet and strewed his
way with their garments, asking for the
opening of the gates, and saying ''HOsannl to
the Son of David. blessed is he that eometh in
in name of the Lord, Hosanna in the High
est
Low soft music overhead. and numberless
well trained voices amid the multitude
foated through the aisles, and were an
swered back in responses, from the priest;
nc other sounds disturbed the strangely
solemn delusion.
Then commenced the ceremony Of bless
lug the Palms. and sprirkIing them with
holy water, after which attendants bore
them about, and stripping the beautiful
spires from the long stems. threw them u
mOng the kneeling. praying multitude.
each one E, cmiIg hanch of the sancti-
fed treasure, to preserve them against
storms, hurricanes. or danger Of the sea. du-
ring the coming year. This is their tradi-
ton and superstition.
Those highest in power, carry whole
branches. the long leaves tastcfully adorn-
ed with bands of rich lace and flowers;
others are content with only sprig. or
cluster of leaves.
This ceremony ended. every person of
the male sex left the church. e. cept the
high priests the men and boys headed by
the priests.
The great doors were closed, and the
heavy iron bolts fell into their sockets with
an ominous sound. The women remained
still. telling their beads and keeping time
with the ergan in low plaintive chant.
The outsiders marched for q few moments
through the streets singing and chanting.
then returned to the closed portals. and in
hymn or prayer of deep supplicatiOn'
asked for entrance.
4 loud knock was heard.
The organ and choir asked in bold
forbidding strain. "whO was there"
A low, pl;iutive cry came from without
seeming to say, Lord! Lord! open unto
US
This was again answered in Spanish, by
Christ saying:
81 was an hungered. and ye gave me no
meat; l was thirsty. and ye gave me no
drink; sick and in prison, and ye visited
me lot, &c
and the pleading voices answered. "when
saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or
sick. or in prison" The tone grew more
agonized, more full of pleading, and earn
estness. and the answers from within more
softcned and kind. The music was full Of
harmony; the dim light; the solemn quiet
of the kneeling figures, broken only by a
stifed sob, or muffled prayer; the burning
taper around the altar; the priests in their
strange robes; the vaulted roof above, with
its old martyrs standing out of every niche;
the dark old gothic arches, with their
ghastly statues, made scene thrilling in
the extreme. We almost fancied the lost
spirits of the past standing without, cry
ing. Lord Lord open unto US"
The prayers prevailed; the rusty bars
grated in their soc. cts, and the old iron
bound doors creaked on their hinges, as
they slowly unfolded At the same in
slant the sunlight was let in IN full blaze of
glory; the organ Numbered forth its most
triumphant notes; the voices of the people
swelIed high in loud hallelujiahs of Praise;
the bells changed jubilant peal, and the
multitude marched in with shouts of re-
joicing.
1t was sight to see. Little children
came first each bearing its branch ofpalm,
black and white, brown and tawny, from
two years old to fourscore and ten; side by
side, rich and poor, youth and old age,
laughing childhood and grOaning decrepi-
/ tude. the lordly scion of some royal house.
the tenant of the lazar house, the barefoot
ed beggar and mitred priest. the white
haired negro, sixty years ago slave. bend
/ ing under his weight of infrmities, in his
clean patched garments, Gall are clsan) and
the proud young sprig of aristOcracy. en-
tered here together, singing their jubilant
scng as the Priest chanted in Spanish.